Inside the Music: Instrumentation Details
The instrumentation of an orchestral work of music—that is to say, the combination of instruments the composer chooses for a particular piece—is a major part of what makes each piece unique. The choice of instrumentation often reflects the time period in which the music was written, the composer’s ambitions and innovations, or the limitations of the premiering ensemble.
In works of Western classical music, the most common scoring of an orchestral composition is winds in pairs—meaning two each of flutes, oboes, clarinets and bassoons—along with four horns, three trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, a small handful of common percussion instruments and a full string section. Works from before the 1800s generally used fewer instruments, while Romantic, 20th-century and contemporary scores are more likely to add an enlarged percussion section, harp, piano, or auxiliary woodwind instruments such as piccolo, English horn, bass clarinet and contrabassoon—or even electronic instruments and pre-recorded sounds. In many cases throughout music history, orchestral composers have opted for smaller ensembles, or the addition of soloists and human voices. Musicians are sometimes called to play more than one instrument during the course of a composition—a concept known as “doubling.”
Instrumentation Details
Instrumentation details for Minnesota Orchestra concerts from May 30-June 19, 2025.
OTT PLAYS BEETHOVEN: May 30-31, 2025
Carl Maria von Weber: Overture to Oberon
Instrumentation: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani and strings
Ludwig van Beethoven: Concerto No. 4 in G major for Piano and Orchestra, Opus 58 (PLEASE NOTE: Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 replaces the originally scheduled Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3.)
Instrumentation: solo piano with orchestra comprising 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, timpani and strings
Robert Schumann: Symphony No. 2 in C major, Opus 61
Instrumentation: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani and strings
FEI XIE PLAYS JOLIVET: June 5-6, 2025
Wynton Marsalis: Selections from Blues Symphony
Instrumentation: 3 flutes (1 doubling piccolo), 3 oboes (1 doubling English horn), 3 clarinets (1 doubling bass clarinet), 3 bassoons (1 doubling contrabassoon), 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, snare drum, small and large bass drums, cymbals, ride cymbal, sizzle cymbal, splash cymbal, small, medium and large suspended cymbals, agogo bells, bongo bell, cabasa, congas, cowbell, guiro, hi-hat, pandeiro, tambourine, tamtam, timbale bell, timbales, tom-toms, triangle, washboard, whistle, glockenspiel, chimes and strings
André Jolivet: Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra
Instrumentation: solo bassoon with orchestra comprising harp, piano and strings
George Enescu: Symphony No. 1 in E-flat major, Opus 13
Instrumentation: 3 flutes (1 doubling piccolo), 2 oboes, English horn, 2 clarinets, E-flat clarinet, bass clarinet, 3 bassoons, contrabassoon, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 2 cornets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, bass drum, cymbals, tambourine, triangle, 2 harps and strings
SØNDERGÅRD CONDUCTS RACHMANINOFF: June 12-14, 2025
Carlos Simon: Four Black American Dances
Instrumentation: 2 flutes, piccolo, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, splash cymbal, suspended cymbal, 2 hand claps, shaker, tambourine, tamtam, tom-toms, triangle, 2 whips, wood blocks, large wood stick on a wooden floorboard, xylophone, marimba, vibraphone, chimes, harp and strings
Sergei Prokofiev: Concerto No. 3 in C major for Piano and Orchestra, Opus 26
Instrumentation: solo piano with orchestra comprising 2 flutes (1 doubling piccolo), 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani, bass drum, cymbals, castanets, tambourine and strings
Sergei Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances, Opus 45
Instrumentation: 2 flutes, piccolo, 2 oboes, English horn, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, alto saxophone, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, suspended cymbal, tambourine, tamtam, triangle, glockenspiel, chimes, xylophone, harp, piano and strings
JUNETEENTH WITH THE MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA: June 19, 2025
James Price Johnson: Victory Stride
Instrumentation: 2 flutes (1 doubling piccolo), 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 4 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, drum set, harp, piano and strings
Mary D. Watkins: Soul of Remembrance, from Five Movements in Color
Instrumentation: 2 flutes, piccolo, 2 oboes, English horn, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, bassoon, contrabassoon, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, harp and strings
Michael Abels: Delights and Dances
Instrumentation: string quartet and string orchestra
George Gershwin/arr. John Lowe: Summertime, from Porgy and Bess
Instrumentation: 2 flutes, piccolo, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani, bass drum, suspended cymbal, congas, drum set, tambourine, piano, electric bass and strings
Abel Meeropol/arr. John Lowe: Strange Fruit
Instrumentation: 2 flutes, piccolo, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, trumpet, 3 trombones, timpani, bass drum, crotales, harp, piano and strings
Erroll Garner/arr. John Lowe: Misty
Instrumentation: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani, suspended cymbal, drum set, piano, acoustic bass and strings
James Lee III: Freedom’s Genuine Dawn
Instrumentation: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, suspended cymbal, large ride cymbal, tambourine, temple blocks, triangle, xylophone, marimba, glockenspiel, vibraphone and strings
Valerie Coleman: Umoja, Anthem for Unity for Orchestra
Instrumentation: 2 flutes, piccolo, 2 oboes, English horn, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, trombone, bass trombone, tuba, timpani, snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, large ride cymbal, suspended cymbal, tambourine, temple blocks, triangle, glockenspiel, vibraphone, xylophone, marimba, harp, piano and strings
Carlos Simon: Ring Shout, from Four Black American Dances
Instrumentation: 2 flutes, piccolo, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, splash cymbal, suspended cymbal, 2 hand claps, shaker, tambourine, tamtam, tom-toms, triangle, 2 whips, wood blocks, large wood stick on a wooden floorboard, xylophone, marimba, vibraphone, chimes, harp and strings, marimba, harp, piano and strings
Instrumentation details for Minnesota Orchestra concerts from July 10-August 1, 2025 (excluding Chamber Music in the Hall on July 26 and Grand Piano Spectacular on July 31).
BEETHOVEN AND BRAHMS: July 10-12, 2025
Carl Maria von Weber: Overture to Der Freischütz
Instrumentation: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba and strings
Ludwig van Beethoven: Romance No. 2 in F major for Violin and Orchestra, Opus 50
Instrumentation: solo violin with orchestra comprising flute, 2 oboes, 2 bassoons, 2 horns and strings
Ludwig van Beethoven: Romance No. 1 in G major for Violin and Orchestra, Opus 40
Instrumentation: solo violin with orchestra comprising flute, 2 oboes, 2 bassoons, 2 horns and strings
Johannes Brahms: Symphony No. 2 in D major, Opus 73
Instrumentation: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani and strings
HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE IN CONCERT: July 17-20, 2025
John Williams: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Film with Orchestra
Instrumentation: 3 flutes (all doubling alto flute and piccolo, with 2 doubling optional recorder), 3 oboes (1 doubling English horn), 3 clarinets (1 doubling E-flat clarinet and 1 doubling bass clarinet), 3 bassoons (1 doubling contrabassoon), 6 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, 3 snare drums (medium, deep and antique), bass drum, cymbals, finger cymbals, sizzle cymbal, suspended cymbal, anvil, bangles, bell tree, crotales, field drum, hand drum, long drum, tuned drums, gong, mark tree, ratchet, sleigh bells, tambourine, 3 tamtams, 2 triangles, small glass wind chimes, high wood block, xylophone, marimba, glockenspiel, vibraphone, chimes, harp, piano, 2 synthesizers and strings
PARKER, SCHUMANN AND TCHAIKOVSKY: July 25, 2025
Felix Mendelssohn: Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage, Opus 27
Instrumentation: 2 flutes, piccolo, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 2 horns, 3 trumpets, timpani and strings
Robert Schumann: Concerto in A minor for Piano and Orchestra, Opus 54
Instrumentation: solo piano with orchestra comprising 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, timpani and strings
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Selections from Swan Lake, Opus 20a
Instrumentation: 2 flutes, piccolo, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 cornets, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, bass drum, castanets, cymbals, tambourine, triangle, harp and strings
RELAXED FAMILY CONCERT—RHYTHM IN MOTION: July 26, 2025
Richard Strauss: Overture to Die Fledermaus
Instrumentation: 2 flutes (1 doubling piccolo), 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani, snare drum, bass drum, triangle, chimes and strings
Antonín Dvořák: Slavonic Dance in G minor, Opus 46, No. 8
Instrumentation: flute, piccolo, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani, bass drum, cymbals, triangle and strings
Manuel de Falla: Ritual Fire Dance, from El amor brujo
Instrumentation: 2 flutes (1 doubling piccolo), oboe, 2 clarinets, bassoon, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, timpani, piano and strings
José Pablo Moncayo: Huapango
Instrumentation: 2 flutes, piccolo, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, E-flat clarinet, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, bass drum, claves, guiro, Indian drum, maracas, sonajas, tamburo, xylophone, harp and strings
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Scène and Valse from Swan Lake Suite
Instrumentation: 2 flutes, piccolo, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 cornets, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, bass drum, castanets, cymbals, tambourine, triangle, harp and strings
Alberto Ginastera: Final Dance (Malambo), from Estancia
Instrumentation: flute, piccolo (1 flute also doubling piccolo), 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, timpani, military drum, tenor drum, bass drum, cymbals, castanets, tambourine, tamtam, triangle, xylophone, piano and strings
PARKER, GRIEG AND DVOŘÁK: August 1, 2025
Johannes Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Haydn, Opus 56a
Instrumentation: 2 flutes, piccolo, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, timpani, triangle and strings
Edvard Grieg: Concerto in A minor for Piano and Orchestra, Opus 16
Instrumentation: solo piano with orchestra comprising 2 flutes (1 doubling piccolo), 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani and strings
Antonín Dvořák: Symphony No. 8 in G major, Opus 88
Instrumentation: 2 flutes (1 doubling piccolo), 2 oboes (1 doubling English horn), 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani and strings
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