The orchestra only really started to take shape around the middle of the 17th Century (Baroque period). It was the stage in music history when composers first began to use instruments with skill and sensitivity. Monteverdi was the first to list which instruments are to be played in his orchestras. One of the most important advances of the orchestra during the Baroque period was the rise of the string family. Viols, which had been popular in the Renaissance, were great for polyphony but their sound was too delicate and reedy for dance music or playing in large groups. Instrument makers were soon revising louder and higher quality string instruments to keep the control and versatility of the viol. For the first time, the musical groups in the Baroque era began to look like the orchestras we know today. Some people insist that the first real orchestra was a group of string instruments formed at the French Royal court called The King's 24 Violins. Brass and woodwind instruments could be added to these string groups to make up orchestras for theatre and opera performances.
But it wasn't just the string instruments which were changing. The woodwind instruments were being developed too. With the new principles in music, the noisy, buzzing early woodwinds like shawms and rackets were remodelled by French woodwind experts to produce the modern oboe, bassoon, flute and recorder. Strings and woodwind were matched by the brass family. Trombones appeared from time to time but they weren't really features in the orchestra. Some composers felt they were too heavily associated with church trios and town bands. However, trumpets were at their peak. As they had no valves or keys, they were difficult to play. Percussion was very rarely used in the orchestra.
Baroque orchestras were much smaller than the ones we know today; they played more quietly, and at a lower pitch. Sometimes despite the skilful counterpoint and glorious elements in their work, you can sense that Baroque composers were not yet entirely comfortable with the orchestra.
