Types of Orchestral Music
Orchestral music's timeless charm and the push for modern relevance

It doesn’t get more traditional than an orchestra. One of the oldest and most regal musical institutions, orchestras have continued to stand upright and unbent. That said, time always wins eventually. We must all either adapt or be left behind. Many young people will say they don’t care about orchestral music, but orchestras still form an integral part of musical culture and tradition, especially in Europe. So orchestras must adapt, but we must also be curious enough to explore. This is how new styles and ideas are birthed, after all.

In this article, I’ll first explore the orchestra’s attempt to adapt without “losing credibility”, then we’ll do a short exploration of the types of orchestral music. Let’s do it!

Subgenres

Classical

As the name suggests, classical orchestral music is the purest, most traditional form of orchestral music. I’m not even sure I should be calling it a subgenre because, for decades, this was the entirety of orchestral music. It represents orchestral music as we know it, but truthfully, it’s untenable.

Hardly any orchestras are even profitable these days. Governments and other organizations have shouldered most of the financial responsibility for the orchestras. The average age of orchestra regulars in 1981 was 36, but that number rose to 57 in 2020. If this trend continues, there will only be a handful of classical music lovers in the next century.

Something needs to change.

Hip-hop

What do I Can by Nas, Coming to America by Ludacris, and Clouds by NF have in common? If you’re a big rap fan, you’ll know they all have influences of classical music in the production. For every true creative, experimentation is a must. These three artists, among many others, have crossed the lines to create a mix of something wonderful.

Given that we can have rap songs with classical elements, would it be a surprise if you ever went to a rap concert only to find an orchestra seated? Here’s a treat for you.

Pop

If you watched Ariana Grande’s performance at the 2020 Grammy Awards, you probably have an idea of what orchestral pop would sound like. As I watched her perform, I couldn’t help a jaw drop that lasted an entire three seconds. It was beautiful, to say the least. Classical music, when you think about it, is an awesome fit for pop. If you’re still wondering how, watch that Ariana Grande performance, or watch this incredible performance by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Electronic

The basic idea of electronic music is that one can use computers to create sounds a musician can use an instrument to create. So you have plenty of electronic sounds instead of natural musical sounds. Imagine getting an orchestra to then collaborate with an electronic music artist and match the fast, bouncy, and synth beat with their instruments.

That’s what you get with an electronic music orchestra. Watch it happen and tell me you didn’t fall in love if you dare.

Jazz

Horns, drums, strings, and a piano. If not for the size and look of a jazz band, you might mistake them for an orchestra. So among all the subgenres listed today, orchestral jazz makes the most sense. An orchestra can easily pull off a jazz song but give it that classical feel with several instruments layered on each other. This is what it sounds like.

Types

Opera

Think of a musical, except there’s no talking, only singing. That’s an opera. So it doesn’t only require the skilled artists of orchestras but also the expert performing of singers, dancers, and actors. This makes opera a huge part of both theatre and the music industry. If you look into the histories of several world powers today including Russia, France, England, and the United States, you’ll find that operas were a big deal.

Symphony

Operas are part theatre, part music, but a symphony is the most orchestra thing you’ve ever seen. The musical compositions made for orchestras where they just sit and play are called symphonies. So a symphony is essentially what an orchestra plays. It’s broken down into different parts for the different instrument groups to play but combines into a wonderful sound.

Today, the word symphony is almost a synonym for orchestra. Several orchestras even have the word in their names such as the Houston Symphony. Symphonies are divided into several types depending on what instrument it was written for like a piano symphony or an organ symphony. A symphony written for an orchestra or other group of instruments is called a choral symphony.

Ballet

How many young girls do you know who want to be ballet dancers when they grow up? There’s a handful of them in my life. Ballet music is basically music written to be performed by ballet dancers. The ballet was recognized as an art form on its own somewhere in the 19th Century. That gives you an idea of just how old it is.

That said, even ballet has been making strides across lines in recent times. You’ll find ballet dancers performing several types of music now, not just classical. Check out this ballet performance of hip-hop.

Overture

Before every opera, musical, or other theatrical performance begins, the orchestra plays a composition to ease their audience in nicely. This introductory performance is called an overture, which literally means an opening. In terms of style, an overture isn’t different from a regular symphony. Being an introduction to the main event, however, it’s shorter.

Chamber

I won’t spend much time here either. Chamber music is classical music made by a much smaller group of musicians as opposed to the entire orchestra. So back in the day, if the king wanted to enjoy some music in private, you wouldn’t bring an entire orchestra. Chamber music is much more suited to small, private shows.

Final Thoughts

Orchestras have long been a part of the music industry and will be around for a long time, I hope. For that to happen, however, the cooperation with modern music must continue. Demand for orchestral music continues to drop because the pure, classical form appeals to fewer and fewer people, but there’s no reason why the orchestra can’t evolve.

We’ve seen several artists cross the lines between modern and orchestral music, and I pray this continues. Congratulations on a wonderful journey, dear orchestra, and cheers to a new era.