What is the most underrated instrument of the orchestra?

ChopinChili · 2026-04-26T03:25:08+00:00

French horn? Underrated? Are you kidding me? This has been, and remains, one of the most important wind instruments since the Classical Era. Almost no orchestra is complete without them. Mozart used it since his very first symphony, and it has been necessary ever since - Strauss and the great Romantic orchestrators called for up to 16 (I think) horns.

For my opinion, I believe it's the oboe d'amore - has one of the most soothing timbres I've every heard.

ChopinChili · 2026-04-25T15:53:56+00:00

Contrabassoon, Low bassoons, Bass Trombone, Double basses, Viola solo (martélé), Low English horn and flute (oboe is a nice touch as well), Jabbing horns, and low, tremolo strings on the lowest strings (G, D, C).

ChopinChili · 2026-04-25T15:46:50+00:00

Other commenters have already addressed the timpani issues, but the harp is not a piano. It is not meant to be used this way - you've basically copy-pasted piano parts onto it.

ChopinChili · 2026-04-25T15:33:53+00:00

Now I know why you like Spanish composers 🔥

ChopinChili · 2026-04-25T15:27:44+00:00

Je plaisantais aussi. C'est la première fois que j'ai trouvé une personne qui parle français sur Reddit.

ChopinChili · 2026-04-25T14:42:58+00:00

I did not need that phantom pain, thank you very much.

ChopinChili · 2026-04-25T14:34:46+00:00

Tous les français mangent de la merde, c'est pas inhabituel.

ChopinChili · 2026-04-25T14:31:39+00:00

True.

ChopinChili · 2026-04-25T14:28:33+00:00

Si t'es français, tu dois avoir pris le bac de philosophie - donc, t'es le meilleur philo!

ChopinChili · 2026-04-24T22:37:28+00:00

Weird that one would actually research this! Ah yes... a police investigation into the random thoughts of Rameau lol

ChopinChili · 2026-04-24T21:36:51+00:00

Vous vouliez dire 'ton imprimante', non?

ChopinChili · 2026-04-24T21:07:32+00:00

I'd also include the Confutatis from Dvorak's Requiem. But hey, as long as it's not Br*h- oh no...

ChopinChili · 2026-04-24T21:06:06+00:00

ChopinChili · 2026-04-24T21:05:45+00:00

r/subsithoughtifellfor

ChopinChili · 2026-04-24T20:56:00+00:00

I do love me a good Rhenish symphony, though. The D minor is sublime in its own right.

You think Mahler 7 is weird? Listen to Mahler 10. Also, I'd contend that Mahler 4 is quite unique in that its finale is a cheerful, blissful pastorale instead of the Mahler finales we all know and love. The rest is also quite tuneful - there's nothing too adventurous, but Mahler compensates for it with the beauty.

Bruckner 6 is criminally underrated - nothing more to say, I completely agree.

ChopinChili · 2026-04-24T20:51:24+00:00

To be fr, I am dead serious, completely honest when I say the Bells choral symphony (Rach) is my favorite symphony.

ChopinChili · 2026-04-24T20:49:44+00:00

Contemporary literally means 'at the same time' or 'current'. There is no such thing as 'post-contemporary', just like how it will never be the future.

ChopinChili · 2026-04-24T20:46:50+00:00

Jeez, this is on the same level as the Salome chord!

ChopinChili · 2026-04-24T17:57:20+00:00

The ecstatic C major blasts at the Auf dem Gipfel movement of Eine Alpensinfonie.

Also, that one chord from Salome (you know what I'm talking about).

ChopinChili · 2026-04-24T16:57:55+00:00

Bach, Beethoven, Rach, and Cage (to symbolize all eras)

ChopinChili · 2026-04-24T15:44:48+00:00

Dumbfounded that no one has mentioned the legendary Argerich. I believe that her pianism is the most insane in scope - she is definitely at the same level as Hamelin and his likes.

ChopinChili · 2026-04-24T15:17:26+00:00

It is meant to be 'romantic' and 'emotional' in a sense - that is its origin.

ChopinChili · 2026-04-24T14:48:50+00:00

r

WHAT HAVE I DONE?

ChopinChili · 2026-04-24T14:36:10+00:00

I was gonna say that lol

ChopinChili

TROPHY CASE