does anyone know what all the instrumental positions are in Beethovens fifth symphony?

Answer 1

The layout of the orchestra has changed a fair bit since Beethoven's day. In his time the first and second violins would be on opposite sides of the stage and the woowinds would probably be over to one side, rather than central as they are nowadays. The timapni and trumpets would have been together and the horns probably between the woodwind and other brass.

The modern idea of always having the violins all on the same side of the stage negates some of the wonderful effects that composers 'wrote in' to their works to play on the effect of having the first and second sections on opposite sides of the stage. Any conductor who ignores this does the composer a gross disservice. Luckily, some conductors revert to the 'old fashioned' seating occasionally (and some all the time).

This link will also give you some information on orchestra layouts 200 years ago:

http://www.harmony.oakweb.ca/baroque/period.html

Answer 2

If you're looking for seating positions, I can tell you how the orchestra was seated when I conducted it some years ago.

Around the podium, from L to R, were 1st violins, 2nds, violas and 'celli. Behind the 'celli were the basses.

Behind the 2nds and violas was a row with L to R piccolo, flutes, oboes. Behind them were clarinets and bassoons (cb on the right).

Behind the violas were horns, and behind them trombones, 1st on the left, 3rd on the right. Timpani were behind the violins, with trumpets in front.

There are other possible setups. Some keep trumpets with the other brass, but in classical works I prefer them with the timpani as they play together so often. Some prefer 2nds on the right, with violas and 'celli in between, but I preferred to use a setup which kept all violins together and 'celli closer to the basses.

Edit: del_icious_manager's point about the 1st and 2nds deserving to be opposite each other to fully create the "classical" sound is very true. However, in practice, it's often unwise to totally change the orchestra's usual seating. In this case, the only instruments majorly displaced from their usual position were the trumpets, and they were moved toward a player whose part was similar to theirs. So there's one reason it's not done more often - the comfort zone of the players might make such a change actually detrimental to the performance rather than beneficial.

Answer 3

2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets in B flat, two bassoons;
2 horns in E flat, 2 trumpets in C, and 2 timpani (tuned to C and G throughout).
full string section (first violins, second violins, violas, cellos, and basses).

In the last movement only, some instruments are added: 3 trombones (alto, tenor, bass), contrabassoon, and piccolo. This is why the opening of the last movement makes you sit up in your chair!

Nowadays the horns would be in F of course.

Answer 4

they are all seated in their appropriate sections except for some of the basses some stand some use bar stools within their designated area and the percussion section they stand when they play