What instrument were played in Les Miserables?

Answer 1

In its original 16-year Broadway run (March 12, 1987 - May 18, 2003) the standard pit orchestra for the show included 25 musicians playing the following instruments:

6 Violins

2 Violas

2 Celli

Flute

Piccolo

Clarinet

Alto Saxophone

Oboe

English Horn

2 French Horns

2 Trumpets

2 Piccolo Trumpets

Flugelhorn

Bass Trombone

Guitar

Bass Guitar

Drums

Percussion

2 Keyboards

The show's national tour had its own set of 16 musicians that travelled from city to city with the show. Instruments included:

2 French Horns

2 Trumpets

Bass Trombone

Flute

Piccolo

2 Clarinets

2 Alto Saxophones

Oboe

English Horn

Guitar

Bass Guitar

Drums

Percussion

4 Keyboards

The tour did not travel with a string section--they were played on keyboards instead. However, Equity required the hiring of local musicians for engagements longer than 2 weeks in any given city. They'd hire a varying additional number of musicians, depending on the city and their needs, but they'd usually hire 4 string players; 2 violins, 1 viola, and 1 cello, for these longer runs, bringing the total number of musicians up to 20.

The 2006 Broadway revival featured new orchestrations which required 14 musicians playing the following instruments:

Violin

Viola

Cello

Double Bass

2 French Horns

Tuba

Bass Trombone

Trumpet

Flugelhorn

Clarinet

Bass Clarinet

Alto Recorder

Tenor Recorder

Oboe

English Horn

Flute

Alto Flute

Piccolo

Mallets

Timpani

Percussion

2 Keyboards

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Hope this helps.