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Musical Instruments: Clave A. Unit 5

This document provides an overview of different types of musical instruments categorized into strings, winds, and percussion. It describes the classifications and examples within each category. It also discusses different instrumental ensembles like symphony orchestras, chamber groups, and other groups. Additionally, it mentions school and world instruments from different cultures.

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Noelia Carrascosa Martínez
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47 views27 pages

Musical Instruments: Clave A. Unit 5

This document provides an overview of different types of musical instruments categorized into strings, winds, and percussion. It describes the classifications and examples within each category. It also discusses different instrumental ensembles like symphony orchestras, chamber groups, and other groups. Additionally, it mentions school and world instruments from different cultures.

Uploaded by

Noelia Carrascosa Martínez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPS, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MUSICAL

INSTRUMENTS

Clave A.
Unit 5
Musical instruments. – Contents

● 1. Musical instruments
1.1. String instruments
1.2. Wind instruments
1.3. Percussion instruments

● 2. Instrumental ensembles
2.1. Symphony orchestras
2.2. Chamber music ensembles
2.3. Other ensembles
Musical instruments. – Contents

● 3. Other instruments
3.1. School instruments
3.2. World instruments
Musical instruments

● The same fragment may sound very different depending


on the instrument it is played on.

● Each instrument has its own timbre or distinctive


tone color.

● A composer considers each instrument’s timbral


and expressive possibilities.
Musical instruments

● Based on how sound is produced, musical instruments


can be classified in different musical families:
string, wind, percussion and electric
and/or electronic instruments.

● Violin, viola, cello, double bass, guitarra, bandurria,


lute, mandolin… (string)

● Trumpet, saxophone, horn, tuba, oboe, flute,


clarinet, English horn… (wind)
Musical instruments

● Snaredrum, tambourine, timpani, castanets,


xylophone, marimba, vibraphone… (percussion)

● Electric
guitar, electric bass, electric piano,
pedal steel guitar, synthesizer, theremin,
Reactable… (electric and/or electronic instruments)
1.1. String instruments

● String instruments produce sound by the vibration


of tightened strings and have resonance boxes
to amplify the sound.

● We can identify three types of string instruments:

● Bowed string. Sound is obtained by drawing


a bow across the strings.

Cello
1.1. String instruments

● Plucked string. Sound is obtained by plucking


the strings with the fingertips or a pick.

Guitar

● Struck string. Sound is obtained by striking the strings.

Piano
1.2. Wind instruments

● Wind instruments produce sound by the vibration


of air inside a tube.

● Timbre differences among instruments of this family


are mainly determined by the type of mouthpiece.

● However, these instruments are still classified


according to the material they are or were originally
made of, and we call them woodwind instruments
and brass instruments.
1.2. Woodwing

● They are made of wood. However, some of them are


made of metal (e.g. the saxophone and
the transverse flute).

● There
are three types of woodwind instruments
according to their mouthpiece:
1.2. Woodwing

● Beveled
Air vibration is caused on colliding with a bevel
(sharp edge). e.g.: recorder

● Single-reed
Air vibration is caused on colliding with a cane
or wood sheet inside the mouthpiece.
e.g.: clarinet
1.2. Woodwing

● Double-reed
Air vibration is caused by the movement of two wood
canes colliding with each other.
e.g.: oboe
1.2. Brass

● They are made of metal alloys.


The instrument’s tube is folded or rolled up on itself.

● The different notes are created


- by putting more or less press pressure on
the mouthpiece
- by pressing the valves.
- by moving the slide

Trumpet
Horn Trombone
Tuba
1.3. Percussion instruments

● Percussion instruments produce sounds on being

struck  drum
clashed  clash cymbals
shaken  maracas
rubbed  güiro
1.3. Percussion instruments

● Percussion instruments are divided into:

● Pitchedpercussion instruments
Can produce an specific sound pitch; i.e., notes.

Marimba
1.3. Percussion instruments

● Unpitched percussion instruments


They don’t produce any specific pitch.

Snare drum
2. Instrumental ensembles – 2.1. Symphony orchestras

● The origin of the word is Greek:


orchestra  the place in a theatre where musicians
were placed.

● It is the musical ensemble with the largest number


of instrumentalists.

● In a symphony orchestra we can find the


following instruments:

● String
Violins, violas, cellos and double basses.
Sometimes piano, harp or guitar.
2. Instrumental ensembles – 2.1. Symphony orchestras

● Woodwind
Transverse flutes, oboes, clarinets and bassoons.

● Brass
Trumpets, horns, trombones and tubas.

● Percussion
Timpani, xylophone, tubular bells, bass drum,
cymbals, etc.
2. Instrumental ensembles – 2.1. Symphony orchestras

● Ina symphony orchestra, instruments are grouped


into families and according to sound parameters
with which a great timbral balance is achieved.

higher

lower

+ loudness + loudness
2.2. Chamber music ensembles

● Chamber music is played by smaller instrumental

● Ensembles: duets, trios, quartets, quintets,


chamber orchestras, etc.
2.2. Chamber music ensembles

● The string quartet has been a very typical chamber


ensemble in music history: two violins, a viola and a cello.
2.3. Other ensembles

● Brass band: formed by wind instruments.

● Rock band: composed by electric guitar, electric bass,


drums and ocassionally keyboards.

● Cornets and drums band


2.3. Other ensembles

● Rondallas

● Orquesta de pulso y púa

● Military bands
3. Other instruments. 3.1. School instruments

● Specific instruments are usually used in school to make


the learning process easier.

● Most of them are part of what are called


Orff instruments.
3. Other instruments. 3.1. School instruments

● They were created by the composer and pedagogist


Carl Orff (1895-1982).

Glockenspiel Large tambourine Triangle

● What other instruments have you played in class?


3.2. World instruments

● Each culture, country or region has created


its own instruments.

● Which ones do you know?

Alphorn Gamelan Steel drums


Switzerland Indonesia Caribbean
Summary

● If you decided to form or play in a musical ensemble…


which instruments would you like to have in it?

● If you don’t like any of the existing instruments,


you can always invent a new one!

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