orchestral

[ awr-kes-truhl ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling an orchestra.
2. composed for or performed by an orchestra:

   orchestral works.

Other Words From

• or·chestral·ly adverb
• nonor·chestral adjective
• nonor·chestral·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of orchestral¹

First recorded in 1805–15; orchestr(a) + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Set to the rapidly increasing tempo of the orchestral piece “In the Hall of the Mountain King,” the video ends with headlines about drug company profits.

From Quartz

Sassoon, who works with both orchestral and digital music, “trying to smash the two together,” was hooked.

From MIT Technology Review

While relatively few of his recordings or concerts could be called electrifying or boldly innovative, they were widely praised for their precision, depth of feeling and sheer orchestral beauty.

From Washington Post

It has huge sweeping orchestral arrangements throughout, but never loses its sense of intimacy.

From Time

In the fourth and final episode, key players in the contemporary orchestral landscape reflect on how the Fifth continues to shape our understanding of the world of classical music.

From Vox

A former classical violinist, orchestral player, and music teacher, she lives in London with her husband, three children, and dog.

From The Daily Beast

Be sure to listen to them all before picking the perfect quivering orchestral Latin song to play at the moment a decision is made.

From The Daily Beast

He directed the Ninth Symphony, and played twice himself with orchestral accompaniments.

From Project Gutenberg

She also played his Fourteenth Rhapsody with orchestral accompaniment in most bold and dashing style.

From Project Gutenberg

The chief reason is that g is the top note of the string bass, and is called for in orchestral transcriptions.

From Project Gutenberg

These stops have contributed more than anything else towards the organ suitable for the performance of orchestral music.

From Project Gutenberg

There undoubtedly lies a great future before this plan for increasing the variety of orchestral tone colors.

From Project Gutenberg