tester edit
| Family | Instruments | Baroque Orchestra | Classical Orchestra | Early Romantic Orchestra | Late Romantic Orchestra | Modern Orchestra |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodwinds | Piccolo | none | none | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Flute | none or 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | |
| Oboe | 2 or 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| English Horn | none | none | (1) | 1 | 1 | |
| E-flat Clarinet | none | none | none | 1 | none | |
| Clarinet | none | 2, in B-flat, A | 2, in B-flat, A | 3, in B-flat, A | 2, in B-flat/A | |
| Bass Clarinet | none | none | (1, in B-flat, A) | 1, in B-flat | 1, in B-flat (and/or Clarinet in E-flat) | |
| Bassoon | 1-2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | |
| Contrabassoon | 0-1 | none | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Brass | Horn | 2 or 4, in D (sometimes others) | 2-4, in all keys | 4, in F (sometimes others) | 4-8 , in F | 4, in F |
| Trumpet | 2 or 3, in D (sometimes others) | 2, in all keys | 2, in F (sometimes others) | 3-4, in F, C, B-flat | 3, in C | |
| Trombone | none | none or 1 Alto, Tenor, 1 Bass | 2 Tenors, 1 Bass | 2-3 Tenors, 1 Bass | 2 Tenors, 1 Bass \ | |
| Euphonium | none | none | none | (1) | (1) | |
| Wagner Tuba | none | none | none | (2 Tenor, 1 Bass) | none | |
| Tuba | none | none | (1) | 1-2 | 1 | |
| Percussion | Timpani | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 or more | 5 |
| Snare Drum | none | none | • | • | • | |
| Bass Drum | none | none | • | • | • | |
| Cymbals | none | none | • | • | • | |
| Tam-tam | none | none | none | • | • | |
| Triangle | none | none | • | • | • | |
| Tambourine | none | none | • | • | • | |
| Glockenspiels | none | none | • | • | • | |
| Xylophone | none | none | none | • | • | |
| Keyboards | Harpsichord | • | none | none | none | none |
| Piano | none | none | none | • | • | |
| Celesta | none | none | none | • | • | |
| Organ | none | none | none | • | none | |
| Synthesiser | none | none | none | none | • | |
| Strings | Harp | none | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Violin I | 4-6 | 6 | 14 | 16 | 16 | |
| Violin II | 4-6 | 6 | 12 | 16 | 16 | |
| Viola | 2-4 | 4 | 10 | 12 | 12 | |
| Violoncellos | 2-4 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 10 | |
| Contrabass | 0-2 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 8 |
Modern Orchestra have heavily varies percussion instruments according to composer's needs. Other Instruments like, Vibraphone, Marimba, Wood Block, Whip, Claves and other instruments that is not suitable for other orchestra members to play (e.g. Typewriter, Guard Whistle, Breaking a dish, ect.) go to the percussion part as well.