Instrument Guides

City of Light: Making the Ondes Martenot speak

At the Musée de la Musique in Paris, lab manager Stéphane Vaiedelich is working on bringing this ondes Martenot back to life. Series Advisor, Caroline Potter, learned more about the...

Instrument: Piccolo

In this film, Keith Bragg introduces his instrument - the piccolo. Why not download our iPad app, 'The Orchestra', to learn even more? Visit www.philharmonia.co.uk/app for more information.

Instrument: Contrabassoon

In this film, Luke Whitehead introduces his instrument - the contrabassoon. Why not download our iPad app, 'The Orchestra', to learn even more? Visit www.philharmonia.co.uk/app for...

City of Light: A guide to the Ondes Martenot

Series Advisor Caroline Potter gets a tour inside an ondes Martenot with Stéphane Vaiedelich, Laboratory Manager at the Musée de la Musique, Cité de Musique, Paris. Discover this...

Instrument: Violin

In this film, Zsolt-Tihamér Visontay introduces his instrument - the violin. Why not download our iPad app, 'The Orchestra', to learn even more? Visit www.philharmonia.co.uk/app...

Instrument: E flat Clarinet

In this film, Jennifer McLaren introduces her instrument - the e flat clarinet. Why not download our iPad app, 'The Orchestra', to learn even more? Visit www.philharmonia.co.uk/app...

The Conductor

In this film, Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor, Esa-Pekka Salonen, discusses in detail the role of the conductor in the orchestra.

Why not download our iPad app...

The Tabla Lesson

Philharmonia Orchestra violist, Gijs Kramers, gets a special one-to-one lesson with master tabla player, Sanju Sahai. Learn all about the basics of tabla in this film, and find out...

Instrument: Double Bass

In this film, Michael Fuller introduces his instrument - the double bass.

To learn more about the double bass visit http://www.philharmonia.co.uk/explore/instruments/double_bass...

City of Light: A guide to the Piano luthéal

What's a piano luthéal? We travelled to the Musée de la Musique at the Cité de la Musique in Paris to speak with Thierry Maniguet, curator, to find out about this device, invented...

Instrument: Trombone

In this film, Byron Fulcher introduces his instrument - the trombone. Why not download our iPad app, 'The Orchestra', to learn even more? Visit www.philharmonia.co.uk/app for more...

Instrument: Tuba

In this film, Andrew Cresci introduces his instrument - the tuba. Why not download our iPad app, 'The Orchestra', to learn even more? Visit www.philharmonia.co.uk/app for more information.

Instrument: Cello

No 2 Cello Karen Stephenson introduces her instrument. The Philharmonia's No. 2 Cello Chair is endowed by Jane and Julian Langer.

Wu Wei (sheng) Artist Portrait with Michael Fuller (double bass)

“It doesn’t belong just to the Chinese, it’s kind of a present for all the people.”

Wu Wei is a virtuosic performer on the sheng, a Chinese mouth organ. Michael...

Instrument: Mandolin (TRAILER)

Instrument: Bass Trombone

In this film, Christian Jones introduces his instrument - the bass trombone. Why not download our iPad app, 'The Orchestra', to learn even more? Visit www.philharmonia.co.uk/app...

Instrument: Horn

Joint Principal Horn, Katy Woolley, introduces her instrument. Why not download our iPad app, 'The Orchestra', to learn even more? Visit www.philharmonia.co.uk/app for more information.

Instrument: Euphonium

In this film, Philharmonia Orchestra Principal Trombone, Byron Fulcher, introduces the euphonium, an instrument that is an occasional visitor to the orchestra. TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Instrument: Cor Anglais

In this film, Jill Crowther introduces her instrument - the cor anglais. Why not download our iPad app, 'The Orchestra', to learn even more? Visit www.philharmonia.co.uk/app for...

Instruments: Percussion

In this film, David Corkhill introduces some of his instruments in the percussion section. Why not download our iPad app, 'The Orchestra', to learn even more? Visit www.philharmonia.co.uk/app...

Instrument: Oboe

In this film, Timothy Rundle introduces his instrument - the oboe. Why not download our iPad app, 'The Orchestra', to learn even more? Visit www.philharmonia.co.uk/app for...

Craig Ogden in Conversation with Roopa Panesar

Guitarist Craig Ogden in conversation with Leicester-based sitar player Roopa Panesar. The two virtuosi compare instrumental techniques and find links between the Indian and western...

Instrument: Celeste

In this film, Elizabeth Burley introduces her instrument - the celeste. Why not download our iPad app The Orchestra to learn even more? Visit www.philharmonia.co.uk/app for more...

Instrument: Trumpet

In this film, Alistair Mackie introduces his instrument - the trumpet. Why not download our iPad app, 'The Orchestra', to learn even more? Visit www.philharmonia.co.uk/app for more...

Instrument: Mandolin

In this film, Nigel Woodhouse introduces the mandolin. The mandolin has been used by many composers across the centuries to give special colour to the orchestra, often evoking folk...

Instrument: Sheng

Get to know the Chinese sheng, an instrument whose name invokes peace, harmony and balance between humans, nature and the universe. The sheng has a history stretching back many centuries...

Instrument: Bassoon

In this film, Amy Harman introduces her instrument - the bassoon. Why not download our iPad app, 'The Orchestra', to learn even more? Visit www.philharmonia.co.uk/app for more information.

Instrument: Bass Clarinet

In this film, Laurent Ben Slimane introduces his instrument - the bass clarinet. Why not download our iPad app, 'The Orchestra', to learn even more? Visit www.philharmonia.co.uk/app...

Instrument: Saxophone

"The saxophone is unusual that it was actually invented...most instruments were tinkered with, but we know that one man, Adolphe Sax, invented the saxophone all on his own"
...

Instrument: Harp

In this film, Ruth Holden introduces her instrument - the concert pedal harp. Why not download our iPad app The Orchestra to learn even more? Visit www.philharmonia.co.uk/app for...

Instrument: Clarinet

In this film, Mark van de Wiel introduces his instrument - the clarinet. Why not download our iPad app, 'The Orchestra', to learn even more? Visit www.philharmonia.co.uk/app for...

Instrument: Viola

In this film, Nicholas Bootiman introduces his instrument - the viola. Why not download our iPad app, 'The Orchestra', to learn even more? Visit www.philharmonia.co.uk/app for more...

Instrument: Timpani

In this film, Andy Smith introduces his instruments - the timpani. Why not download our iPad app, 'The Orchestra', to learn even more? Visit www.philharmonia.co.uk/app for more information.

City of Light: Uncover the history of the French flute with Sam Coles

Philharmonia Orchestra Principal Flutist Sam Coles brings the history of the flute to life in the beautiful surroundings of the Théâtre des Champs-Elysèes, Paris. Find out how the...

Instrument: Flute

In this film, Samuel Coles introduces his instrument - the flute. Why not download our iPad app, 'The Orchestra', to learn even more? Visit www.philharmonia.co.uk/app for...