THE ORCHESTRA: A USER'S MANUAL

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Introduction Orchestration Orchestration Resources Historical Andrew Hugill
  Philharmonia

STRINGS

Solos
Section

 

The string section is the basis of the orchestra and the one consistent component of orchestras down the ages. The range of expression available and the great stamina of strings makes them a powerful tool.

The typical orchestra has 16 First Violins, 14 Second Violins, 12 Violas, 10 Cellos and 8 Double Basses, but of course numbers vary depending on the requirements of a particular piece or venue or conductor. The Principal of the First Violin section is also the Leader of the orchestra.

Use the links on the left to sample various string scorings from the Philharmonia's recorded archive.


Solos

COMPOSER
WORK
CD
EXCERPT
COMMENTS
Gustav Mahler
Symphony No. 4
Philharmonia/Zander
Telarc 2CD-80555
Cellos playing high melody, accompanied by the other strings, clarinet and cor anglais.
Gustav Mahler
Symphony No. 4
Philharmonia/Zander
Telarc 2CD-80555
Solo violin, playing with scordatura tuning (up a tone).
Igor Stravinsky
The Rite of Spring
Philharmonia/Salonen
Sony SK45796
Six solo violas, with solo cellos and basses in harmonics (plus more cellos pizzicato).
Gustav Mahler
Symphony No. 5
Philharmonia/Zander
Telarc 2CD-80569
High four-part chords in violin 1, with violas marked staccatissimo.
Edward Elgar
Symphony No. 1
Philharmonia/Haitink
EMI CDC 7 47673 2
Agility of the violins, marked pp.
Edward Elgar
Symphony No. 1
Philharmonia/Haitink
EMI CDC 7 47673 2
Melody played by the back desk of violins only - a typically polite Elgar moment!
Manuel de Falla

El Amor Brujo (Love the Magician): Danza del terror

Philharmonia/Giulini
EMI CDM 69037 2

Muted violins played loud.
Manuel de Falla

El Amor Brujo (Love the Magician): Danza rituel del fuego (Ritual Fire Dance)

Philharmonia/Giulini
EMI CDM 69037 2

Melody in violins 1 and 2.
Manuel de Falla

El Amor Brujo (Love the Magician): Pantomima

Philharmonia/Giulini
EMI CDM 69037 2

High solo cello melody, accompanied by flutes and strings marked sul ponticello and sul tasto.
Claude Debussy
La Mer
Philharmonia/Cantelli
Testament SBT 1011
Cellos in the upper register, later joined by violas.

 

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Section

 

COMPOSER
WORK
CD
EXCERPT
COMMENTS
Gustav Mahler
Symphony No. 4
Philharmonia/Zander
Telarc 2CD-80555
col legno accompaniment, with woodwind.
Gustav Mahler
Symphony No. 4
Philharmonia/Zander
Telarc 2CD-80555
Contrapuntal string writing. The cello melody is prominent at first, but the violins gradually take the main theme.
Camille Saint-Saëns
Symphony No. 3
Philharmonia/Yu
IMP 30366 00012
All strings in close harmony.
Jean Sibelius
Symphony No. 5
Philharmonia/Salonen
Sony SMK 66234
Strings in octaves.
Jean Sibelius
Symphony No. 5
Philharmonia/Salonen
Sony SMK 66234
A passage for muted strings.
Igor Stravinsky
The Rite of Spring
Philharmonia/Salonen
Sony SK45796
Artificial harmonics in chords.
Igor Stravinsky
The Rite of Spring
Philharmonia/Salonen
Sony SK45796
String melody in harmonics (marked flautando).
Gustav Holst
The Planets: Mercury
Philharmonia/Gardiner
DG445 860-2
Staccato strings in rhythmic unison.
Gustav Mahler
Symphony No. 5
Philharmonia/Zander
Telarc 2CD-80569
Artificial harmonics in violins, tune in cellos and basses (plus woodwind and brass lightly stabbed accaompaniment).
Gustav Mahler
Symphony No. 5
Philharmonia/Zander
Telarc 2CD-80569
String passage, featuring wide leaps and imitation.
Gustav Mahler
Symphony No. 5
Philharmonia/Zander
Telarc 2CD-80569
The opening of the celebrated 'Adagietto', with harp triplets against rich low writing for the strings.
Edward Elgar
Symphony No. 1
Philharmonia/Haitink
EMI CDC 7 47673 2
Melody in strings, with harp.
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 7
Philharmonia/Klemperer
EMI 7 63354 2
Melody in violas and cellos in unison.
Claude Debussy
Nocturnes 1: Nuages
Philharmonia/Cantelli
Testament SBT 1011
Strings divisi.
Claude Debussy
Prélude a l'après-midi d'un faune
Philharmonia/Cantelli
Testament SBT 1011
Tremolo, punta d'arco.
Claude Debussy
La Mer
Philharmonia/Cantelli
Testament SBT 1011
Cellos divisi.
Peter Tchaikovsky
Symphony No. 5
Philharmonia/Muti
EMI CZS 7 67314 2
Violins and violas in octaves.

 

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