V
The Orchestral Score
The printed form of an orchestral composition, or one for voices and orchestra, is called a score. (German, Partitur.) In it are comprised the parts to be played by all the instruments. It is read across the page precisely as a piece of piano music is, with the important difference that while in a piano piece there are only two staves—one for the treble and one for the bass—in an orchestral score there are from sixteen to twenty-four, according to the number of the parts. The name of the instrument is printed at the beginning of its part and also the key in which it stands, if it is a transposing instrument. The customary order of the instruments from top to bottom of the page is as follows: Flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons, horns, trumpets, trombones, tuba, tympani, and other instruments of percussion, harps, violins, violas, ’cellos, and double-basses. This order is sometimes changed for the sake of convenience. If there are voices, as in an opera or oratorio, they will be found in the older scores between the viola and ’cello parts. The more modern custom is to put them above the first violins, so that the parts of the string choir are not separated. In a concerto the solo instrument is similarly placed. The names of the instruments of the score are usually given in Italian, but sometimes in German. The following list gives the names of the instruments in English, Italian, German, and French, with the plurals where needed:
| Italian. | German. | French. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flute | Flautŏ(i) | Flöte(n) | Flute. |
| Oboe | Oboe(i) | Hoboe(n) | Hautbois. |
| English Horn | Cornŏ Inglese | Englische Horn | Cor Anglais. |
| Clarinet | Clarinettŏ(i) | Clarinette(n) | Clarinette. |
| Bassoon | Fagottŏ(i) | Fagott(e) | Basson. |
| Horn | Cornŏ(i) | Horn(er) | Cor. |
| Trumpet | Tromba(e) | Trompete(n) | Trompette. |
| Cornet | Cornettó(i) | Cornet(te) | Cornette à pistons. |
| Trombone | Trombonó(i) | Posaune(n) | Trombone. |
| Tuba | Tuba | Tuba | Tuba. |
| Bass Drum | Gran Cassa | Grosse Trommel | Grosse Caisse. |
| Cymbals | Piatti | Becken | Cymbales. |
| Kettle-drums | Timpani | Pauken | Timbales. |
| Harp | Arpa | Harfe | Harpe. |
| Violin | Violino | Geige | Violone. |
| Viola | Viola | Bratsche | Alto. |
| Violoncello | Violoncello | Violoncell | Violoncelle. |
| Bass | Basso | Bass | Contrebasse. |
