AMTO's Instruments
In this post we look at the first version of the orchestra and the changes that are coming for AMTO's second concert.
FG
8/10/20242 min read
AMTO's first concert was based around musical theatre repertoire and as such was based on a pit orchestra format - albeit with some added extras. No two pit orchestras are the same and we had to be several pit orchestras in one, as we weren't playing music from only one show.
In the rough floor plan below you will see the instrumental makeup of the orchestra - note that the layout was adapted slightly one we were actually in the venue, though the outline is mainly correct. It was important to have 5 reed players (all of whom played multiple woodwind instruments) as arranging the harmonies works well with 5 parts. To match this we had 4 trumpet players, required for any big band style orchestrations and to allow players to divide up parts to help survive the rather heavy blow! 3 trombones and a French horn balance up the brass and woodwinds.
We had a relatively small string section, so a lot of the big string moments were doubled on the 2nd keyboard part. In the final layout we had all of the rhythm section to the left and behind the violins and the singers were to the right where the MC is marked on the plan - they preferred to see the conductor. The 2nd keyboard added any instruments we didn't have acoustically like celesta, harp etc. and doubled other instruments as required to compliment the sound. The 1st keyboard was all piano on this occasion.
So, what's changing for our next concert...?
The main change is we are having a bigger violin section which will give greater sound and offer more flexible use of the 2nd keyboard part. A second double bass will give more "bottom end" to the texture but we also have electric bass as we did last year, giving more of a rock sound when required. We are having 2 French horns to relieve the trumpets from using flugel horns to provide a sound that blends with the horn - used for harmonic purposes - and a tuba is being added to give more bass to the brass section.
If you heard the sound of the orchestra last year and thought it was impressive, it should be even more so this year!