Brass instruments are played by vibrating the air through the instrument using vibrations from the player's lips.
The brass section generally sits in a split formation in the orchestra, either side of the woodwind section - the trumpets and trombones behind the viola/cello section, and the french horns behind the violins.
The instruments classified as "brass" in the orchestra are generally made of polished brass, although some non-orchestral instruments in the brass family are made of wood.
In the section below are a few famous works with prominant (or solely) brass sections.
| Instrument | Range | Invented |
|---|---|---|
| Cornet | F#3 to C6 | 1900s |
| Trumpet | F#3 to D6 | 1500 BC |
| Trombone | E2 to F5 | 1500s |
| French Horn | F#2 to C6 | 1900s |
| Tuba | D1 to F4 | 1835 |