That was an excellent explanation. Thank you.

--- Pierre Csillag <csillag@...> wrote:
> Larry Lemer asked:
>
> > "Strings"? How many? What kind?
>
> "Strings" is a standard name for five parts:
> 1st violins
> 2nd violins
> violas
> cellos
> basses
> each part to be played by several musiciens, the number of each
> depending on the orchestra. In a small orchestra, it can be for
> example: 6 1sts, 6 2nds, 4 violas, 3 cellos and 2 basses; in a big one,
> it can be, for example: (16,16,12,8,6). For the Bartok concerto
> something like the latter distribution would better suit than the
> former.
> Proportions like this were traditionally established, mostly for
> acoustical reasons.
>
> Best, Pierre
>

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"All professions are conspiracies against the laity."

George Bernard Shaw