The Orchestral String Section: An Introduction (Philharmonia Orchestra)
How do 60 individual violins, violas, cellos and basses transform into the lush sound of an orchestral string section? Who do they follow? What makes them all move together? Find out all of their secrets in this film.
You can watch the rest of our videos featuring string instruments here: • String Instruments (Philharmonia Orchestra)
CHAPTERS
00:00 – The bedrock of the orchestral sound
DEBUSSY
Nocturnes, L. 91
I. Nuages
02:04 – Seating arrangement
03:37 – The late Classical period
MOZART
Salzburg Symphony No. 1 (Divertimento in D major, K. 136)
I. Allegro
06:36 – The Romantic period
BEETHOVEN
Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36
I. Adagio molto — Allegro con brio
07:58 – The cellos and double basses become more independent of each other
SCHUBERT
Symphony No. 8 (Unfinished) in B minor, D 759
I. Allegro moderato
10:51 – Late Romantic composers
DEBUSSY
Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune, L. 86
13:04 – At the other end of the emotional scale
TCHAIKOVSKY
Symphony No. 6 (Pathétique) in B minor, Op. 74
I. Adagio – Allegro non troppo
14:45 – The heel of the bow
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
Scheherazade, Op. 35
II. The Kalandar Prince
15:56 – Tremolo
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
Scheherazade, Op. 35
II. The Kalandar Prince
17:13 – Pizzicato
ROSSINI
L'Italiana in Algeri
Overture
18:09 – Fast pizzicato
TCHAIKOVSKY
Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36
III. Scherzo: Pizzicato ostinato — Allegro
18:57 – A wonderful array of colours and sounds
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
Scheherazade, Op. 35
IV. Festival at Baghdad. The Sea. The Ship Breaks against a Cliff Surmounted by a Bronze Horseman