| 释义 |
orchestra|ˈɔːkɪstrə|
[a. L. orchēstra, a. Gr. ὀρχήστρα the space on which the chorus danced, f. ὀρχέεσθαι to dance, ὀρχηστήρ, -τής dancer. Formerly stressed orˈchestra, e.g. by Byron.]
1. a. In the ancient Greek theatre, A large semicircular space in front of the stage, where the chorus danced and sang.
In the Roman theatre, the orchestra was reserved for the seats of senators and persons of distinction.
1606Holland Sueton. 17 He passed directly from the Stage by the Orchestra, to take up his place among the Knights. 1611Coryat Crudities 299 It [Theatre of Vicenza] hath an Orchestra made in it according to the imitation of the Roman Orchestraes. 1647Sir R. Stapylton Juvenal 121 To furnish the orchestra, next the stage. 1734tr. Rollin's Anc. Hist. (1827) I. 126 The orchestra..amongst the Greeks was the place assigned for the pantomimes and dancers. 1900W. L. Courtney Idea of Tragedy 15 A huge semi-circle of seats, perhaps first made of wood, afterwards of stone, looked down upon a central portion, called the orchestra, and allotted to the chorus.
fig.1658Sir T. Browne Hydriot. iv. 39 They may sit in the Orchestra, and noblest Seats of Heaven.
b. Dancing; title of a poem on dancing.
1596Davies (title) Orchestra, or a poeme of Dauncinge. 1599Marston Sco. Villanie iii. xi. 225 Praise but Orchestra and the skipping Art, You shall command him, faith you haue his hart Euen capring in your fist.
c. In modern use, a section of the auditorium of a theatre, now usually the forward part or all of the main floor. Chiefly U.S.
1768Sterne Sent. Journ. I. 192 At the end of the orchestra..there is a small esplanade... Though you stand, as in the parterre, you pay the same price as in the orchestra. 1786Independent Jrnl. (N.Y.) 5 Aug. 2 The Pit is very large, and the Theatrum and Orchestra elegant and commodious. 1872Chicago Tribune 28 Mar. 5/4 The interior will contain an orchestra and three circles. 1911World's Work (N.Y.) Sept. 14840/1 They were accustomed, when they went to the theatre, to pay an extra half dollar for seats in the front rows of the orchestra. 1924D. Lawrence True Story Woodrow Wilson 117 A President..cannot sit in the orchestra or in the balcony. 1927Amer. Speech Oct. 23 In the early days of the English theatre what we know as the ‘orchestra’ or parquet floor of the house, was called the ‘pit’. 1961Bowman & Ball Theatre Lang. 242 Orchestra 1. The seating area on the main level of an auditorium.
2. a. That part of a theatre or other public building assigned to the band of performers on musical instruments (and, in a concert-room, to the chorus of singers). b. A building or structure for a band of instrumental performers; a band-stand.
1724Short Explic. For. Wds. Mus. Bks., Orchestra, is that Part of the Theater, where the Musicians sit with their Instruments to perform. 1787P. Beckford Lett. Italy (1805) I. 283 Orchestras were erected in different parts, and the common people danced in the center, having the sky for a canopy. 1817M. Edgeworth Harrington vii, The impatient sticks in the pit, and shrill catcalls in the gallery, had begun to contend with the music in the orchestra. 1880W. S. Rockstro in Grove Dict. Mus. II. 560 In modern theatres the normal position of the Orchestra is in front of the Stage, but on a level with the floor of the Stalls and Pit... In concert-rooms, the Orchestra is usually placed at one end of the apartment, at such a height above the general level of the floor that the full length figure of a Performer, standing in front, may be visible to a seated audience.
3. a. The company of musicians themselves; a company of performers of concerted instrumental music in a theatre, concert-room, etc. (either alone, or as accompaniment to voices). fig.
More restricted in use than band; the ‘strings’ or instruments of the viol class being always present and usually of fundamental importance in an orchestra.
1720Gay To W. Pulteney 191 But, hark! the full orchestra strike the strings. 1753Hanway Trav. (1762) I. vii. xc. 413 The orchestra consists of about fifty musicians. 1811Byron Hints fr. Hor. 308 The pert shopkeeper, whose throbbing ear Aches with orchestras which he pays to hear. 1880W. S. Rockstro in Grove Dict. Mus. II. 561 The term Orchestra is also applied, collectively, to the body of Instrumental Performers officiating at a Theatre, in a Concert-room, or on a Stage or raised Platform in the open air. 1880‘Vern. Lee’ Stud. Italy iii. ii. 100 The singular effect produced by the sight of an orchestra entirely composed of women.
fig.1742Young Nt. Th. iv. 650 High heav'n's orchestra chaunts amen to man. 1927Chesterton Coll. Poems 40, I salute your three violinists... They play my accompaniment; but I shall take no notice of any accompaniment; I myself am a complete orchestra. 1958M. Kennedy Outlaws on Parnassus v. 77 Writers using an orchestra of minds to tell their story for them were obliged to consider..the variety of language, as used by different minds.
b. transf. The set of instruments played by such a company of musicians.
1834M. Somerville Connex. Phys. Sc. xvii. (1849) 168 The sounds of an entire orchestra may be transmitted and reciprocated. 1880W. S. Rockstro in Grove Dict. Mus. II. 561 We constantly hear of ‘an Orchestra consisting of thirty stringed Instruments, with a full complement of Wind’. 1888A. K. Green Behind Closed Doors iv, Hearing the bewildering tones of an orchestra mingling with the hum of many voices.
4. attrib. and Comb., as orchestra chair, orchestra leader, orchestra pitch, etc.; orchestra pit, the space in front of, and below, the stage, where the orchestra plays; orchestra seat (U.S.), stall, a seat in a theatre in the orchestra; also, a seat in a theatre next to the orchestra and stage.
1836Dubourg Violin ix. (1878) 269 Old Baumgarten, who was orchestra-leader at Covent Garden. 1849Theatrical Programme 11 June 22 New Strand Theatre... In order to add to the convenience of the Audience, the Orchestra Stalls have been made more commodious. 1852J. J. Seidel Organ 22 The so-called chamber-pitch..at this time agreed with the orchestra-pitch. 1856Porter's Spirit of Times 20 Dec. 262 Laura Keene's Theatre..Reserved Orchestra Seats, 75 cents... Seats in orchestra stalls, $1 each. 1872Chicago Jrnl. 18 July 3/1 The house is divided into an orchestra circle, which includes the entire main floor, Mr. McVicker having decided to discard the names parquet and parquet circle, orchestra and orchestra chairs, and dress circles of first and second balcony circle. 1874W. P. Lennox My Recoll. II. 108, I was ensconced in a snug orchestra stall. 1895N.Y. Dramatic News 19 Oct. 3/4 You wouldn't know the orchestra seats were $1,..the scale 75, 50, 25 being displayed everywhere. 1901Orchestra stall [see stall n.1 5 c]. 1903Smart Set IX. 57/1 There would be a modest little dinner at a quiet French restaurant..and an orchestra-chair at the Metropolitan. 1923G. Seldes in Vanity Fair (N.Y.) Jan. 57/2 It [sc. the revue] corresponds to those de luxe railway trains which are always exactly on time..; jazz or symphony may sound from the orchestra pit, but underneath is the real tone of the revue, the steady, incorruptible purr of the dynamo. 1932Times Lit. Suppl. 24 Nov. 888/3 The only other playbill reference..is a King's Theatre bill for July 13 [1831], which advertised stalls and orchestra places at a guinea each for a concert. 1940M. de la Roche Whiteoak Chron. ii. vii. 241 He had got orchestra chairs for a Russian vaudeville. 1952Granville Dict. Theatr. Terms 128 Orchestra stalls, the seats nearest the orchestra. 1956G. Durrell My Family viii. 109 Two of them were thrown into the orchestra pit before someone had the sense to lower the curtain. 1977R. Barnard Death on High C's xv. 155 The opening chords of Rigoletto were sounding from the orchestra pit. 1977Times 24 Sept. 12/7 Two sweeping shell-like roofs..cover all but 10 rows of orchestra seats... The opera house sits on a hillside. |