I was watching this concert and noticed every now and then you see (who I think is) a musician just sitting there. I'm guessing that they don't have a part in this particular piece - sitting it out, so to speak. But they don't have an instrument, that I can see, and maybe it's on the floor in front of them. One girl you can see is sitting it out and has her instrument propped on her knee.

A couple examples.

You can see the first girl (with glasses) at :32, who seems to be just sitting there. Later, near the 2:00 mark, at the far top center right, I think I see maybe a flute on her lap - though I don't think she plays it.

At :46 the guy is between two trumpets and throughout this piece he just sits there. Ok, at 2:32 you can see his horn instrument on his lap.

Maestro is a better one to respond to this than I am.

The performers may have parts in other pieces in the concert. It's distracting for orchestra members to come and go between pieces. Their instruments may laying on the floor, etc.

(Since my answer kinda sucked, I offer you this quote from Sir Thomas Beecham to a female cellist: "Madam, you have between your legs an instrument capable of giving pleasure to thousands and all you can do is scratch it.")

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Shugart:

(Since my answer kinda sucked, I offer you this quote from Sir Thomas Beecham to a female cellist: "Madam, you have between your legs an instrument capable of giving pleasure to thousands and all you can do is scratch it.")

Or she could put a bow on it!

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Shugart:
Maestro is a better one to respond to this than I am.

The performers may have parts in other pieces in the concert. It's distracting for orchestra members to come and go between pieces. Their instruments may laying on the floor, etc.

(Since my answer kinda sucked, I offer you this quote from Sir Thomas Beecham to a female cellist: "Madam, you have between your legs an instrument capable of giving pleasure to thousands and all you can do is scratch it.")

Awesome - thanks.

Orchestral wind players don't always play throughout every piece, so Jim is likely correct about this recording.

Unlike a band, none of the wind parts are doubled in an orchestra. Since this appears to be a youth orchestra, often they will use more players than they need to give more students an opportunity to play. The ones who are not playing might be playing in the next piece in the concert. In fact, different time periods called for different sized orchestras, so if another piece on the concert calls for a larger orchestra, they all might be playing later on in the program.

quote:

Originally posted by Maestro:
Orchestral wind players don't always play throughout every piece, so Jim is likely correct about this recording.

Unlike a band, none of the wind parts are doubled in an orchestra. Since this appears to be a youth orchestra, often they will use more players than they need to give more students an opportunity to play. The ones who are not playing might be playing in the next piece in the concert. In fact, different time periods called for different sized orchestras, so if another piece on the concert calls for a larger orchestra, they all might be playing later on in the program.

Thanks.