1 Answer the following questions in your own words! What kind of music do orchestras play? Name a few famous orchestras : How many musicians can an orchestra have? What is a score? What special role does the leading first violinist have? Name at least four string instruments : Which woodwind instruments have the lowest tones? Name a few percussion instruments : What must the conductor do before the concert begins? What does he often have in his hand? Where does the word orchestra come from? When and where did the first orchestras play? Which composers were famous for writing classical symphonies? What is a chamber orchestra?
2 Match the Words with the definitions A B conductor note long piece of music, usually in four parts, written for an orchestra when all the musicians practise before a performance C professional person who writes music D symphony very sharp, high tone ; not nice to hear E F G cymbal harp piercing to do something so long that you can do it very well someone who stands in front of a group of musicians and directs them stick with which the conductor directs the orchestra H rehearsal different I rattle musical instrument in the form of a thin round metal plate which you hit J switch to do something for money K perfect small group of musicians who play classical music together L stage small instrument that looks like a flute M N composer chamber orchestra large instrument with strings that you play with your fingers high area of a hall or theatre on which the musicians sit when they perform O various to shake quickly many times P piccolo a symbol on paper that stands for a musical sound Q baton change
3 Finish the sentences in a meaningful way! The first orchestras were organized Before the concert the conductor The woodwind section consists of The concertmaster Orchestras give concerts but also Mozart and Haydn Each musician only sees 4 True or False? T F Orchestras always perform with a group of singers. In a score each musician sees the notes of the players in his section. Chamber orchestras are smaller than symphony orchestras. The string section of an orchestra only consists of violins. Cellos and string basses play lower sounds. The concertmaster helps the other musicians tune their instruments. Percussion instruments are those that you can hit, rattle or shake. Pianos are always a part of the percussion section. The conductor directs the orchestra with cymbals. The word orchestra comes from ancient Greece. Stravinski and Strauss perfected the symphony in the late 1700s.
5 Write about the four parts of an orchestra! Fill the information into the boxes!
6 Crossword 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Across 1. woodwind instrument with a low tone 3. person who writes music 6. famous musician that perfected the symphony 9. large instrument with strings that you play with your fingers 11. very important instrument in the string section 14. a stick that the conductor has in his hands 15. very large instrument that you hit 16. to shake quickly many times Down 1. composer of the early 1700s 2. instrument you play by hitting small metal plates 4. instruments that you can hit, rattle or shake 5. long piece of music, usually written in four parts for an orchestra 7. large instrument in the brass section 8. someone who stands in front of an orchestra and directs it 10. when all the musicians practise before a performance 12. higher area of a theatre or hall on which musicians sit when they perform 13. small woodwind instrument with a high tone
6 7 find 12 musical instruments in the Grid below ( ) and mark them! X K K O D M G E H O G N C C A F F E M L A R C X G J K T V M V I O L I N B X G R E U G G A S M V B X L U Z K Y R A C F A O L S M H L I C E L L O P X J P Y N C Y I U U K Q S S E E D X M B L T N J B X T R O M B O N E B O J T U B A H A R P H O H E M O T H A L Q B D G Q O E E B A S S O O N S
7 8 Fill in the names of the instruments! Bassoon Cymbals Drum Flute French horn Kettledrum String Bass Trumpet Violin