M1 -Performing Media

Music Appreciation Module 1 – Elements Performing Media: Voices & Instruments (Text Book: Chapter 2) Performing Media: Voices Vocal Classifications • Pitch range – the distance between the lowest & highest notes for a voice or instrument A person’s vocal range depends on --- their physical characteristics (longer vocal cords = lower voice) - their training Arranged below from highest to lowest pitch are the common vocal classifications: Women: soprano mezzo soprano alto Men: tenor baritone bass à Refer to the Music Fundamentals Review: Voice (Also see the examples of different vocal classifications provided in the ebook.) Listening Activity: Vocal Music/ Voice Classifications Listen for the rich harmonies created by the different overlapping vocal parts. Pope Marcellus Mass (1562-63) Kyrie by Palestrina Vocal Music Guide: p. 87 -Six vocal parts: soprano, alto, 2 tenors and 2 basses. -Sung a cappella = without instrumental accompaniment Performing Media: Musical Instruments • • An instrument may be defined as any mechanism other than the voice that produces musical sounds. Classifications of Western Instruments: String Woodwind Brass Percussion Keyboard Electronic For each instrument we will look at 1)how the vibrations are initiated and 2) how pitches are changed. à Activity: As we look at examples of each family of instruments, please watch the Instrument Demos embedded in the ebook. The String Family Bowed String Instruments: • • • • Violin (top left) Viola (top right) Cello (bottom left) Bass (bottom right) à Refer to the Music Fundamentals Review: String Family Vibrations are created by drawing the bow across a string or plucking the string (pizzicato). Pitch is controlled by pressing a string against the fingerboard which results in making the vibrating length shorter. Activity Reminder: View instrument demos in the ebook. Other String Instruments Plucked String Instruments • Vibrations are created by strumming or plucking the strings. • Pitch is controlled on the guitar by pressing a string against the fingerboard. • The harp has 47 strings which are all different lengths and therefore tuned to different pitches. Pitches can also be changed with the foot pedals. Activity Reminder: View instrument demos in the ebook. guitar Harp Woodwind Instruments • The sound of all wind instruments is generated by a vibrating column of air in a tube. • Pitch is changed on all woodwinds by opening or closing holes along the tube which changes the length of the column of air and varies the pitch. • For each family of woodwinds there is a different way that the vibrations are initiated. • We will divide these into groups by how vibrations are initiated: -Flute and Piccolo -Recorder -Single Reed Family: Clarinet and Saxophone -Double Reed Family: Oboe, English Horn, Bassoon à Refer to the Music Fundamentals Review: Woodwind Family Flute and Piccolo (Woodwinds) Flute Piccolo Close up of a flute tone hole Activity Reminder: View instrument demos in the ebook. • Vibrations are initiated in the flute and piccolo by blowing air across a mouth or tone hole. (If you have ever blown air across the top of a soda bottle, that is a similar concept.) • Pitches are changed by opening or closing the holes along the body of the instrument. Recorders (Woodwinds) • A recorder is a relative of the flute but uses a whistle mouthpiece to initiate the vibrations. • Pitches are changed by opening or closing the holes along the body of the instrument. • As seen in the picture, recorders come in several sizes or pitch ranges. Single Reed Woodwinds Each of these instruments has a reed that is fastened to the mouthpiece of the instrument. • The source of the vibrations comes from the reed. The reed vibrates when air is blown into the instrument. Clarinet Activity Reminder: View instrument demos in the ebook. Clarinet mouthpiece and reed. • Pitches are changed by opening or closing the holes along the body of the instrument. Saxophones also come in different sizes and pitch ranges. (Soprano, alto, tenor and baritone) Saxophone Bass Clarinet Double Reed Woodwinds • • • • Oboe (third from left) English horn (far right) Bassoon (left) Contra bassoon (second from left) Vibrations originate from blowing air into 2 pieces of cane. Pitches are changed by opening or closing the holes along the body of the instrument. Activity Reminder: View instrument demos in the ebook. Close-up of an oboe reed. Brass Instruments Trumpet French Horn • Vibrations originate from the player s lips on ALL the brass instruments. • The pitch is controlled by varying lip tension and changing the length of the tubing either through valves or a slide. Trombone Tuba Activity Reminder: View instrument demos in the ebook. à Refer to the Music Fundamentals Review: Brass Family Percussion Instruments Vibrations are (generally) produced by striking, shaking, or rubbing the instrument. à Refer to the Music Fundamentals Review: Percussion Family Percussion Instruments Definite Pitch Chimes Celeste Xylophone Glockenspiel Activity Reminder: View instrument demos in the ebook. • Instruments of definite pitch produce tones. • Each bar or plate is a specific size for each pitch. Timpani • The drum head or membranes on the timpani can produce definite pitches. • Pitches are changed by varying the tension on the drum head with the pedals or using the adjustable screws around the head of the drum. Activity Reminder: View instrument demos in the ebook. Percussion Instruments - Indefinite Pitch Bass drum Snare drum • Instruments of indefinite pitch produce noise-like sounds. • Vibrations are irregular. Activity Reminder: View instrument demos in the ebook. Triangle Gong Cymbals Tambourine Keyboard Instruments All of these instruments use a piano type keyboard for pitch selection. They are capable of producing several pitches at once. à Refer to the Music Fundamentals Review: Keyboard Family Activity Reminder: View instrument demos in the ebook. Harpsichord – The strings are plucked by small wedges and pitch selection is controlled by one or two keyboards. Pipe Organ – Air is directed into the pipes to create the sound and pitch selection is controlled by several keyboards. Piano – Felt-covered hammers strike the strings and pitch selection is controlled by the keyboard. Electronic Instruments • Produce or amplify sound using electronics • Tape studio: main electronic tool of 1950 s Tape Studio Synthesizers and MIDI • MIDI – (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is the standard adopted for interfacing synthesizer equipment. • Synthesizers are systems of electronic components that generate, modify and control sound. They are usually controlled by a keyboard. • Modern composers connect these devices, use software, and write new types of music. Listening Activity: Early Electronic Music example Poeme Electronique (1958) by Edgard Varese. Listening Outline: p. 370-371 This piece was created by recording sounds on analog tape and then altering their characteristics. Listening Activity: Instruments Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Op. 34 (1946) by Benjamin Britten Listening Outline: p. 30-31 Listen for: Main theme followed by variations Tone colors of instruments and families Contrast of dynamics, speed, & tone color à Be able to identify each instrument by its unique sound. Assignment: • Go to the Assignment Instructions in Module 1 and follow the instructions.