Chapter 3 The Structures of Music Musical Instruments.

Chapter 3The Structures of Music

Musical

Instruments

Key Terms

Instrument familiesStringed instruments

• Bow• pizzicato

Woodwind instruments

• Single-reed• Double-reed

Brass instruments

Percussion instruments

• Pitched• Unpitched

Keyboard instruments

• Action• Stops

Plucked stringed instruments

Key Terms

OrchestraOrchestral seating plan

• Strings• Woodwinds• Brass• Percussion

Key Terms

Stringed instrumentsViolin

Viola

Cello

Bass viol

Harp

Brass instrumentsTrumpet

French horn

Trombone• Tenor trombone• Bass trombone

Tuba

Key Terms

Woodwind instruments

Flute• Piccolo• Alto flute• Bass flute

Recorder

Clarinet• E-flat clarinet• Bass clarinet

Oboe• English horn

Bassoon• Contrabassoon

Saxophone• Alto saxophone• Tenor saxophone

Key Terms

Pitched percussion instruments

Timpani

Glockenspiel

Xylophone

Marimba

Vibraphone

Celesta

Tubular bells

Unpitched percussion instruments

Cymbals

Triangle

Tam-tam

Snare drum

Tenor drum

Bass drum

Key Terms

Keyboard instrumentsPiano

Harpsichord

Clavichord

Organ• Pipe organ

Electronic keyboard instruments

• Synthesizer

Plucked stringed instruments

Guitar

Mandolin

Lute

Theorbo

Archlute

Electric guitar

Stringed Instruments

A bow strung with horsehair “scrapes” against a stringThe string’s vibration is carried via the bridge to the instrument’s bodyThe hollow body amplifies the soundThe left hand “stops” the string at different locations, changing the length of the vibrating string

• Longer string = lower pitch• Shorter string = higher pitch

Stringed Instruments

Different bow strokes create different dynamics and articulations:

• Legato• Staccato

Player can play a melody on one string at a time, or play chords on two or more strings simultaneously

Player can also pluck the strings:• Pizzicato

Violin Family

Violin (“soprano/alto” range)• Versatile, can be forceful or delicate, brilliant or

songlike• Four strings tuned in fifths• Held horizontally under chin• Player can stand or sit

Violin Family

Viola (“tenor” range)• Mellow, “throaty” quality, but can also be

powerful and intense• Four strings tuned in fifths• Held horizontally under chin• Player can stand or sit

Violin Family

Cello (“bass” range)• Rich, gorgeous, singing tone• Four strings tuned in fifths• Instrument stands vertically on the floor• Seated player leans neck back toward left

shoulder, holds body between the knees

Bass Viol

Very low “bass” range• Deep, mellow, “chocolate” sound• Four strings tuned in fourths• Instrument stands vertically on the floor• Player stands behind it (or sits on a tall stool)• More often called string bass, double bass, or

just bass• Usually bowed in classical music, usually

plucked in jazz

Harp

Concert harp has 47 strings, covers six and a half octaves

Strings correspond to white keys on keyboard: one string for each letter name

Seven pedals add sharps and flats• e.g., the A pedal can raise or lower all A strings

by a half step

Normally plucked; glissando a popular special effect

Woodwind Instruments

Tube-shaped instruments; may be straight, bent, or curvedPlayers blow into tube via a mouthpieceSounds result from vibrations in the column of air inside the tubePlayers open or close holes bored along the length of the tube, in effect shortening or lengthening the air column

• Longer air column = lower pitch• Shorter air column = higher pitch

Flute Family

Long cylindrical tube held horizontally

Mouthpiece an open hole on the side

Players set air column vibrating by blowing across the mouthpiece

• Like tooting on a Coke bottle, but more sophisticated

Elaborate key mechanism opens and closes holes in tube

Flute Family Instruments

Flute (“soprano” range)• Extremely agile; can sound gentle or piercing

Piccolo (very high “soprano” range)

Alto flute (“alto” range)

Bass flute (“tenor/bass” range)

Recorder family• Old family of flutes held vertically• Player blows into mouthpiece at the top• Fingers cover holes directly; no keys

Single-Reeds

A flat piece of cane reed is fastened to the mouthpiece

Mouthpiece is attached to the top of the instrument

Blowing into the thin hole between reed and mouthpiece forces reed to vibrate; this makes air column in tube vibrate as well


Single-Reed Instruments

Clarinet familyClarinet (“soprano/alto” range)

• Rich, flexible, almost vocal sound• Can sound warm and mellow or shrill and

strident• Slightly conical tube with narrow bell at end• Held vertically


Clarinet familyE-flat clarinet (high “soprano” range)

• Often used for its shrill, piercing sound• Short, slightly conical tube with narrow bell at

end

Bass clarinet (“bass” range)• Deep, rich, mellow sound• Very long, slightly conical tube is bent forward

at the bottom with a flaring, narrow bell at the end


Saxophone familyInvented by Adolphe Sax in early 1800sSimilar to clarinet family

• Single reed fastened to a mouthpiece

Several important differences• Wider tube, made of brass, not wood• More mellow yet more forceful sound• Tube is bent back at mouthpiece, forward at its

wide, flaring bell• Often held diagonally across lap


Saxophone family instrumentsAlto saxophone

Tenor saxophone• The two most common saxophones

Soprano saxophone• Straight tube, held like clarinet

Baritone saxophone

Double-Reeds

Mouthpiece consists of two pieces of cane reed lashed together

Mouthpiece is inserted into hole at top of instrument

Blowing into mouthpiece forces reeds to vibrate against each other; this makes air column in tube vibrate as well


Double-Reed Instruments

Oboe (“soprano” range)• Straight tube with narrow bell at end• Held vertically

English horn (“alto” range)• Slightly longer straight tube with narrow,

bulbous bell• Held vertically

Double-Reed Instruments

Bassoon (“tenor/bass” range)• Very long tube folded back against itself at

bottom end• Held across the lap at an angle• Mouthpiece inserted into a curved bocal

Contrabassoon (very low “bass” range)

Brass Instruments

All use long tubes, often coiledSmall, cup-shaped mouthpiece is inserted into the end of the hornPlayer holds mouthpiece to the mouth and buzzes lipsLip vibrations force the air column inside the tube to vibratePlayers control pitch by changing tube length and “buzzing” speed

• Faster = higher pitch; Slower = lower pitch

Brass Instruments

Trumpet (“soprano” range)

Bright, strong, piercing tone

Long cylindrical tube, bent in several places with small, flared bell

Three valves used to change tube length

Brass Instruments

French horn (“alto/tenor” range)

Lower, mellower, “thicker” tone

Can sound mysterious, romantic, or heroic

Longer conical tube in coils with very wide, flared bell

Valves used to change tube length

Player holds instrument with hand in bell

Brass Instruments

Trombone (“tenor/bass” range)

Sound can range from singing and “vocal” to hard and powerful

Very long cylindrical tube with large, flared bell

Slide mechanism used to change tube length

• Also used to create glissando effect

Brass Instruments

TubaDeep, full, mellow tone

Less agile than other brass instruments

Extremely long conical tube with many coils and a very wide flared bell

Valves used to change tube length

Seated player holds instrument in lap

Other Brass Instruments

Cornet• Like a trumpet, but conical tube makes it sound

more mellow

Flügelhorn• Like a trumpet, but its larger size makes it

sound deeper and more mellow

Bugle• Like a trumpet, but without valves

Other Brass Instruments

EuphoniumBaritone hornSaxhorn

• All three are pitched somewhere between French horn and tuba

• Rich, mellow sound

Sousaphone• Portable, marching band version of tuba• Player carries it slung over the shoulder, bell in

the air

Percussion Instruments

Instruments that are struck, slapped, scraped, and so on

Vibrating object may be a stretched membrane (a drumhead) or a solid or hollow piece of wood, metal, or plastic

May play specific pitches (xylophone) or indefinite ones (bass drum)

Percussion instruments can play louder and softer than any other family

Timpani

Large, hemispherical (kettle-shaped) drums come in several sizes, used in groups of two or morePlayed with felt malletsCan be tuned to specific pitches

• Usually plays a bass line

Player tunes drums with foot pedals (sometimes with screws)

• Greater tension = higher pitch• Less tension = lower pitch

Pitched Percussion

Usually a set of metal or wooden bars or plates tuned and arranged like a piano keyboard

Bars can be struck with yarn, rubber, plastic, or metal mallets

Metal bars sustain sound longer than wooden ones

Colorful, distinctive sounds

Pitched Percussion

Glockenspiel• Small steel bars with brass mallets• Bright, penetrating sound

Xylophone• Hardwood (or synthetic) bars with plastic

mallets• Dry, sharp tone

Marimba• Wooden (or synthetic) slats with yarn (or

rubber) mallets• Tubular resonators give it a mellow sound

Pitched Percussion

Vibraphone• Metal plates with rubber (or yarn) mallets• Tubular resonators give it a mellow sound• Sustain pedal and “vibrato” device

Celesta• Bars like a glockenspiel, but played from a

small keyboard; sounds like a music box

Tubular bells (Chimes)• Hollow hanging metal tubes struck with rolled

horsehide mallet; sound like church bells

Unpitched Percussion

Refers to any percussion instrument used to add a specific color, not to play a melody or bass lineIncludes drums: instruments with membranes (drumheads) stretched over one or both ends of a hollow, cylindrical frameAlso includes various instruments made of solid or hollow metal or wood objects in a variety of different shapes


Cymbals• Concave metal plates come in many sizes• One can be suspended and played with mallets• Pairs can be clapped together: a cymbal crash

Triangle• A rolled metal bar bent into a triangle shape• Struck with a metal beater

Tam-tam• A large, round, flat metal plate• Struck with a large lambs-wool beater


Snare drum• A smaller double-headed drum with a metal or

wooden frame• Usually played with wooden snare drum sticks

(metal brushes used for special effect)• High-tension heads give the snare drum a

sharp, dry sound• Snares (tightly wrapped metal coils held

against the bottom head of the drum) give the sound a sharp, metallic edge


Tenor drum• A larger, double-headed drum with wooden

frame, played with snare sticks• Lower tension and larger size gives the tenor

drum a deeper, rounder sound than the snare drum

Bass drum• A very large, double-headed drum with wooden

frame, played with large felt beater• Low tension and large size give the bass drum

a deep, rumbling sound

Orchestra

Modern orchestra began to take shape in the 1600s (Baroque era)

Basic format standardized by late 1700s (Classical era)

Four instrument families in today’s symphony orchestra

• Strings• Woodwinds• Brass• Percussion

Orchestra

Strings• 30-36 violins (divided into 1st and 2nd violin

sections)• 12 violas• 10-12 cellos• 8 double basses

The heart of the orchestra, they often play continuously

Orchestra

Woodwinds• 2 flutes and piccolo• 2 clarinets and bass clarinet• 2 oboes and English horn• 2 bassoons and contrabassoon

Used a bit less than strings, often to add color

Orchestra

Brass• 2-3 trumpets• 4 French horns• 2-3 trombones and bass trombone• 1 tuba

Used less then strings or woodwinds, often to add power

Orchestra

Percussion• 1 to 4 players• Percussionists play whatever instruments the

score calls for, most often timpani

Used less than strings, woodwinds, or brass, often for color or power

Orchestra

Keyboard Instruments

Sound producing mechanism controlled from a keyboard

Anywhere from 13 to 90+ keys

Some have two or more keyboards

Performers usually sit on a bench or stool to play traditional keyboard instruments; often stand to play modern keyboards

Various means of producing sounds

Piano

Invented early 1700sKeys activate hammers which strike piano strings—a percussion instrument!

• Requires great artistry to make it “sing”

Originally called pianoforte (soft-loud) • Player could change dynamics by pressing

keys harder or softer

Standard piano has 88 keysFoot pedals used for special effects

• Sustain, “soft” pedal, sostenuto

Early Keyboard Instruments

Harpsichord• May have one or more keyboards• Keys activate quills that pluck the strings—a

plucked stringed instrument!• Cannot change dynamics by pressing keys

harder or softer• Many have two complete sets of strings, one

louder, one softer• Players use “stops” or switch keyboards to

play louder or softer• Short sustain gives it a staccato feel

Early Keyboard Instruments

Clavichord• Keys activate “tangents” that press against

strings• Since tangent stays in contact with string until

key is released, player can bend the pitch by pressing harder or softer

• Since pressing harder or softer changes pitch as well as dynamics, only subtle dynamic changes are practical

• Delicate, subtle, expressive sound

Pipe Organ

Most have two or more keyboards and a pedal board

Keys activate mechanism that releases air into organ pipes—a woodwind instrument!

Each “stop” brings another set of pipes (rank) into play…and another tone color!

Organists obtain thousands of colors (and change dynamics) by mixing stops in different ways

Electronic Keyboards

Wide range of instruments available• At bottom end, 13-20 keys with a few “cheesy”

sounds• At top end, sophisticated MIDI synthesizers

with 60-88 keys• Keys serve as triggers that activate

electronically-generated sounds• Many have MIDI capability, a protocol that

allows keyboard and computer to communicate


Some important electronic keyboardsElectronic organs

• Popular from 1930s on, used in jazz and rock

Electric piano• Fender Rhodes popular in early jazz fusion

Electronic keyboard• Provides pre-programmed sounds: piano,

harpsichord, organ, etc.

Synthesizer


Synthesizer• Invented in the 1950s, but not commercially

viable until the 1960s• Includes pre-programmed sounds• Allows user to create and edit new electronic

sounds from scratch• Standard instrument for electronic music

studios, recording studios, and so on• Used in classical music since the 1950s• Used in jazz and rock since the late 1960s

Plucked Strings

Player uses right hand to pluck strings with fingers, fingernails, or “pick”

The string’s vibration is carried via the bridge to the instrument’s body

The hollow body amplifies the sound

The left hand “stops” the string at different frets, changing length of vibrating string

• Longer string = lower pitch• Shorter string = higher pitch

Plucked Strings

Different “picking” patterns and styles create different tone colors, dynamics, and articulations

Player can play a melody on one string at a time, or play chords on two or more strings simultaneously

Plucked Stringed Instruments

Acoustic Guitar• Can sound gentle and delicate or sharp and

percussive• Six strings tuned in fourths (and a third)• Strings made of nylon (classical guitar) or steel

(folk guitar)• Classical guitar held across lap; player sits• Player uses a shoulder strap to hold a folk

guitar; player can stand or sit• Used for centuries in classical, popular, and

folk music


Other acoustic instrumentsMandolin

• Small, pear-shaped with 4 strings & frets

Lute• Pear-shaped with 6 to 11 strings & frets

Archlute• Enhanced lute with extra bass strings

Theorbo• Large bass lute with extra bass strings


Electric guitar• Can sound gentle and delicate or ear-splittingly

loud, searing, and virtuosic• Usually tuned same as acoustic guitar• Strings made of steel• Vibrating strings picked up by transducers,

resulting electronic impulses run through amplifiers

• Held with a shoulder strap• Used primarily in rock and jazz

Chapter 3 The Structures of Music Musical Instruments.

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Transcript of Chapter 3 The Structures of Music Musical Instruments.