Questions about the symphonic orchestra and it's scores...

[SpyrusTheVirus]

When I listen to classical music I like to be dedicated to it,I want to read the score,as I would do with with a book...so,I today,I put on beethovens 5th symphony,and open the full score ( can be found here imslp.org) of the first movement,and I see this: lines of monophonic instruments have chords,octaves etc! so I'm curious,how many instruments,and of witch kind,does a symphonic orchestra have?how are the scores written,I mean,the composer writes what each group instruments (let's say the violins) should play,and then the orchestra is responsible to decide who plays which,or writes for the "first" instrument of the group,and for the rest of it,and then that's merged into one for easier reading for the conductor?

[Glenn Simonelli]

This is clearly some kind of a reduction. Perhaps it's in Beethoven's own hand? Maybe the version he gave his copyist or publisher?
A typical conductor's score would normally show each instrument individually with the exception of the strings, which may sometimes have "div." sections.

[Lisa Smolen]

Yes, there are condensed scores for conductors to to read from, but my experience is that they use full scores more often. Obviously, single note instruments such as woodwinds & brass cannot play what you see on the page. Unless you're looking at the string sections, which can play double & triple stops, each instrument should only have one note at a time.

All sections of the orchestra have a "leader" or principal who decides who plays which part. Reading the parts in the string section which have multiple pitchs, the first stands play the high notes, 2nd stands play lower notes. Except for double & triple stops which are labeled as such then they would all play those.

All woodwind parts are written on separate sheets, so first clarinet & second clarinet are only looking at their own parts - there are times when the entire section will share the same part, but only because there is not any divisi.

Full orchestra always consists of strings (1st & 2nd violins, viola, cello & bass), woodwinds (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon), brass (trumpet, horn, trombone, tuba) and percussion. Once you've decided on which instruments you'll be using, then you decide how many players, if you're going to use auxiliary instruments such as bass clarinet & English horn. Of course you can always add or subtract instruments for a more classical orchestra (strings, oboes, trumpets & timpani) or modern full orchestra which uses the whole compliment. Look to Sam Adler's books on orchestration to help you decide how & where to use the members of the woodwind & brass families for unique sounding arrangements.

[Sergi Casanelles Abella]

Especially in XIX century scores, is common that 2 same instruments are written in the same staff. In the case of Beethoven's, who usually wrote for 2 flutes - 2 oboes- 2 clarinets and 2 bassons, this woodwind parts are written in the same staff. This is normal for trumpets, horns and trombones to.

It's not usual to put more than 2 instruments on the same staff, for exemple, if you have 3 flutes, you usually put the flute I and II in one staff and flute III in another.

The use of divisi in the string section has been alredy commented.

Writing like this doesn't mean that when you wrote the instrumental parts you don't have to write a separate part for each instrument. This implies to separate the mixed parts. Because this could be tricky and time consuming, nowadays it's more frequent to write each instrument separately. In the other hand, when you don't group the instruments, the score becomes larger and it means that you have to reduce more to fit in a standard page.

When you see in one of this staff the word "a 2" it means that both instruments play the same notes. When you see a "I" or a "II" it means that only instrument "I" (or II or ...) will play that passage.

[Chris Alpiar]

Orchestra sizes vary, a pretty common size is 80 pieces. If you see a part like Cello and it has more than one note, it probably means divisi where members of the section will choose amongst themselves who takes what part of a divisi. (unless its written as F stop where you are actually playing 2 (or more) notes at the same time. While there are TONS of custom makeups for a phil, an 80 piece might break down like 14 violin 1, 14 violin 2, 10 viola, 8 celli, 6 contrabass (52 strings is nice and juicy), 3 trumpet, 4 horn, 3 trombone, tuba, contra-tuba (12 brass is pretty big and might take 1 less on each section, and any specialty instruments as doubles, like cimbasso or something not mentioned), 2 flute, 2 clarinet, 1 oboe, 1 english horn, 2 bassoon, 1 bass clarinet, 3-5 percussionists including full time tympani, and part time on all the other instruments concert bass drum, snares, piatti, suspended cymbals, bells, chimes, etc

[Danny De Can]

I would recommend a very good book: "The Study of Orchestration" by Samuel Adler. This will answer all your questions. Good luck.

[Lisa Smolen]

Just because I'm an oboist & I can't resist.... a typical woodwind section would be pairs: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons. Commonly, contra bassoon & bass clarinet would be covered by a 3rd player - not doubled by the 2nd. Something like the piccolo can be doubled in the 2nd player depending on how much it is being used throughout the piece. English horn is generally a "solo" instrument played by a 3rd oboist, though sometimes, if the solos are few & far between, can be doubled by the 2nd. Something like Dvorak's "From the New World" Symphony has the EH in the 2nd oboe part, but traditionally a 3rd player, the soloist, only plays the 2nd mvt. solo and sits out while the 2nd oboist plays the rest of the symphony.

I can't stress enough the importance of befriending musicians who play the instruments you plan to write for.

[Deborah Young]

Thanks for the book recommendation Danny (even though you weren't talking to me).

[Jacob Royal]

I usually write for 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, 2 Bb (B flat) Clarinets, 1 Bassoon, 2 or 4 Horns in F (French Horns), 2 or 3 Bb (B flat) Trumpets, 2 or 3 Trombones, 1 Tuba (or sometimes no Tuba), 2 Violins, 1 Viola, 1 Cello, 1 Contrabass, 1 (set of) Timpani(s), and occasionally Percussion.
But thats just the sections. Not the number of people who play it.

Thats my Symphonic Orchestra.

Like Beethoven, (as Sergi said) I sometimes put the 2 sections of winds on one line (i.e. the 2 sections of flutes on one staff)

[Chris Alpiar]

++ for Sam Adler's book, its the only study book that got the details - all of them. I still keep it next to my Digital Performer 6 manual under my studio desk (not in the book shelf!) for reference.