Why do violinists have more than one bow?

One obvious reason is a back up in case one breaks, or a cheaper one to use outside, or some venue where there is concern over damage.

Why is an orchestra arranged the way it is?

Orchestras are set up in so that everyone, especially section leaders, can see the conductor. The balance of volume for the audience is actually the principal reason for the seating. Percussion and Brass are louder so they get put to the back. Context plays a huge role for the set up.

Do all string players use a bow?

The vast majority of bows are used with string instruments, such as the violin, although some bows are used with musical saws and other bowed idiophones.

How many violin bows do you need?

A good starting point is to look at six bows at a time. Once you’ve chosen one or two from that batch, ask to see some more. Play the same brief passage with each bow, one right after another. There’s a good chance that one or two will stand out.

Why does the string section sit in front?

Also, the string section usually has the most notes and highest percentage of melody, so it would make sense to put them in front, where they are visible–both to the audience and to each other–and have the best chance of being heard. This leads us to the issues of sound and volume.

What is it called when you play a violin with a bow?

Violin playing requires two distinct techniques performed by a player’s two hands. The right hand is used to vibrate the strings. You do this by either plucking them (known as pizzicato) or by gliding a bow across them (known as arco).

What is a brazilwood violin bow?

Brazilwood has been the standard wood used in bows for a very long time. This strong wood has an attractive dark finish, warm tone and is strong, yet resilient. Unfortunately, the supply of quality brazilwood is becoming scarce. Only a small percentage of the stock is suitable for producing an acceptable violin bow.

Why are violins played with a bow?

Firstly, they are the highest string instrument, so their bright tone rises above the rest of the string section. Secondly, they are played with a bow, unlike woodwind or brass instrument which rely on air. This means that players are able to perform longer melodic passages with plenty of fast finger-work.

Why do orchestras need two violins per section?

Although violins have a high, singing quality, they are not particularly loud. So, just as you need more upper voices to make sure they’re heard over the lower voices in a choir, you need at least two violins per woodwind or brass instrument to achieve a balanced sound. But why do orchestras need two violin sections?

Why do symphony orchestras have so many strings?

One result of that was that the orchestras playing Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony or Stravinsky’s The Firebird needed even more strings, because the sound of the non-string instruments needed to be balanced out. If playback doesn’t begin shortly, try restarting your device.

How do the instruments in the string family differ from one another?

The instruments in the string family vary in size. As you can see here, the main difference between the four instruments is their size. As with any instrument, the smaller it is, the higher the pitches it plays, and the larger the instrument is, the lower the pitches it plays.