Musical Instruments PDF

Chapter 2: Musical Instruments  VOICE S Vocalist/singers are an instrument, a human body that expresses emotions through sounds and words Vocal timbre due to the unique vocal chords of each individual Can be performed in solo / choir Use wider ranges of pitch and v...

Chapter 2: Musical Instruments  VOICE S Vocalist/singers are an instrument, a human body that expresses emotions through sounds and words Vocal timbre due to the unique vocal chords of each individual Can be performed in solo / choir Use wider ranges of pitch and volume than in speaking, singing demands a greater supply and control of breath  The range of a singer’s voice depends both on training and on physical makeup Professional singers can command 2 octaves or even more, whereas an untrained voice is usually limited to 1 ½ octaves Men’s vocal cords are longer and thicker than women’s, and this difference produces a lower range of pitches Vocal ranges from high to low Soprano Mezzo-soprano Women Alto Tenor Baritone Men Bass  VOICE S IN OPER A Vocal ranges from high to low Soprano Mezzo-soprano Alto Women Tenor Baritone Bass Men Recitative (narrative song) A rhythmically free vocal style that imitates the natural inflections of speech and that is used for dialogue and narrative in operas Aria (expressive melody) Convey intensity of emotion in the characters using aspects of melody  VOICE S IN M U S I C A L T H E AT E R Performers will be wearing headsets to project the voices Narrower in pitch range Contains more spoken dialogue Act, sing and dance together MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS A mechanism that produces musical sounds Different sizes, shapes, and materials of instruments produce unique vibrations that give each instrument its own musical color An instrument’s tone color may vary with the register (part of the total range) Provide entertainment – Accompany singing, dancing & drama; used for communication; and became a status symbols Instruments are grouped into families based on the method of sound production  Most musical instruments can be examined for their capabilities in doing four things: 1. Producing their characteristic sound 2. Modifying their basic timbre 3. Playing different pitches 4. Starting and stopping their sounds Families of Instrument Strings Woodwinds Brass Percussion Keyboard  STRINGS Strings have the greatest versatility and expressive Wide ranges of pitch and dynamics Orchestral works tend to rely more on the strings than on any other group The four string instruments blend beautifully: Violin, viola, cello, double bass * Guitar and harp are also in strings family Violin Smallest orchestral string instrument Has the highest pitch Often used as a solo instrument In orchestra, violins are divided into first and second violin - first violin often plays the main melody Viola The body is about two inches longer than the violin Lower range Darker, less brilliant than violin, more somber tone  Cello (violincello) Rests on the floor when played and is supported between the player’s knees Octave lower than viola Rich, expressive tone Bass registers are commonly used to play bass line or melody Double Bass Players can stand on sit on a high stool when playing Largest and lowest orchestral string instrument Adds weight and power to the bass line  Sound Production (Bowing/Plucking) & String Techniques Vibrato Can produce a throbbing, expressive tone by rocking the left hand while pressing the string down Pizzicato Musicians pluck the string usually with a finger of right hand In Jazz, double bass is played mainly as a plucked instrument Tremolo Rapidly repeating the same pitch with the bow Create musical effect: tension and excitement (loud); shimmering quality (Soft) Harmonics Very high pitched tones The sound is produced when the string is touched lightly  STRING INSTRUMENTS (PLUCKED) Harp Guitar Large instrument that sits on the floor with Consists of six strings, which are plucked with the many strings that are strummed or plucked fingers or strummed with a plectrum, or pick Its strings are modified to play different The frets on the fingerboard mark the places where pitches through a pedal mechanism the strings must be pressed with the fingers  WO O DW I N D Produce vibrations of air within a tube that traditionally was made of wood, piccolos and flutes came to be made of metal in 20th century There are little holes along their length that are opened and closed by the fingers controlled by a key mechanism Can produce only a single note at a time. In symphonic music, woodwinds are frequently given melodic solos Sound production can be from mouth hole or vibrating reed Instruments: Piccolo, Flute, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon  Single-reed woodwinds, Double-reed woodwinds, the reed is fastened over two narrow pieces of cane are a hole in the mouthpiece held between the musician’s and vibrates when the lips player blows into the instrument Flute Clarinet Air blown across a Air blown through sharp edge mouthpiece with a Silvery tone and agile single reed Capable of producing a A mellow, smooth rapid succession of sound tones Can produce tones Low register: velvety very rapidly Bright register: Wide range of dynamics & tone sparkling colour Oboe Bassoon Air is blown Air is blown through a double through a double reed reed A nasal, intense & Deeply nasal expressive tone Lowest bassoon is Because of its the contrabassoon difficulty to tune the pitch, the concert pitch is A  BRASS Sound is produced by player buzzing his/her lips into a cup- shaped mouthpiece The vibrations are amplified in a tube that is coiled to make it easy to carry and play The pitch or brass instruments is regulated both by varying lip tension and by using slides and valves to change the length of the tube through which the air vibrates Powerful instrument, often used at climax and heroic statement Brass instruments: Trumpet, trombone, French horn and tuba Instrument Descriptions Picture Trumpet High brilliant sound Sometimes plays with a mute Often used in jazz and rock groups Trombone Changes pitch by a moving slide Middle range sound is large and full Combines the brilliance of trumpet & mellowness of French horn Often used in jazz and rock groups French Associated with hunting and mountains horn Similar in range and sound to the trombone Less brassy, more mellow Tuba The largest brass instrument Contributes to the foundation of the orchestral sound Thick, heavy tone  PERCUSSION Instruments that are struck by hand, sticks or hammers The vibrations of percussion instruments are set up by stretched membranes, like the calfskin of kettledrum, plates or bars made of metal, etc To emphasize rhythm and heighten climaxes Definite pitch or indefinite pitch, depending on whether they produce a tone or a noiselike sound Definite Pitch Instrument Indefinite Pitch Instruments Timpani Snare drum Glockenspiel Bass drum Xylophone Tambourine Celesta Triangle Chimes Cymbals Indefinite Instruments To emphasize rhythm and heighten climaxes Alpine Symphony, Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4, Finale Percussion in 20th century Ionization Definite Instruments Celesta in Hedwig's Theme Glockenspiel, Vibraphone & Marimba  K EY B OA R D Piano Invented around 1700 and mechanically perfected by the 1850s Able to play several tones at the same time easily and rapidly When a key is striked, a felt-covered hammer swings up against the string, when the key is released, the damper comes down on the string to stop the vibrations and end the tone How Does A Grand Piano Works?  K EY B OA R D Exceptionally versatile, a pianist can play many notes at once, including both a melody and accompaniment Wide ranges of dynamics (7 octaves) Three pedals - Damper pedal – sustain the notes, increase the volume - Sostenuto pedal – sustain certain notes only - Una corda (left pedal) – veil the sound Pipe Organ Was prominent from 1600 – 1750, particularly in religious services A keyboard instrument, operated by the player’s hands and feet, in which pressurized air produces notes through a series of pipes organized in scalelike rows Timbres controlled by knobs called stops The most complex instrument in terms of size and its mechanism Able to produce big resonance, thick sound Basilica of Valere Feet: Bass line Harpsichord Black keys & white keys are opposite with modern piano Highly decorated cases with painted lids became fashionable 5 octaves range 2 layers of keyboards Incapable in dynamic graduation  ELEC TRONIC INSTRUMENTS Tape studio Main tool of composers of electronic music during 1950s The raw material in tape studios consisted of recorded sounds that might be electronic or “real life” – birdcalls Manipulated the raw material sound in various ways (speeding up, slowing down, altering their pitch and duration) Tape Studio Synthesizers Systems of electronic components that generate, modify and control sound Can generate a huge variety of musical sounds and noises Can be played by a keyboard Synthesizers Computers Used as control devices to drive MIDI equipment Used for music synthesis, live performance, score writing, store samples of audio  LISTENING OUTLINE Benjamin Britten: The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Op. 34 (1946) An introduction to the instruments of the orchestra Used a theme by Henry Purcell who was a English composer in 17th century Each instrument take turns to present the music 13 Variations LISTENING OUTLINE Symphonic Band: The Stars and Stripes Forever (1897) by John Philip Sousa THANK YOU