The Birth of the Orchestra : History of an Institution, 1650-1815

This book traces the emergence of the orchestra from 16th-century string bands to the'classical'orchestra of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and their contemporaries. Ensembles of bowed stringed instruments, several players per part plus continuo and wind instruments, were organized in France in the mid-17th century and then in Rome at the end of the century. The prestige of these ensembles and of the music and performing styles of their leaders, Jean-Baptiste Lully and Arcangelo Corelli, caused them to be imitated elsewhere, until by the late 18th century, the orchestra had become a pan-European phenomenon. Spitzer and Zaslaw review previous accounts of these developments, then proceed to a thoroughgoing documentation and discussion of orchestral organization, instrumentation, and social roles in France, Italy, Germany, England, and the American colonies. They also examine the emergence of orchestra musicians, idiomatic music for orchestras, orchestral performance practices, and the awareness of the orchestra as a central institution in European life.

this Book Traces The Emergence Of The Orchestra From 16th-century String Bands To The Classical Orchestra Of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, And Their Contemporaries. Ensembles Of Bowed Stringed Instruments, Several Players Per Part Plus Continuo And Wind Instruments, Were Organized In France In The Mid-17th Century And Then In Rome At The End Of The Century. The Prestige Of These Ensembles And Of The Music And Performing Styles Of Their Leaders, Jean-baptiste Lully And Arcangelo Corelli, Caused Them To Be Imitated Elsewhere, Until By The Late 18th Century, The Orchestra Had Become A Pan-european Phenomenon.

spitzer And Zaslaw Review Previous Accounts Of These Developments, Then Proceed To A Thoroughgoing Documentation And Discussion Of Orchestral Organization, Instrumentation, And Social Roles In France, Italy, Germany, England, And The American Colonies. They Also Examine The Emergence Of Orchestra Musicians, Idiomatic Music For Orchestras, Orchestral Performance Practices, And The Awareness Of The Orchestra As A Central Institution In European Life.

This is the story of the orchestra, from 16th-century string bands to the "classical" orchestra of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. Spitzer and Zaslaw document orchestral organization, instrumentation, social roles, repertories, and performance practices in Europe and the American colonies, concluding around 1800 with the widespread awareness of the orchestra as a central institution in European life. The story of Orpheus has provided the subject for operas, ballets, tone poems, and other musical works, beginning with Poliziano's Orfeo, produced in Mantua in 1480, and continuing to the present. Traces the emergence of the orchestra from 16th-century string bands to the "classical" orchestras of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and their contemporaries