Hello everyone, Could someone please clarify why sometimes when watching
different performances, instruments or instrument groups are placed in
different areas of the stage?

example: Sometimes the cellos are all the way to the right of the stage
sometimes there not.  Sometimes tuned and untuned percussion instrument are
found in different areas of the back row.

Who are what circumstances decides this? Does the date the music was
written in, dictate where they should be located? Or is possibly the
conductor feels like moving people around because he can? I've heard said
that placin the 2nd violins on the far right side of the stage (right side
of the stage meaning looking at the stage from a seated position) isn't a
wise thing to do because the sound holes don't face the audience.  True,
not true?

Any comments would be much appreciated
Thank You
John