Where is the double bass in the orchestra?

At the bottom of the string section stands the mighty Double Bass. With a body 45.5 inches (115 cm) and overall length of 74.8 inches (189 cm) the double bass both towers above and supports from below the string section of the orchestra.

Who enters the stage first at an orchestra?

Before the conductor enters the concertmaster cues the first chair Oboist to play concert “A” which the rest of the orchestra tunes their instruments to match. Featured soloist enter the stage after tuning and just before the conductors entrance. The Conductor is the last person to enter the stage.

How many double bass are in the orchestra?

8 double basses
A modern full-scale symphony orchestra consists of approximately one hundred permanent musicians, most often distributed as follows: 16–18 1st violins, 16 2nd violins, 12 violas, 12 cellos, 8 double basses, 4 flutes (one with piccolo as a specialty), 4 oboes (one with English horn as a specialty), 4 clarinets (one with …

Is a double bass in an orchestra?

The double bass is the largest string instrument in the orchestra and with its warm, deep tones it is often thought of as the supporting the rest of the orchestra.

How is the double bass played?

The double bass is played with a bow (arco), or by plucking the strings (pizzicato), or via a variety of extended techniques. In orchestral repertoire and tango music, both arco and pizzicato are employed. In jazz, blues, and rockabilly, pizzicato is the norm.

Why is it called double bass?

The double bass is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra. 2. The origin of the name of the double bass stems from the fact that its initial function was to double the bass line of large ensembles. It is a hybrid instrument influenced by the gamba and the violin family.

Who leaves the orchestra first?

The concertmaster sits to the conductor’s left, closest to the audience, in what is called the “first chair,” “first [music] stand” or outside of the US “first desk.” The concertmaster makes decisions regarding bowing and other technical details of violin playing for the violins, and sometimes all of the string players …

What are the sections of a symphony known as?

Usually it is divided into parts, usually 3 or 4 parts, which are called movements. The first movement of a symphony can be a fast movement, often in sonata form. The second movement can be a slow movement. The third movement can be a minuet or scherzo and a trio.

What is the history of the double bass?

Origins and history The double bass is generally regarded as the only modern descendant of the viola da gamba family of instruments, a family which originated in Europe in the 15th century, and as such it can be described as a “bass viol.”

When was double bass popular?

Forms of the double bass date from the late 15th or early 16th century and were in common use by the 18th century. Ludwig van Beethoven and later composers gave the bass increased importance in the symphony orchestra.

Does the concertmaster bow?

In performances given in America and/or featuring American or British orchestras, the concertmaster will usually walk onstage individually after the rest of the orchestra is seated, and bow and receive applause before the conductor appears.

When should you applaud at an orchestra concert?

This guideline should not be considered rules, but merely observances of what typically happens during orchestra concerts so the newcomer (and seasoned patrons) can feel more confident with their timing of when to applaud and not feel out of place. During the course of a concert, audiences will usually applaud twice before the music even starts.

Do you join the audience during the first movement of a concerto?

If the first movement is not super flashy or quiet, say a Mozart concerto, some of the audience typically will applaud. You can join or not. It is highly unlikely the whole audience is applauding at this point though, so you might feel awkward if just 20 people applaud. The guideline is the same for the 2 nd movements of concertos.

How many times do audiences applaud during a concert?

During the course of a concert, audiences will usually applaud twice before the music even starts. This is the easy part!

Do you applaud during the first movement of a symphony?

There is no need to applaud. You still have two more movements to enjoy and sometimes breaking a moment like these can detract from the general effect of the mood the orchestra and soloist just set. If the first movement is not super flashy or quiet, say a Mozart concerto, some of the audience typically will applaud.