Cymbals: The Orchestra Up Close — Orchestre Métropolitain
“The cymbals look like two giant metal discs which are either rubbed together to make a rustling sound, or stuck together to make a large crash!”
Xylophone: The Orchestra Up Close — Orchestre Métropolitain
“The xylophone is part of the percussion family, and is composed of a frame which supports wooden bars of varying lengths, generally placed in the same way as a piano keyboard.”
Bass Clarinet: The Orchestra Up Close — Orchestre Métropolitain
“Part of the woodwind family, the bass clarinet has the deepest sound of the clarinet family. The instrument is so big that it must be supported by a floor peg.”
Bass Drum: The Orchestra Up Close — Orchestre Métropolitain
“The bass drum is made of a cylindrical wooden frame called the shell, with two thin sheets of plastic pulled taut across either side to create the drum heads.”
Cello: The Orchestra Up Close — Orchestre Métropolitain
“Much larger than its smaller cousins, the cello is played while sitting, with the body of the instrument placed between the legs of the player.”
Contrabass, brief description
“The double-bass is the contrabass instrument of the string section and is not strictly speaking a member of the violin family (violin, viola, cello). The double-bass differs in several ways from the instruments of the violin family. In its modern form it is a hybrid, combining elements of both the viola da gamba and the violin families.”
English horn: The Orchestra Up Close — Orchestre Métropolitain
“Part of the woodwind family, the English horn is a larger version of the oboe with a pear-shaped bell, usually made of grenadilla wood. There is usually only one in an orchestra and the player sits in the oboe section. The player blows into a double reed which vibrates and resonates into the instrument, producing a sweet and melancholic sound. The range of the English horn is slightly lower than that of the oboe.”
Harp: The Orchestra Up Close — Orchestre Métropolitain
“Though there are numerous types of harps, it’s the classical harp which is used in an orchestra. Played by plucking the strings, it is a real challenge for the fingers of anyone who decides to play it.”
Piano: The Orchestra Up Close — Orchestre Métropolitain
“There are two kinds of instruments in the string family, the first are the “bowed” instruments, like the violin. The second are the plucked, or hammered instruments, like the piano, whose strings are struck by a small hammer which moves when a player pushes down a key.”
Piccolo: The Orchestra Up Close — Orchestre Métropolitain
“Only half the size of a regular flute, it is the highest instrument of the entire orchestra, bringing brilliance and vibrancy. It is easy to discern its high timbre even when the orchestra plays “tutti”, meaning everyone together at once.”