TIMBRE

 

Timbre -  is the color of sound produced by the voice and different instruments. A quality of sound that distinguishes one instrument from another.

The human voice is a vital medium of expression. Male and female voices may be classified according to quality and range.

Classification of Voices

›  Male                    Range                                  Female

1. Tenor                     highest                             soprano
2. Baritone               middle/ medium            mezzo soprano
3. Bass                        lowest                               alto

                                                          

                                     O  R   C   H    E     S   T    R      A

The word orchestra refers to a group of musicians playing different instruments. A large orchestra needs a conductor. He guides the orchestra and directs the performance through his or her facial expression, body movements, and hands gesture.

Preparing the orchestra for performances is a tough job for a conductor. He or she reads and interprets music notations and makes decisions on how to communicate the music with the desired tempo. Volumes and articulations.

The orchestra is a large instrumental ensemble that contains four family instruments: the string section, the woodwind section, the brass section, and the percussion section

 

Classification of instruments

1. String instruments- are instruments that are plucked or bowed and are often referred to as the “ heart of the orchestra “ because of their versatility and usefulness.
   

2. Violin- the leader and the heart of the orchestra. Played by moving the bow to and fro across the string.  

   

   
   

3. Viola- a little larger than a violin. It is tuned a fifth lower than a violin. 

   

   
   

4. Harp- a stringed instrument that is played by plucking 

   
   
   

5. Double bass- largest among the stringed instruments that have the lowest pitch. 

   
   
   

6. Cello- larger than the viola. Held by a player between his/her knees and moves the bow to and fro. 

   

Woodwind instruments – produce music when musicians blow the mouthpiece 

• Piccolo- is the smallest instrument in the woodwind section. It has a range of octaves higher than a flute. 
  
  
  
• Flute- has a high range and is capable of producing fast series of tones. 
  
  
  
• Oboe – is the most dramatic woodwind musical instrument. 
  
  
  
• Clarinet- is a cylindrical instrument with a cup-shaped mouthpiece and a flaring bell at the end. 
  
  
  
• Bassoon – is called the “ clown “ of the orchestra for it has a long curving metallic mouthpiece. It is tone soft and mellow. 
  
  
  

Bass instruments are used to produce sound by means of blowing.
They are made of brass metal.

• The trumpet- is the main instrument of the brass section which has a brilliant and brassy sound.
  
  
  
• Trombone- is the only sliding instrument in the brass section that changes pitch in any key. 
  
  
  
• French Horn- is 12 feet long and sounds more mellow than the trumpet. 
  
  
  

• Tuba- is the largest in the brass section and has the lowest pitch.  
  
  
  

Percussion instruments- are played by striking the instruments with sticks or hammers while others are through shaking or rubbing like maracas.
Two classes
1. pitched
2. unpitched

 

Pitched Percussion

Timpani- known as kettle drums. It produces a thunderous effect when played continuously. 

Xylophone- it can be of different lengths of wooden bars suspended on a frame of two rows, representing the white and black keys of the piano 

Glockenspiel- known as bell-Lyra or orchestra bell. It sounds like little bells with a bright and silvery tone. 

Tubular Bells- known as chime bars. They produce a church bell sound.  

 

                                                                      Unpitched Percussion

Bass Drum-the largest of the orchestra drums. It produces an awesome booming and thundering effect. 

 

Snare drum- it produces a dry rattling and crackling sound 

cymbals- two round metals held by leather straps fastened through the holes in their central domes. They clashed together with sliding motion or were struck by a stick to make a sound.

Others are castanets, gongs, tambourines, maraca, and triangles that belong to unpitched percussion.