Flutes 3 3 3 3
Oboes 3 3 2 3
English horn 1 1 1 1
Clarinets 3 3 3 3
Basset-horn 1 0 0 0
Bassoons 3 3 3 3
Trumpets or cornets 3 3 4 4
Horns 8 4 4 4
Trombones 3 3 3 3
Bass trumpet 1 0 0 1
Tenor tubas 2 0 2 4
Bass tubas 2 1 2 1
Contra-bass tuba 1 0 1 0
Contra-bass trombone 1 0 0 1
Tympani (pairs) 2 2 2 2
Bass drum 1 1 1 1
Cymbals (pairs) 1 1 1 1
Harps 6 1 1 2

[Sidenote: _The string quartet._]

[Sidenote: _Old laws against instrumentalists._]

[Sidenote: _Early instrumentation._]

[Sidenote: _Handel's orchestra._]

The string quartet, it will be seen, makes up nearly three-fourths of
a well-balanced orchestra. It is the only choir which has numerous
representation of its constituent units. This was not always so, but