Topic: guitars in orchestra?
is there, or have there ever been guitars in orchestras? please help i need to make a boring music project more interesting!
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- jpage_roxmysox
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- James McCormick
- Honoured Member
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Re: guitars in orchestra?
Yes, guitars have been used in orchestras - most notably in the Banjo Orchestras of the late 1880's and early 1900's. Guitars were part of the ensembles instrumentation. At that time, banjos were far more popular than guitars (at least here in the USA).
Check these links - and also do a Google (and Google image) search for 'banjo orchestra'. You can also try searching 'ukulele orchestra' since these ensembles were also wildly popular in the 19teens and 1920's.
<a href="http://www.forgottenwisdom.com/banjoorchestra/music.html" target="_blank">http://www.forgottenwisdom.com/banjoorchestra/music.html</a>
<a href="http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://svr1.cg971.fr/lameca/dossiers/calypso/images2/instruments_banjo.jpg&imgrefurl=http://svr1.cg971.fr/lameca/dossiers/calypso/instruments.html&h=305&w=450&sz=40&hl=en&start=6&tbnid=JyrY7jLFMXr_eM:&tbnh=86&tbnw=127&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbanjo%2Borchestra%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN" target="_blank"> http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl= … .cg971.fr/ lameca/dossiers/calypso/images2/instruments_banjo.jpg&im grefurl=http://svr1.cg971.fr/lameca/dossiers/calypso/instrum ents.html&h=305&w=450&sz=40&hl=en&start= 6&tbnid=JyrY7jLFMXr_eM:&tbnh=86&tbnw=127&pre v=/images%3Fq%3Dbanjo%2Borchestra%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26s a%3DN</a>
Of course, guitars have often been used in ragtime, dixieland, and jazz ensembles.
As far a guitars in symphonic orchestras (classical music), there is not much liturature written specifically for the guitar. Andre Segovia pioneered 'classical guitar' mostly by transcribing pieces written for other instruments - look up Segovia in Wikipedia.
"That darn Pythagorean Comma thing keeps messing me up!"
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_comma[/url]
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_comma[/url]
- alvee33
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Re: guitars in orchestra?
<img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_eek.gif" border=0 alt="Shocked">
James,
Where do you find that stuff??
A never ending mind pit of STUFF!
Bloody amazing. <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_smile.gif" border=0 alt="Smile">
<img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_lol.gif" border=0 alt="Laughing">
Hey I just made Senior Member!
Is anything really made up of zeros and ones??
- upyerkilt
- Unofficial king of Scotland
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Re: guitars in orchestra?
congrats Al. lol
ken
ye get some that are cut out for the job and others just get by from pretending
- James McCormick
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Re: guitars in orchestra?
I'll take the 'never ending mind pit of STUFF' as a compliment- thank you!
Why do I know about banjo orhestras? Not really sure - but it is fascinating.
Why do I know about Andres Segovia? Not really sure - but it is fascinating.
Guess I just like to read . . . just checked and there are several very good clips of Segovia on YouTube . . . incredible musicianship.
Attached is a photo of other most favorite Spanish guitarist, Charo!
<img src="index.php?t=getfile&id=98&private=0" border=0 alt="index.php?t=getfile&id=98&private=0">
"That darn Pythagorean Comma thing keeps messing me up!"
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_comma[/url]
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_comma[/url]
- alvee33
- Honoured Member
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Re: guitars in orchestra?
Jeezoh!
Now I can see where the fascination lies!!!! <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_eek.gif" border=0 alt="Shocked">
Is anything really made up of zeros and ones??
- cytania
- Senior Member
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Re: guitars in orchestra?
Guitars really came into their own with the big swing band orchestras. I could never understand why these dance bands always had a jazz guitarists when you could never hear him playing and no solo spot either.
I now gather that the guitarists rhythmn playing was vital for keeping all that brass/wind on the beat. The 'chunk, chunk' of the guitar (often amplified with early pickups) could be heard by the other players but not the audience/dancers and kept them in time better than the percussionist.
'The sound of the city seems to disappear'
Re: guitars in orchestra?
A lot of musicians who play 'classical' instruments like wind and string look down on the humble guitar. There is a huge snob factor involved.
My ambition far exceeds my ability
- James McCormick
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Re: guitars in orchestra?
Yes, there is a sometimes a 'snob factor' and this is unfortunate - and it goes both ways.
Classsically-trained musicians can have chip on their shoulder since they often times they have spent many years honing their skills under the rigorous guidance of master players. Often times these 'paper-trained' musicians are technically adept, but are unable or unwilling to play 'off the page'.
Self-taught musicians (mostly guitarists) may also have spent many years honing their skills - but often times are unwilling or unable to master the basics of reading and understanding written music.
'Paper-trained' musicians can benefit from learning how to play extemporaneously. Self-taught musicians can benefit from learning about music theory.
Personally, I love music and enjoy hearing anyone play well - I don't care how they learned to play. I would never criticize anybody for being 'too educated' or for being 'self-taught'. If it sounds good - it is good.
"That darn Pythagorean Comma thing keeps messing me up!"
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_comma[/url]
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_comma[/url]