Part 3: 19th Century Innovations

Project One: Technical innovation and the orchestra

It is clear from my research that the developments in engineering during the nineteenth century ushered in a new generation of musical instruments.  It seems that during this period most of the instruments in the orchestra had a ‘rethink’, aspiring to use new technological advances to improve or redefine their sound and techniques.   Bowles (1999) suggests that this was partially due to the availability of new metals and states that innovations in techniques and the levels of metal ‘purity’ by inventors Henry Bessemer and William Siemens, led to a period of:

“vitality, innovation, and change in the development and manufacture of musical instruments.”

Instruments such as the piano were given a new sound due to the cast-iron frame and the ability to create a greater string tension.  In addition, instruments such as the harmonica began to appear. 

Hugill (2004) writes that string instruments underwent developments of bow patterns and string tension, brass saw the addition of the valve to further its range and the woodwind adopted the designs of Theobald Boehm.  However Hugill continues to state:

“All these developments enabled a more powerful sound and more lyrical expression. However, the new instruments only gradually appeared in orchestras through the 19th Century.”

Composers such as Wagner were credited for not only including these instruments in their compositions, but actually creating new instruments too.  For example the Wagner Tuba was an instrument specifically designed to create Wagner’s intended deep, mellow and smooth tones. 

The development of these instruments not only served to create a more precise and varied sound, but also began to bring musical instruments to the masses.  The cost of these ‘new’ metals meant that many musical instruments were widely available and it became commonplace for a wider range of individuals to learn these instrumental techniques.    

Research Point: The History of Auxiliary Instruments

In addition to the improvements made to instruments such as the piano and flute during this period, new instruments began to appear designed to add depth and texture to the current orchestral families.

Romantic and the 20th century Orchestra [online] (n.d.).  describe in great detail how instruments such as the Piccolo, Cor Anglais, Bass Clarinet and Contra-bassoon were added to orchestral scores along with a variety of percussion instruments.  The addition of these instruments made a huge impact on the size of orchestra.