The New Childrens Encyclopedia

THE ORCHESTRA

Each member of an

orchestra has their music

written down in front of

them as sheet music. The

modern five-line written

notation, widespread by

the seventeenth century,

was developed from a

system of dots used by

Roman Catholic monks in

the tenth century.

O Brass instruments are long tubes that

open into a bell shape at one end. To

play them, the musician blows into the

mouthpiece. Long tubes, such as that on

a trombone, sound deep. Shorter tubes,

such as that on a horn, sound higher.

In addition to air, lots of liquid is blown

in. This is let out through the spit valve.

O A key figure in most
orchestras, the conductor
directs the musicians
using hand and arm
gestures.

O String

instruments are

played by plucking

or running a bow

across the

strings. The

double bass

shown here is the

deepest member

of the string

family. The

thickest string

produces the

lowest note.

 EARLY MUSIC NOTATION

This piece of music is the original score

for Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata,

finished in 1801.

TAKE A LOOK: SHEET MUSIC

CONDUCTOR

STRINGS

CULTURE

BRASS

(c) 2012 Dorling Kindersley. All Rights Reserved.(c) 2012 Dorling Kindersley. All Rights Reserved.