The Pops Orchestra ( sometimes called a Light Orchestra)  is often employed today to play arrangements of popular songs, film soundtrack scores, and music from shows and musicals. The traditional symphony orchestra is supplemented with a rhythm section with drum set and electric guitar, a saxophone section, and a piano. There may also be a soloist singer using a microphone, and sometimes other instruments such as accordians, harmonicas, pan flutes, etc.

Mantovani's orchestra was famous for recordings of light music and song arrangements. One of Mantovani's trademarks was his "cascading strings" effect, where the violins would split so one player would sustain a note while the next player started the next note, and so on.