How many instruments?

Hey all,

Lately I've had this urge to write some songs and stuff for a musical setting. (generally as just a bit of fun, nothing too serious)

But I was wondering what the instrumentation of a pit orchestra is like.

If anyone knows things like how many of each instrument there are that would be great.

Also, any other helpful advice you may have for writing for this size orchestra.

Thanks for any advice, will be much appreciated :)

Lex

It depends on the stage and depends on the orchestra that will play it. Also, the instruments that you choose play an important role - you can have less marimbas in a pit than you can have violins. And it depends on the style of music. I went to an opera where the orchestration was one percussionist (with xylophone, vibraphone, gong and a few other hand stuff), a trumpet, two clarinets (one doubling saxophone), a double bass, a flute, a violin. And that was it. I remember that in the Phantom of the Opera there were 14 or 15 musicians (our of which 9 had been playing since the first opening of the phantom of the opera, 22 years ago).

So yeah. What do *you* want?

In der Ring des Nibelungen, Wagner uses approx. 107 musicians in the pit, however, the percussionists have very many different instruments that they play when it is needed. I have left out the 4 stierhorns which appear onstage, and the 18 offstage anvils of different sizes and the offstage harp. So you can write for a pretty large orchestra. :)

Here is a link to it:

Der Ring des Nibelungen - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

What kind of pit orchestra? For an opera, or for a Broadway show? For both types, the composer determines the size and makeup of the orchestra.

For reference, however, this would be a "large" opera orchestra:

3 Flutes (3rd playing Piccolo)

3 Oboes (3rd playing English Horn)

3 Clarinets (3rd playing Bass Clarinet)

3 Bassoons (3rd playing Contrabassoon)

4 Horns

3 Trumpets

3 Trombones

1 Tuba

1 Timpanist

1-2 Percussion

1 Piano/Celeste

1 Harp

7-8 1st Violins

6-7 2nd Violins

5-6 Violas

5-6 Cellos

2-3 Basses

A more typical opera orchestra would be:

2 Flutes (2nd playing Piccolo)

2 Oboes (2nd playing English Horn)

2 Clarinets

2 Bassoons

2-4 Horns

2 Trumpets

2-3 Trombones

1 Timpanist

1 Percussion

1 Harp

7-8 1st Violins

6-7 2nd Violins

5-6 Violas

5-6 Cellos

2-3 Basses

For a Broadway-style musical, the orchestra can be anything from a small jazz combo (piano/bass/drums/guitar) to a larger Big Band style group. In the old traditional style musical, the orchestra was typically:

5 Reeds*

3 Trumpets

0-2 Horns

2-3 Trombones

1 Drum set

1 Percussion

1 Piano/Celesta

0-1 Guitar (acoustic & electric Guitar, sometimes Banjo or even Mandolin)

1 Bass

optional Strings: 0-1 Harp, 2-3 1st Violins, 2-3 2nd Violins, 0-2 Violas, 2-3 Cellos

*Each of the reed players may play from 1-8 instruments as indicated in the book, OR the books might only be written for a single wind instrument (example: The Reed V book for West Side Story is Bassoon only). Here is a sample of what each book might require:

Reed I: Piccolo, Flute, Alto Flute, Bb Clarinet, Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone

Reed II: Piccolo, Flute, Eb Clarinet, Bb Clarinet, Alto Saxophone

Reed III: Flute, Oboe, English Horn, Bb Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone

Reed IV: Bb Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone

Reed V: Bb Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Bassoon, Baritone Saxophone

an example of an odd, but very effective instrumentation, is that for Stephen Sondheim's "Into The Woods":

1 flute

1 clarinet

1 bassoon

2 violins

2 violas

1 cello

1 contrabass

2 horns

1 trumpet

1 keyboard (synth)

1 piano (IIRC)

1 percussionist

This small group is capable of a VERY wide range of textures and densities.

And an interesting departure from "normal" pit band practice, is that none of the instrumentalists double on any other instruments.

assuming you are talking about a musical pit orchestra... most small pits are... drums, guitar, bass, one or two woodwinds (multiple instruments.) piano, keyboard and possible one or two strings....

I have done a TON of shows, so if you have one in mind, let me know and i will let you know the instrumentation...

Hey all, Thanks for all the advice.

I was referring to a sort of more traditional broadway orcehstra.

Flint: Thanks alot for all that info, its much appreciated.

And one day I might try an orchestra like that out of ''Into the Woods'' - it sounds interesting.

thanks again,

Lex