60 Second Guide to Instruments of the Orchestra

The layout and size of an orchestra depends on the musical period which you’re looking at. However, this video highlights a fairly standard classical orchestral layout, and the instruments found within.
At the bottom centre, we have the conductor, whose elevated prominent position ensures that all of the musicians can see him or her.
The string section is made up of first violins, second violins, violas, cellos, and double basses. The first and second violins sit to the left/centre of the conductor, the violas and cellos to the centre and right, and the double basses at the back right. This orchestra also has a harp, which can be seen behind the violinists on the left.
Next, the woodwind section includes the piccolo, flutes, oboes, cor anglaise, clarinets, and bassoons. These sit just behind the string section in the centre of the stage.
The brass section is made up of French Horns, trumpets, trombones, and the tuba. These sit behind the woodwind towards the back of the stage.
Finally, the percussion section - which here consists of timpani and unpitched percussion such as cymbals and snare drum - sit at the back of the stage, in the most elevated position.
As I said, orchestras can vary greatly in size and consistency of instruments used, but this is a good starting point to understand where the four instrument families sit on stage in a typical orchestral performance.

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Every conductor has the right to adjust the position of the orchestral instruments according to his preferences. Nowadays use of this right is made at additional instruments, such as the wooden box in Mahler's 6th or real bells in Mahler's 2nd. The current arrangement, the structure of symphonic orchestra explained above, became standard in the 20th century. - Cheers, Heinz