Last month, we started our exploration of the Western Classical Orchestra with a history of the ensemble.
This month we explore the string family. In terms of players, the string family are the largest instrumental family in the orchestra and is made up of the violin, viola, cello (or violincello) and double bass.
Instruments
The orchestral string family is typically made up of four instruments, split into five groups: first violin, second violin, viola, cello and double bass. The string players sit in pairs: each pair is called a “desk” and the two musicians play off the same piece of sheet music, sharing one music stand.
Violins, violas, cellos and double basses have a hollow wooden body, with a wooden neck. They each have four strings which are tuned to a different note. The violin, viola and cello strings are tuned a 5th apart, the double bass strings are tuned a 4th apart.
Much like with a guitar, players can produce different notes on each string by pressing a finger down on it, effectively making the string shorter and therefore producing a higher note.
The strings are either played with a bow (arco) or plucked with the finger (pizzicato). The bows are made of wood with a ribbon of horsehair tied to each end. The horsehair is moved across the strings to make them vibrate and this creates the sound. Don’t worry, horses are not hurt to get the hair – it is gathered when the horses have their hair brushed.
The violin and viola are played resting between the chin and the shoulder, with the neck held away from the body. The cello and double bass are played with the neck pointing up, and the bottom of these instruments has a pole or “spike” which rests on the floor.
As the smallest instrument, the violin plays the highest notes, using the treble clef.
The viola uses the alto clef.
The cello uses the bass clef.
The double bass uses the bass clef but the strings sound an octave lower than written.
The orchestral string family
The most common instrument found in the orchestra is the violin. It is also the smallest of the orchestral string instruments. The violins are usually divided into two groups, “first violins” and “second violins”. These groups work as two different sections, playing different musical parts. From the audience’s viewpoint, you’ll see the first violins sitting to the left of the conductor, with the second violins typically sitting next to them, slightly to the right.
The head of the first violins is called the leader, who is second in command to the conductor. The other orchestral string sections are led by a principal.
Violas are slightly larger than violins, and typically the whole section plays the same music. The violas traditionally sit directly in front of the conductor.
The cellos (or more correctly celli, as the word is Italian) and double basses usually sit to the right of the conductor and form the bass section of the strings, playing the lowest notes. Like the violas, the cellos play the same music, as does the bass section. In some cases both sections play the same, particularly in music from the Baroque period (see our introductory post on The Orchestra).
The final instrument that can sometimes be found in the orchestral string section is the concert harp. Concert harps have 47 strings and to make a sound, the strings are plucked. They also have pedals which change the pitch of the strings.
An example of the typical layout of an orchestra.
An introduction to the String Family by the Australian Chamber Orchestra.
History
The orchestral string family instruments developed from earlier instruments played from the 15th–18th centuries such as the rebec (similar to a violin) and the viol da gamba, which was similar to a cello.
The modern violin was developed in the early 16th century in northern Italy, and its popularity grew quickly. King Charles LX requested famous violin maker, Andrea Amati, to make him 24 violins for his musical ensemble in 1560.
Harps have been part of musical traditions across the world for over four and a half centuries, from Sumer in Mesopotamia to Ancient Egypt, Iraq, Israel and Greece.
Further Reading
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