Answer:
The correct answer is A. The core of the Baroque orchestra was a group of instruments of the violin family123. These included violins, violas, cellos and double basses1. They were the main melodic and harmonic instruments in the orchestra, often playing in multiple parts or sections. The other options are incorrect because:
B. The Baroque orchestra did not consist mostly of brass instruments. In fact, brass instruments such as trumpets and horns were used sparingly and only for special occasions or effects12.
C. The Baroque orchestra did not use instruments that are no longer used today, inherited from the Renaissance. Although some instruments such as the viola da gamba and the sackbut were derived from the Renaissance era, they were modified and adapted for the Baroque style and repertoire12. Moreover, many Baroque instruments such as the harpsichord, the flute, the oboe and the timpani are still used today, either in their original form or in their modern versions123.
D. The Baroque orchestra did not have a core of basso continuo instruments such as the theorbo, the lute, the harpsichord and the pipe organ. These instruments provided the rhythmic and harmonic foundation for the orchestra, but they were not the main focus or feature of the Baroque music12. They often played a single bass line with improvised chords, following a system of musical notation called figured bass12.
Step-by-step explanation: