r/orchestra

Disclaimer: One of my best friends is an oboist, so I have nothing against oboists.

But... I've always sort of felt bothered by the sound of oboes. Even after attending professional symphonies, I just feel like the sound of an oboe sticks out and sounds like a rubber chicken in terms of tone quality. Am I the only one? Is this maybe an acquired taste perhaps?

Hi! I'm in a professional orchestra, and have noticed that I should start wearing some hearing protection. A audiologist friend recommended the loop experience 2 plus because of the variety of tips and the option to add or remove the mute, but I'm worried about sound quality... Are there any musicians here that have used loops for playing acoustic? If so, what are your thoughts on them?
Thanks!

Adaptation and transcription of “Danzón No. 2,” the iconic work by Arturo Márquez, widely recognized as one of the most important pieces in the contemporary orchestral repertoire.

This version is based on the celebrated live performance conducted by Gustavo Dudamel with the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra, capturing key elements of its interpretation, pacing, and expressive character.

The transcription aims to reflect the energy, phrasing, and structural clarity of that performance, offering a practical and musical reference for study, rehearsal, and performance.

I am looking for some good orchestrations of piano pieces which are quite "pianistic" as in they contain a good deal of techniques very typical to piano which do not translate quite easily to the orchestra. an example would be the big arpeggios covering basically the whole keyboard which wont really work well if directly transferred to the harp, etc.

moreover i noticed some other difficulties when trying to orchestrate a few pieces myself, like handling the natural diminuendo of the piano. a piano chord can be written over a whole bar but that chord lasting a bar in the orchestra is just brash and...weird. but then is the question of how much should one truncate the length.

therefore i would like to study some examples of these difficulties being overcome, bargained over, and resolved in any other manner that makes a good orchestral piece as well. i have recently looked at the orchestrations of Liszt's hungarian rhapsodies by Doppler, and am looking for more.

“Vivaldi: Absolute Chaos” is an epic hybrid orchestral track inspired by the intense energy of Antonio Vivaldi, combined with modern trailer sound design. Fast violin runs collide with a massive, deep, and dominant melody, supported by powerful low-end bass and subtle cinematic elements.

This is not just music — it’s controlled chaos.

After a long time playing guitar on my own, and surrounded by people in choirs and orchestras, I’d love to start learning a new instrument and join an orchestra to play with others.

I’m worried about expenses and whether it would be actually feasible to start an instrument from scratch and join an orchestra soon after (not like within a few months but still not in a decade either). To be honest I’m really passionate about learning a ton of instruments, but I think percussions would be more affordable compared to brass and strings (also bc I wouldn’t buy anything except drumsticks I suppose, I won’t cram timpani’s into my apartment lol)

I guess I could use some help understanding how orchestras work in terms of level and experience? And about practicing an instrument like percussion where I assume I’d need to find somewhere to rent the instruments/a music room. If anyone’s specifically from Brussels that’s where I’m currently based and looking for lessons :’)

Thanks!

It was the first week of March, 2026 and for me, it was all about my entertainment queen, Ms. Dionne Warwick. Monday I was prepping to co- host a radio interview with John Batcho, Mr. Sports, 94.7. Tuesday we engaged in the interview with Dionne which was a major milestone for my LIFE! Saturday afternoon Hubby and I practically destroyed our bedroom dressing room as we tried on one outfit after the next - trying to find the perfect set that would work with our Dionne Warwick T-shirts. AT LAST, I settled on this cute sparkly black chiffon jacket to accentuate the white T-shirt boasting Ms. Warwick's gorgeous blondish-gray coiffed hair, beautiful eyes, high cheekbones and brilliant smile. I wore well-fitting black jeans with sequined pockets and black suede high ankle-strapped heels. Oh, and I wore THEE BOLDEST BRIGHTEST bracelets I could find because I wanted Queen Dionne to see me from the stage, clapping with the beat and applauding her performance on "EVERY - SINGLE - SONG."

Now, here we are. Hubby and I finally at the Robins Theater to see Dionne Warwick "live" for the 2nd time. The 1st time 10 years ago and it was wonderful, but it was during the period in my life where I had given up the hope of ever singing again, and that period lasted for decades.

Now, fast-forward to this week of March 9, 2026. A time in my life that I am actually performing Ms. Warwick's music on stages before live audiences... This night, all I wanted to do was hang on to her every note, her every inflection, her every interpretation of every phrase... and to somehow say, "Thank You." Thank you Ms. Warwick for all the voice lessons and performance lessons that I continue to glean from you every day; morning noon and night - as I listen to, and practice, and sing your music. I never conceived that I could actually have a future singing this music I love, but God. So, if anyone wonders why I've been so over the moon this whole week, why I call Dionne Warwick my Queen, why I love her so very much,... Well, now ya know.

[Left] Dionne Warwick performing 'live' at the Robins in Warren, OH. [Center] Dionne Tribute Artist Debórah Benton, and [Right] LaMarr Benton