Lecture 08 - TImbre

What is timbre?

the tone color or quality of sound heard

How can you divide voices into?

Female and male category

What goes into the male category?

Tenor

Baritone

Bass

The higher man’s voice is a…..

tenor

When singing solo, the lower man’s voice is a….

baritone

When singing in a choir, the lower man’s voice is a….

Bass

The higher woman’s voice is a…

soprano

When singing solo, the lower woman’s voice is a….

mezzo-soprano

When singing in a choir, the lower woman’s voice is an….

alto

What is the timbre in soprano?

→ light, agile and nimble

→ bright clear transparent

What is the timbre in mezzo-soprano?

→ dark, heavy and covered

→ thick and dense

What is the timbre in tenor?

→ light, agile and nimble

→ bright clear transparent

What is the timbre in baritone?

→ dark, heavy and covered

→ thick and dense

Male roles in opera?

tenor and baritone

Female roles in opera?

Soprano and mezzo- soprano

What are the instrument families?

Strings

Woodwinds

Brass

Percussion

Keyboard

Instruments in strings (high to low)

• Violin

• Viola

• Cello

• Double Bass

• Harp

• Guitar

What does string size tell you about pitch?

The shorter the string, the higher the pitch

What does instrument size tell you about pitch?

the bigger the instrument, the lower the pitch

What instruments in string use a bow?

Violin

viola

cello

ball

Term for plucking the string?

Pizzicato

What device is attached to an instrument to dampen the sound?

mute

Term meaning to slide from one note to another?

Glissando

What is the technique in which the player bends the pitch slightly sharp and flat with their finger?

vibrato

what is vibrato?

this is a technique in which the player bends the pitch slightly sharp and flat with their finger.

What does glissando look like on a harp?

playing rapid scales up and or down by strumming the strings

What are the pedals used for on the harp?

Lever pressed by the foot to change note to sharps, naturals or flats

What are frets on a guitar?

these are raised bumps on the fingerboard to stop the strings at a specific pitch

What is a capo for a guitar?

a device which acts as a clamp that attached to the fingerboard to change the tuning of the guitar

What are the instruments in woodwind? (high → low)

• Flute

• Oboe

• Clarinet

• Bassoon

What is the sister instrument of the flute? is it higher or lower?

Piccolo

it is higher than the flute

What is the sister instrument of the oboe? is it higher or lower?

English horn

it is lower than the oboe

What is the sister instrument of the clarinet? is it higher or lower?

bass clarinet

it is lower

What is the sister instrument of the bassoon? is it higher or lower?

Contrabassoon

it is lower

What is the flute made out of?

sliver because it has the flexibility and allow instrument to vibrate

what are the instruments in brass? (High to low)

• Trumpet

• French HOrn

• Trombone

• Tuba

Where the 2 categories of instruments in percussion?

Definite Pitch

Indefinite Pitch

What instruments are in definite pitch?

• Timpani

• xylophone

• glockenspiel

• marimba

• tubular bells

• hand bells

What instruments are in indefinite pitch?

• Bass drum - Snare drum

• Triangle - cymbals

• Tambourine - clave

• Wood block - castanets

• Gong - cow bell

• whip - maracas

What a baton?

A stick held in the right hand of a conductor; conducted in best patterns and used to keep the pulse steady

What is the term podium?

Raised box on which the conductor stands

What are the duties of a director?

• KEEP A STEADY BEAT - SO THE ORCHESTRA PLAYS AT THE SAME SPEED

• SHOW THE DYNAMICS

• CUE MUSICIANS WHO HAVE BEEN RESTING OR HAVE AN IMPORTANT PART

• GIVE THE MUSIC AN INTERPRETATION

• EXPRESS THE EMOTIONAL CONTENT OF THE MUSIC

• select the pieces performed and soloist featured

What are the duties of an artistic director?

• WORK WITH MUSICIANS UNION, BOARD MEMBERS, STAFF

• FUND-RAISING

• PUBLIC OUTREACH

• AMBASSADOR/SPOKESPERSON FOR THE ORCHESTRA

• hiring and firing of musicians

What are the speculations of a conductor?

Orchestral

opera

band

Choral

What are the different instrument in keyboard?

• Piano

• Harpsichord

• Organ

What are the pedals on the piano?

1. Una corda (left): mute sound by hammering one string

2. Sostenunto (middle): allows certain notes to be sustained

3. Damper pedal (right): allows all the notes to be sustained until release (pianist can move hands with music continuing)

What is the term plectrum?

A pick that plucks the string of a harpsichord

What is the term register?

Different keyboards that channel the air through a different set of pipes

What are stops?

Levered that are pushed in or pulled out to channel air through different pipes on an organ

What are the pedals for on an organ?

The lowest notes on the organ that are played by the performer’s feet