... music compositions, and the development in the technique of performance. Musical leadership in the Baroque orchestra came from the keyboard instruments, with the harpsichordist, or sometimes the organist, acting as leader. For example, when Bach worked with an orchestra, he would sit at the organ or harpsichord and give cues from his bench. Woodwind did appear in the earliest orchestras, though infrequently and secondary to the strings - usually it would include two oboes and a bassoon, with flutes sometimes replacing the oboes. Throughout the baroque period, the basso continuo was an essential part of the scoring. The treble and bass were strongly emphasized, while the middle parts were often left to the continuo alone. The orchestra was rather small at this time; Bach had as few as 18 players, and Handel usually used about 30. As time continued, the classical orchestra became more established through the disuse of the continuo and ...

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