8 questions · Music
Music has a language of its own, and it starts with the instruments. A classical orchestra is divided into four sections (strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion) with the strings forming by far the largest group. Before a concert, everyone tunes to the oboe's 'A', because that instrument barely drifts out of tune. In front of them all stands the conductor, setting tempo and expression with the full score open. Beating time was once done audibly with a heavy staff, and the composer Lully famously injured his own foot with it: an injury that proved fatal. The violin has four strings, tuned G-D-A-E and played with a bow traditionally strung with horsehair; the finest examples, made by Antonio Stradivari, now cost millions. At the other end of the string family sits the double bass, the largest and lowest instrument in the orchestra, so big that it is played standing or perched on a tall stool. In jazz it is often plucked rather than bowed, producing the famous 'walking bass'. The most monumental instrument of all, though, is the organ, which drives air through pipes of different sizes; large church organs have thousands of them, which is why it is often called the 'queen of instruments'. Popular music has its legends, too. Jazz emerged around 1900 in New Orleans, growing out of blues and ragtime and built on improvisation and swing. In 1975 the British band Queen, led by Freddie Mercury, released 'Bohemian Rhapsody', a nearly six-minute song without an ordinary chorus but with a whole opera section. And Michael Jackson, the 'King of Pop', made the moonwalk world-famous, while his album 'Thriller' (1982) remains one of the best-selling of all time.
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four
The four strings of the violin are tuned G-D-A-E. It is played with a bow whose hair is traditionally made of horsehair.
💡 Did you know? The most famous violins were made by Antonio Stradivari: today they cost millions.
strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion
A large symphony orchestra has around 80 to 100 musicians. The strings form by far the largest group.
💡 Did you know? Before the concert everyone tunes to the oboe's 'A', because it barely drifts out of tune.
organ
The organ makes sound by driving air through pipes of different sizes. Large church organs have thousands of pipes and several keyboards (manuals).
💡 Did you know? For its size and variety, the organ is often called the 'queen of instruments'.
conductor
The conductor sets tempo, cues and expression, shaping the interpretation of the whole orchestra. Usually the full score with every part sits before them.
💡 Did you know? Beating time was once done audibly with a staff: the composer Lully fatally injured his own foot with it.
Jazz
Jazz grew out of African-American traditions such as blues and ragtime. It is characterised by improvisation and 'swing'.
💡 Did you know? Jazz later gave rise to styles such as swing, bebop and cool jazz.
Queen
The British rock band around singer Freddie Mercury blended rock with operatic and pop elements. 'Bohemian Rhapsody' (1975) is considered one of the most influential songs in rock history.
💡 Did you know? The nearly six-minute song has no ordinary chorus and even contains a whole opera section.
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson shaped pop, dance and music videos like almost no one else. His album 'Thriller' (1982) is still one of the best-selling of all time.
💡 Did you know? He made the 'moonwalk', in which he seems to glide backwards, world-famous.
double bass
The double bass is so large it is played standing or on a tall stool. It provides the deep foundation in orchestras and jazz bands.
💡 Did you know? In jazz it is often plucked rather than bowed ('walking bass').
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