The Orchestra

Question 1

Name the five main string instruments?

Answer 1

Violin, Viola , Cello, harp and Double Bass.

Question 2

Name the four main Woodwind instruments?

Answer 2

Flute, Oboe, Clarinet and the Bassoon.

Question 3

What are the four main brass instruments?

Answer 3

Trumpet, Horn, Trombone and the Tuba.

Question 4

What are the five main percussion instruments?

Answer 4

Timpani, Side drum, Bass drum, Cymbal and the Xylophone.

Question 5

How are instruments with strings played?

Answer 5

By drawing a bow of horse-hair over four open strings.

Question 6

What is the range of the violin? What clef does it use?

Answer 6

Low G to High E. Treble or G clef.

Question 7

What is the range of the viola? What clef does it use?

Answer 7

Low C to A. Alto clef or C clef.

Question 8

What is the range of the cello? What clef does it use?

Answer 8

Low C to A. Bass clef or F clef.

Question 9

What is the range of the double bass? What clef does it use?

Answer 9

8vb low E to low G. Bass clef or F clef.

Question 10

What are woodwind instruments? What are they made of?

Answer 10

They are blown through or across a pipe. Traditionally made of wood but now can be made out of plastic and metal.

Question 11

How is the flute played? How many reeds does it have?

Answer 11

The flute is held horizontally when played and the player blows across an opening in the side, it has no reed.

Question 12

How is the clarinet played? How many reeds does it have?

Answer 12

It is played like a pipe by blowing through a single reed in the mouthpiece. This vibrates and makes the sound.

Question 13

How many reeds does an Oboe have?

Answer 13

The Oboe has a double reed inside the mouthpiece.

Question 14

Describe the Bassoon? How many Reeds does it have?

Answer 14

This uses a double reed and has an unmistakable sound.

Question 15

What is the range of of the flute? What clef does it use?

Answer 15

C to high C 8va 8va. It uses the treble or G clef.

Question 16

What is the range of of the clarinet? What clef does it use?

Answer 16

Low E to high C 8va 8va. It uses the treble or G clef.

Question 17

What is the range of of the oboe? What clef does it use?

Answer 17

B flat to G 8va 8va. Treble or G clef.

Question 18

What is the range of of the bassoon? What clef does it use?

Answer 18

Low G flat 8vb to high E. Bass or F clef.

Question 19

What is a brass instrument?

Answer 19

A brass instrument has a long metal tube with a mouthpiece at one end and a ‘bell’ at the other.

Question 20

How are the notes played?

Answer 20

By using a variety of different mouth shapes (embouchure) while pressing on valves.

Question 21

What does the trombone use instead of valves?

Answer 21

A slide.

Question 22

What is the range of the trumpet? What clef(s) does it use?

Answer 22

Low F sharp to high C 8va. It uses the treble or G clef.

Question 23

What is the range of the horn? What clef(s) does it use?

Answer 23

Low F sharp in the bass clef to high C 8va in the treble clef.

Question 24

What is the range of the trombone? What clef(s) does it use?

Answer 24

Low E in the bass clef to high D in the treble clef. It uses the tenor clef.

Question 25

What is the range of the tuba? What clef(s) does it use?

Answer 25

Low D 8vb to high F. Bass clef or F clef.

Question 26

What is a pitched/tuned instrument? Give examples?

Answer 26

These play notes of define pitch and can therefore play tunes. The timpani and the xylophone.

Question 27

What is a unpitched/untuned instrument? Give examples?

Answer 27

These can only make a rhythmic sound. Side drums, bass drums and cymbals are all examples. They use a single line clef because they cannot play different notes and do not have a clef.

Question 28

What clef does the timpani use?

Answer 28

Bass or F clef.

Question 29

What clef does the xylophone use?

Answer 29

Treble or G clef.

Question 30

What does ‘flauto piccolo’ mean?

Answer 30

Little flute

Question 31

Which instrement of the woodwind family has a related instrument that sounds higher than it instead of lower? Name the related Instrument.

Answer 31

Flute. Piccolo.

Question 32

What other woodwind instrument is related to the oboe?

Answer 32

Cor anglais (english horn)

Question 33

What other woodwind instrument is related to the clarinet?

Answer 33

Bass clarinet.

Question 34

What other woodwind instrument is related to the bassoon?

Answer 34

Double bassoon.

Question 35

Pizzicato (pizz.)

Answer 35

Strings to be plucked.

Question 36

Arco

Answer 36

Strings played with the bow. Used after pizzicato.

Question 37

< one of these facing with ‘mouth’ upwards

Answer 37

Play ‘up’ bow stroke.

Question 38

( this sideways

Answer 38

Play all notes under this slur with one bow stroke.

Question 39

[ sideways

Answer 39

Play ‘down’ bow stroke.

Question 40

Con sordino/con sord? What is a mute for strings?

Answer 40

Play with mute to give a hushed sound. A mute for strings is a small clamp placed on the bridge.

Question 41

Senza sordino

Answer 41

Play without mute/remove the mute

Question 42

Glissando (harp)

Answer 42

Play sliding sweep of fingers across the strings.

Question 43

What is a mute for brass?

Answer 43

A cone inserted into the bell.

Question 44

Una corda what does it mean literally and in piano terms.

Answer 44

One string. Press the left pedal.

Question 45

Tre corda what does it mean literally and in piano terms.

Answer 45

Three strings. Release the left pedal.

Question 46

Ped. */ Ped_____I

Answer 46

Press/ release right pedal

Question 47

~~~~ this sideways

Answer 47

Spread chord notes, starting from the lowest.

Question 48

M.s.? What does it stand for?

Answer 48

Play with left hand. Mano sinistra.

Question 49

M.d.? What does it stand for?

Answer 49

Play with right hand. Mano destra.