New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-01-22

sver becoming more frequent practice among COM
rosers 10 write for four horns, and occasions for
four ,rumpes, or comets, although the attes is hardly
ever done excepting for special efects, and we are
speaking, at present, wholly with view to the
common usage.
The number Of performers among whom these
Instruments must be distributed to form large
orchestra for the conceri.room should average sew
enty. with the understanding that more n,ehs DC
added to su!t any particular emergency vi '"s'0
twenty should play ire violin, which Is written i0r
in two parts, first and second. mere s"o"iu 20
eight violas six violoncellos, eight bases, TWO
flutes. two hsutbovs, two clarinets, two bestoons'
four horns two FOR four) trumpes. three trombones
fan opb;clsiae if necessary, one pair OF kettle
drums and side drums, cymbas, &c, whenever
headed An orchestra so composed would be ample
Cor tho production Of ordinary Instrumental works,
.,a rficiept 10 indicate the sense and purpose of
IN .ven the most exigent. Few 30 largo have
over been collected in America, although it is
clearly impossible to preserve The fine balance
of sound with any smaller number. The orchestral
standard, then, should not be measured by any num-
Der Of musicians less than seventy. To approach this
in theater orchestra would be impossible In the
first place, the space is limited and in the second,
which is moro important managers are reluctant TO
risk expense in department which commands SO
little public attention. The largest theater orches-
ira in New-York numbers only nineteen performers,
and this is considered extraordinary. The best that
can be DONE therefore, is TO so dispose the limited
afforded to represent, rs far as may be, the
full value of the grand orchestra. How this can DO
accomplished 1t will require some explanation in de-
tail to show.
Tho toDe-rroducing mass Of an orclestra 10y
which we mean the orchestra exclusive Of percus-
sion instruments, such cymbas, trangles, etc. s
divided, as we before indicated into three branches
the string Instruments. the wind instruments of
wood, and the wind instruments of brafs. Each Of
these we might, in sense, declare to be small
orchestra by itself Readers who are but imper-
fectly acquainted with musical subjects are at
least aware that the human voice has four
distinct yarieties-ihe high and low voices
Of women, aud the high and low voices Of
men. These four united form perfect cborus,
of which, ordinarily, the soprano or treble femn'e
voice produces the melody while the others supply
the harmony. OF the three branches Of the oIches-
ira, each is similarly composed. With the strings,
the precise relationship is found in the viohns,
viola, violoncello, and bsssi with the wood, in TIE
flutes, lau,boys, clsrinets, and bassoonf; and with
the bras in the trumpets, or oornetsf horns, and
trombones. II frequently appears in cloruses that
more than four parts used the voices being di.
vded 10 give increased richness and body Of sound
Sometimes two or more soprano parts are written,
sometimes two tenor, sometimes two alto, and some
times several boss. This practice, with the oreLes-
ira, s the rule rather than the exception. The yio
ns divided into fret and second represent the treble
and alto voices, the viola represents the tenor the
viooncello sometimes lower tenor and sometime,
higher bass, and the bass stands for what its name
indicates. The flutes represent the soprano part at
an extreme hight, the hautbeys soprano or alto ne
the case may be; the clsrinets soprano, alto, or
tenor, and the bassoons tenor or bass. Again, the
trumpeis or comets are used for soprano, alto, or
tenor effects, tho horns likewise, and the tronbones
for alto, tenor, and bass. These rssemblances, Of
course, are not all equally exact ard conld perhaps
only be literally traced in the body Of the strings
which constitutes the real fabric Of orchestra tho
Test being supeTsiructure. The wind instruments
nave different function, those Of wood serving,
generally, to give lightnen and brilliaDcy 10 the
melo lies and delicate fullness TO the harnones;
while those Of brass used 10 emphasize the boder
and more vigorous effects Of melody, and TO lend
grandeur and resonance to the harmony. We might
in another way illustrate their general purposes
leaving their ,peciaies for description hareafterl
by explaining the relationship which tic piano-fore
bears 10 them Upon this instrument, simply used a.
every Que sswsre the right bandus performs the
melodies Of a piece Of music while the lof, supports
il with the harmonies la an orchestra the duties
Of the right hand might DO performed by any or al
Of tho following instrumental, according to effect,
desred first violins, iutes, hautboys, caIincis
and trumpes tbote OF the left by bassee. violonce
los bassoons trombones, violas, clarines, horns,
second volinr hautboys. trunpets and, III rare IN
stances, the Autet II will be observed that num-
Der Of these tpoken OF as serving in tie double
capatty, but no further explanation need BE- given
Of this than to remind tie reader that, even The
piano-forte the melodies and harmonies often -
interviewer as TO cauec the one TO take, ss it were
tie place of the other.
We have thus shown IN tho most general way
the relative value Of tho instruments Of the CRANE
orchestra. In the formation Of tho thener orchestra
the frs, necessary consideration is the question O
what shal be omitted. Twenty persons must do III,
wofk Oh seventy. MOI ohy hhhy pnfI"rWeIh iu'
even some instruments, must be Dispensed with. S
far re have observed judgment, even among pro
fessiona conductors is divided on this point. II
offer correct view, will not do then, to hold ~
any particular example but to take the practical re-
sul. OF general investigation. It'll not diihcat 10
discover what must be retained. TIE string depart
rent must be represented ia every detail since thi'
il 10 the orchestra what The solid framework If 70
N od.lice, and can be in manner dimiEis', ed
ILere nnsi be The lst and second vo.ins the violin