For sure magnificence of sound, no listening experience, rather it’s hearing a live symphony orchestra. Sometimes numbering 100 musicians, the symphony orchestra seems in almost casual sprawl of various instruments. However, these instruments divide into four very distinct sounding families, the strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion.

String instruments produce sound by drawing a bow of horse hair across strings suspended over an exquisitely crafted wooden body. In the orchestra, the strings outnumber the other instruments and play the most often. They include two different sections of violins, a section of violas, a section of cellos and a section of double basses.

The woodwinds provide delicate color in the orchestra. They are played by blowing through a mouthpiece, which resonates air inside a tube. The primary woodwinds are flute, oboe, clarinet and bassoon. Much music also features their interesting cousins, the piccolo, English horn, E-flat and bass clarinet and contrabassoon.

The brass adds power and energy to the orchestra. Brass collars blow through the mouthpiece that resonates air in coiled model tubes that fan out in a bell. The brass instruments are the trumpet, French horn, trombone and tuba.

Percussion instruments add spice to the orchestra emphasizing rhythm and exotic effects by striking various materials together. The timpani, bass drum and the cymbals form the core of orchestral percussion.

In an elaborate sonic dance, the orchestra balances and glows the four families of instruments to produce an infinite rainbow of tone colors.

Listen for instance to Beethoven alternating the woodwinds in strings.

By dynamically changing the orchestration, a composer makes the orchestra come alive.