MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
“The Soundtrack” from Disney’s Fantasia (1940)
INSTRUMENT TYPES
WHY INSTRUMENTS SOUND DIFFERENT
INSTRUMENTS
OF THE ORCHESTRA
WOODWINDS
FLUTE
MATERIAL: Metal (usually silver)
SOUND GENERATION: air is blown and splits on the far side of the embouchure hole (1/3 goes into the instrument, 2/3 go out into the space in front of the flutist)
RANGE: Soprano (high)
TIMBRE: Shimmery, light, breathy
PART: Melody or OBLIGATO (a complex counter-melody heard above the melody)
OBOE
MATERIAL: Wood with metal keys
SOUND GENERATION: Double reed vibrates against self
RANGE: Soprano (high)
TIMBRE: Focused, piercing, delicate
PART: Melody and harmony
BASSOON
MATERIAL: Wood with metal keys and bocal
SOUND GENERATION: Double reed
RANGE: Tenor/Bass (low)
TIMBRE: Throaty, warm, buzzy
PART: Harmony, countermelody or bassline
CLARINET
MATERIAL: Wood with metal keys
SOUND GENERATION: Single reed vibrates against mouthpiece
RANGE: Soprano
TIMBRE: Clear, wooden, round
PART: Melody, harmony, obligato
SAXOPHONE*
Patented in 1846, the saxophone is one of the youngest standard instruments. Since it was invented after the establishment of “modern” orchestra instrumentation, it is not a member of the standard symphony orchestra but is, instead, most often found in jazz, concert band, pop, and chamber music settings.
MATERIAL: Metal (usually brass)
SOUND GENERATION: Single reed
RANGE: 4 sizes (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone) in all ranges
TIMBRE: Penetrating, reedy, rich
PART: Melody, harmony, countermelody
BRASS
TRUMPET
MATERIAL: Metal (silver or brass)
SOUND GENERATION: Buzz lips in mouthpiece
RANGE: Soprano
TIMBRE: Cutting, clear, vibrant
PART: Melody and harmony
FRENCH HORN
MATERIAL: Metal (silver or brass)
SOUND GENERATION: Buzz lips
RANGE: Alto
TIMBRE: Mellow, round, velvety
PART: Harmony and countermelody
TROMBONE
MATERIAL: Metal (brass or silver)
SOUND GENERATION: Buzz lips
RANGE: Tenor
TIMBRE: Warm, brassy, rich
PART: Harmony and bassline
EUPHONIUM*
Similar to the Saxophone, the Euphonium was not standardized when the symphony orchestra took shape and was found mostly in brass and military bands. Today, it is an important instrument of the wind band genre.
MATERIAL: Metal (silver or brass)
SOUND GENERATION: Buzz lips
RANGE: Tenor
TIMBRE: Warm, round, hollow
PART: Any part
TUBA
MATERIAL: Metal (silver or brass)
SOUND GENERATION: Buzz lips
RANGE: Bass
TIMBRE: Booming, thick, mellow
PART: Bassline
PERCUSSION
TIMPANI & BATTERY PERCUSSION
MATERIAL: Metal or fiberglass shell, mylar (plastic) or skin drum head
SOUND GENERATION: Strike with stick or mallet
RANGE: Unpitched (except timpani which is Bass)
TIMBRE: Varies depending on the materials, construction, and tension of drum head
PART: Rhythm (and timpani is Bass)
EXAMPLES: Timpani, Snare Drum, Bass Drum, Tom-Toms, Bongos, Congas, Side Drum, Field Drum, Timbale
KEYBOARD PERCUSSION
MATERIAL: Metal or wood
SOUND GENERATION: Strike with mallet
RANGE: Alto - Soprano
TIMBRE: Varies depending on the material of the keyboard and the material of the mallet
PART: Melody and harmony
EXAMPLES: Orchestra Bells, Xylophone, Vibraphone, Marimba, Concert Chimes
AUXILIARY PERCUSSION
MATERIAL: Varies widely - anything that makes an unpitched “sound effect”
SOUND GENERATION: Strike, scrape, shake, rattle
RANGE: Unpitched
TIMBRE: Varies widely based on material, construction, and sound generation
PART: Rhythm and effect
EXAMPLES: Crash Cymbals, Suspended Cymbal, Tambourine, Gong, Shaker, Guiro, Ratchet, Wind Chimes, Rainstick, Cabasa, Scraper, Sandblocks, Anvil, Flexatone, Cowbell, Vibraslap, Jingle Bells, Thundersheet, Temple Blocks, Slapstick
Crash Cymbal demonstration
STRINGS
VIOLIN
MATERIAL: Wood with metal strings; bow is wood with horsehair
SOUND GENERATION: Bowed string
RANGE: Soprano
TIMBRE: Clear, resonant, delicate
PART: Melody and harmony
VIOLA
MATERIAL: Same as violin, but larger
SOUND GENERATION: Bowed string
RANGE: Alto
TIMBRE: Clear, resonant, full
PART: Harmony
CELLO
MATERIAL: Same as viola, but larger
SOUND GENERATION: Bowed string
RANGE: Tenor
TIMBRE: Resonant, deep, wooden
PART: Harmony, countermelody, bassline
STRING BASS
MATERIAL: Same as other string instruments, but a different shape and string set-up
SOUND GENERATION: Bowed string
RANGE: Bass
TIMBRE: Thick, heavy, focused
PART: Bassline
HARP
MATERIAL: Wood frame and
SOUND GENERATION: Plucked string
RANGE: Full range (like piano)
TIMBRE: Plinky, delicate, ringing
PART: Melody, harmony, effect (GLISSANDO when you strum all the strings up or down in a cascade)
BUILD YOUR OWN INSTRUMENT …
One of your assignments this week will be building an instrument out of items found at home to share with the class.
Idea links …
15 Awesome Musical Instruments You Can Make At Home
BASH THE TRASH: Build a Musical Instrument Out of Trash
INSTRUCTABLES: Homemade Musical Instruments
Five Harder DIY Musical Instruments to Make This Weekend