Orchestration, Instrument Names, and Range Color in Classical Music

Violin

A string instrument played with a bow.

Viola

A string instrument slightly larger than a violin.

Cello

A large string instrument played seated.

Double bass

The largest string instrument in the orchestra.

Flute

A woodwind instrument played by blowing across a hole.

Piccolo

A small flute that plays an octave higher than the flute.

Oboe

A woodwind instrument with a double reed.

English horn

A type of oboe that is lower in pitch.

Clarinet

A single-reed woodwind instrument.

Bass clarinet

A lower-pitched clarinet.

Bassoon

A large woodwind instrument with a double reed.

Contrabassoon

A bassoon that plays an octave lower.

Natural harmonic

A technique involving lightly touching a node on an open string.

Artificial harmonic

A technique involving stopping one pitch and lightly touching another node.

Divisi

A string section divides so different players take different notes.

Unis.

Return to unison.

Single tonguing

One tongue attack per note: ta-ta-ta-ta.

Double tonguing

Alternating syllables such as ta-ka.

Triple tonguing

Patterns such as ta-ta-ka or ta-ka-ta.

Flutter tonguing

Rolled/fluttered tongue effect producing a rough sound.

Woodwind slur

Tongue the first note, then continue without re-tonguing.

Doubling

Two or more instruments play the same musical line.

Unison doubling

Same pitch together, adding weight.

Octave doubling

Same line in different octaves.

Ostinato

A repeated rhythmic/melodic pattern.

Pedal tone

A sustained pitch beneath changing harmony.

Thin texture

Few active instruments, exposing solo colors.

Dense texture

Many active instruments, creating weight and richness.

Orchestration

The art of assigning musical material to instruments/sections to shape color, balance, register, texture, and impact.

Timbre

Tone color: the quality that makes the same pitch sound different on different instruments.

Register

The low, middle, or high part of an instrument's range; register strongly affects timbre and projection.

Projection

How readily an instrument/line carries through the surrounding texture.

Texture

How many layers/parts are active and how they relate.

Balance

The relative prominence of simultaneous instruments or sections.

Blend

How closely instrumental colors fuse into one composite sound.

Contrast

Difference in color, register, articulation, dynamics, or texture used to create distinction.

Color shift

A timbral change created by changing instrument, register, articulation, doubling, or texture.

Articulation

How a note begins, connects, and ends.

Clarinet chalumeau register

Low register; dark, rich, woody.

Clarinet throat tones

Relatively weak/less resonant transition area.

Clarinet clarion register

Clear, focused, projecting middle-high register.

Clarinet altissimo

Very high, bright, intense register.

Fast analysis sentence

Template - Instrument + register + articulation + relationship to other parts + effect.

Down-bow

Bow moves frog -> tip; often useful for a stronger/natural attack.

Up-bow

Bow moves tip -> frog.

Arco

Play with the bow; often marks the return after pizzicato.

Pizzicato

Pluck the string; short, percussive, clear attack, quick decay.

Tremolo

Rapid repeated bowing; creates shimmer, agitation, tension, or intensity.

Sul ponticello

Bow near bridge; glassy, thin, bright, metallic/eerie.

Sul tasto

Bow over/near fingerboard; soft, hazy, veiled, delicate.

Col legno

Use wood of bow; dry/percussive effect.

Con sordino

With mute; softer, darker, veiled.

Senza sordino

Without mute / remove mute.