Orchestra, the part of the Greek theatre where the chorus danced; with us, the part set apart for the band; hence now frequently the band itself, in a theatre or at a concert. For the development of the orchestra in this latter sense, and the partition of instruments in a representative orchestra, see MUSIC, p. 360. See also BAND, THEATRE.
Orchestra
Chambers's Encyclopaedia, Volume 7: Maltebrun to Pearson, p. 625
Source scan(s): p. 0638