Violin

Suggested

Range

About Our

Suggested

Ranges

Final Thoughts

As we stated at the top of this chapter, an orchestra really isn't an orchestra without the violins. While you might not hear the difference between sixteen violins and eighteen violins, you want to make sure that there are enough violins to balance out the remaining members of the orchestra. Thirty or more players comprise the standard symphony orchestra violin section (including the 1st and 2nd violins).

If your budget is of concern, and you can only afford to hire a medium size orchestra, it would be wise to use no less than twelve violins total. With that number, you can still achieve a somewhat rich sound for your melody lines. If you needed to write three or four note chords, you would still have 3 or 4 players on each note. This would provide just enough weight to give your harmonies that recognizable string section sound. Finally, understand that your ability to write for violins and the string section in general will determine how well you will write for the entire orchestra.