Pit Orchestra - Pit Orchestra Examples

Pit Orchestra Examples

Pit orchestras can range from large orchestras to small rock combos. While a pit orchestra usually plays in the orchestra pit, there are times when they are on stage in the background (this is usually for rock musicals). Below are examples pit orchestra examples from five major theatrical license companies: Music Theatre International, Tams-Witmark, Samuel French, Inc., Rodgers and Hammerstein Theatricals, and Theatrical Rights Worldwide (excluding any conductor scores unless needed).

Bye Bye Birdie (orchestration according to Tams-Witmark, the company that holds the Bye Bye Birdie license)
  • 3 Violins (three people are needed to play violin)
  • 2 Cellos (two people are needed to play cello)
  • Bass
  • Reed 1: Alto sax, clarinet, flute, piccolo
  • Reed 2: Alto sax, clarinet
  • Reed 3: Tenor sax, clarinet
  • Reed 4: Clarinet, bass clarinet, baritone sax
  • Horn
  • Trumpets 1 & 2
  • Trumpet 3
  • Trombone 1
  • Trombone 2
  • Piano
  • 2 Percussion 1 & 2 (trap drum set and mallet instruments; one plays drums and the other plays mallet instruments)
  • Guitar/Banjo
  • Total players: 20 players
Phantom Of The Opera (orchestration according to The Really Useful Group, the company that holds the Phantom Of The Opera license)
  • Solo Violin
  • 3 1st Violins
  • 3 2nd Violins
  • 2 Violas
  • Violincello
  • Contrabass
  • Orchestral Harp
  • Reed 1 (Flute/Piccolo)
  • Reed 2 (Flute/Oboe/Cor Anglais)
  • Reed 3 (A Clarinet/Bb Clarinet/Bassoon)
  • Reed 4 (A Clarinet/Bb Clarinet/Saxophone)
  • 3 French Horns
  • 2 Trumpets
  • Trombone
  • Percussionist
  • 2 Keyboards
  • Guitarist
  • Total: 26 Players
Jesus Christ Superstar (orchestration according to Rodgers and Hammerstein Theatricals, the company that holds the Jesus Christ Superstar license)
  • Reed 1 (Flute doubling piccolo)
  • Reed 2 (Flute doubling clarinet)
  • Reed 3 (Oboe)
  • Reed 4 (Bassoon)
  • Horn
  • Trumpet 1
  • Trumpet 2
  • Trombone
  • Violin 1
  • Violin 2
  • Viola
  • Cello
  • Electric bass guitar
  • Electric guitar
  • Piano/Organ
  • Drums
  • Percussion (can be played by one or two players)
  • Total: 17 players
A New Brain (orchestration according to Samuel French, Inc., the company that holds the A New Brain license)
  • Piano/conductor
  • Synthesizer
  • Drums/percussion
  • Reed (Alto sax, clarinet, oboe)
  • Horn
  • Cello
  • Total: 5 players
Godspell (orchestration according to Music Theatre International, the company that holds the Godspell license)
  • Keyboard/conductor
  • Bass
  • Drums
  • Guitar
  • Total players: 4 players
All Shook Up (orchestration according to Theatrical Rights Worldwide, the company that holds the All Shook Up license)
  • Piano/conductor
  • Reed 1 (Flute, alto sax)
  • Reed 2 (Clarinet, tenor sax)
  • Reed 3 (Baritone sax, bass clarinet)
  • Trumpet 1
  • Trumpet 2
  • Trombone
  • Organ (usually played on a keyboard)
  • Guitar 1
  • Guitar 2
  • Bass
  • Drums
  • Total players: 12 players

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Famous quotes containing the words pit, orchestra and/or examples:

    “the hind
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    —William Carlos Williams (1883–1963)

    “As the artist
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    one gratuitous flourish—a stroke of white or
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    —Denise Levertov (b. 1923)

    “No rules exist, and examples are simply life-savers answering the appeals of rules making vain attempts to exist.”
    —André Breton (1896–1966)