Music en Masse - Orchestras

An orchestra is an instrumental ensemble featuring string, brass, woodwind and percussion instruments. The word orchestra is Greek in nature, referring to the area in front of an ancient Greek stage, traditionally reserved for chorus. The orchestra grew in popularity during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and remains a popular form of entertainment even today.

Smaller ensembles of about forty players are called chamber orchestras, while full size orchestras are referred to as symphony or philharmonic orchestras.  It should be noted, however, that the designation of symphony or philharmonic does not mean one is better than the other.  They are useful, however in helping to distinguish different ensembles based in the same city.

Early History of Orchestras

The 15^th and 16^th centuries in Italy were characterized by households of nobility which hired musicians to provide music.  With the emergence of opera and theatre in the 17^th century, composers increasingly began writing music for groups of players.  It is here that the true orchestral trend began. Opera originated in Italy, and quickly spread to Germany By the close of the 17^th century opera flourished in England and in France, as well.  As families of nobility began to build retreats away from towns for respite and entertaining, it became fashionable to hire musicians to form permanent ensembles. Some composers even employed a group of players to work with.  Over time, orchestra music grew more sophisticated as a regular means by which a virtuoso could showcase his work. 

By the 20^th century, symphony orchestras were larger, better funded, and better trained than ever before.  This allowed composers to create larger and more ambitious works. The technology of the recording era, the performance standard was at an all time high, as well.  In recordings, small errors in a performance could be hidden or fixed.  As sound was added to silent film, the virtuoso orchestra became a key component of the establishment of motion pictures as mass-market entertainment.

Recent Trends and Obstacles

The late 20th century saw a crisis of funding and support for orchestras in Europe. The size and cost of a symphony orchestra, compared to the size of the base of supporters, has remained an issue.  Thus, orchestras have experienced a marked decrease in revenue.  Many critics argue the ability of orchestras to survive given the advances in the recording music industry.  However, die hard orchestral enthusiasts maintain that the key to revitalizing the modern day music industry is new music, along with a new means of presenting it.