Crossword clues for orchestra pit
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Orchestra \Or"ches*tra\, n. [L. orchestra, Gr. ?, orig., the place for the chorus of dancers, from ? to dance: cf. F. orchestre.]
The space in a theater between the stage and the audience; -- originally appropriated by the Greeks to the chorus and its evolutions, afterward by the Romans to persons of distinction, and by the moderns to a band of instrumental musicians. Now commonly called orchestra pit, to distinguish it from the section of the main floor occupied by spectators.
The space in the main floor of a theater in which the audience sits; also, the forward spectator section of the main floor, in distinction from the parterre, which is the rear section of the main floor.
The place in any public hall appropriated to a band of instrumental musicians.
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(Mus.)
Loosely: A band of instrumental musicians performing in a theater, concert hall, or other place of public amusement.
Strictly: A band suitable for the performance of symphonies, overtures, etc., as well as for the accompaniment of operas, oratorios, cantatas, masses, and the like, or of vocal and instrumental solos.
A band composed, for the largest part, of players of the various viol instruments, many of each kind, together with a proper complement of wind instruments of wood and brass; -- as distinguished from a military or street band of players on wind instruments, and from an assemblage of solo players for the rendering of concerted pieces, such as septets, octets, and the like.
(Mus.) The instruments employed by a full band, collectively; as, an orchestra of forty stringed instruments, with proper complement of wind instruments.
WordNet
n. lowered area in front of a stage where an orchestra accompanies the performers [syn: pit]
Wikipedia
An orchestra pit is the area in a theater (usually located in a lowered area in front of the stage) in which musicians perform. Orchestral pits are utilized in forms of theatre that require music (such as Opera and Ballet) or in cases when incidental music is required. The conductor is typically positioned at the front of the orchestral pit facing the stage.
An orchestra pit can be any size, but it is usually big enough to fit a small sized orchestra or other small ensemble.
Usage examples of "orchestra pit".
She yielded to the slope, and stood directly in front of the prompter's box, looking across the orchestra pit toward the ornate music desk from which, in a few hours, she must follow Domdaniel's nuances of direction.
But if it were cut, said Waldo, it would go down into the orchestra pit, rather than the undercroft of the stage proper.
Henry Slugg frisbeed the plate into the wings, clambered down from the stage and heaved himself over the edge of the orchestra pit, assisted by a couple of violinists.
The velvet curtain was drawn back to both sides and I could see his dark figure plainly in the orchestra pit.
Someone had at least swept out the orchestra pit, and the floor and spaces between dilapidated seats were clean enough.
I nodded, and he smiled briefly, then stood and started pacing rapidly back and forth at the edge of the orchestra pit, pointing at people and shouting things I couldn't hear over the thunder of the music.
The house lights went down and a lone pianist began to play in the orchestra pit—.
He nodded, lowered his hammer softly, and strode firmly down the steps into the orchestra pit, while the whole audience swung to keep their eyes on him.
Not surprising since the two of them had apparently landed right in the orchestra pit, huge as it was.