Grade 4 Music Theory - Orchestral Instruments & Families
TLDRThis presents an overview of instruments in a choir and orchestra, relating singers' vocal ranges to orchestral instruments. It details string, brass, wind, and percussion instrument families, including their standard members and related terminology like transposing/non-transposing instruments and alto, tenor and bass clefs. Exploring each instrument family, it highlights similarities between instrumental and vocal ranges, like violins/sopranos, clarinets/tenors, tubas/basses. It also discusses particulars like trumpets and clarinets being common transposing instruments while flutes/trombones play at concert pitch.
Takeaways
- 😀 The four main voice parts in a choir are soprano, alto, tenor and bass
- 😊 String instruments are divided similarly - violin, viola, cello, double bass
- 🎻 Violins play in treble clef, violas in alto clef, cellos in bass/tenor clef, double basses sound an octave below written pitch
- 🎺 Trumpets and horns are transposing instruments that sound lower than written pitch
- 🎷 Woodwinds include flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon plus higher/lower versions like piccolo and contrabassoon
- 🥁 Percussion is divided into definite pitch (timpani, xylophone) and indefinite pitch (snare drum, triangle)
- 😯 String quartet comprises 2 violins, 1 viola and 1 cello (not double bass)
- 🎶 Brass instruments include trumpet, horn/French horn, trombone and tuba
- 👂 Wind instruments comprise the flute, oboe, clarinet and bassoon families
- 🎵 Standard orchestral instruments exclude guitars, euphoniums, cornets and other 'guest' instruments
Q & A
What are the four main voices in a choir, from highest to lowest?
-The four main voices in a choir from highest to lowest are: soprano, alto, tenor, and bass.
Which string instrument plays in the alto clef?
-The viola plays in the alto clef.
What are the standard orchestral string instruments?
-The standard orchestral string instruments are: violin, viola, cello, and double bass.
What brass instrument transposes down a perfect fifth?
-The French horn transposes down a perfect fifth. So when a French horn player reads a C on the score, the note that sounds is an F, a perfect fifth lower.
Which woodwind instruments use a double reed?
-The oboe and bassoon are double reed instruments.
What is the difference between woodwinds with definite and indefinite pitch?
-Woodwinds with definite pitch like the flute can play specific notes like C or G. Woodwinds with indefinite pitch like a bass drum produce sounds without a clear sense of pitch or note names.
Why do some instruments transpose?
-Some instruments transpose to make it easier to read the written music. For example, the high and low ranges of notes are kept within the treble or bass clef instead of requiring many ledger lines above or below the staff.
What is a string quartet comprised of?
-A string quartet is comprised of two violins, a viola, and a cello. It does not normally include the double bass.
What percussion instruments have definite pitch?
-Percussion instruments with definite pitch include the timpani, xylophone, glockenspiel, and vibraphone.
What is the lowest woodwind instrument?
-The lowest woodwind instrument is the double bassoon or contrabassoon.
Outlines
😊 Introducing the standard voices in a choir
The paragraph introduces the four standard voices in a choir - from highest to lowest, they are: soprano, alto, tenor and bass. The soprano and alto parts are usually sung by women, while the tenor and bass parts are usually sung by men.
👂 Mapping string instruments to choir voices
The string family of orchestral instruments can be mapped to the different voices in a choir. Violins are like sopranos, violas are like altos, cellos are like tenors and double bass is like basses. Details are provided on clefs used by these instruments.
🎺 Transposing instruments in the brass family
The brass family is introduced, including soprano trumpet, alto French horn, tenor trombone and bass tuba. Key details are given on transposing instruments like the trumpet in Bb and French horn in F.
🌬️ The woodwind family and their ranges
The woodwind instruments are covered - from highest flute to lowest bassoon. Details on reeds, transposing instruments like Bb clarinet and ranges of instruments are discussed, including their extended family like piccolo and contrabassoon.
🥁 Percussion: Definite vs indefinite pitch
The percussion family is divided into two categories - instruments of definite pitch that can play notes like timpani, and instruments of indefinite pitch like bass drum which don't have a clear pitch.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡orchestra
💡transposing instrument
💡concert pitch
💡clef
💡reed
💡brass family
💡string family
💡wind family
💡percussion
💡pitch
Highlights
The highest voice in a choir is the soprano, the next voice down is the alto, then the tenor, and the lowest voice is the bass.
The highest instrument in the string family is the violin, next is the viola, then the cello, and the lowest is the double bass.
The viola plays in the alto clef, the cello uses bass, tenor and treble clefs, and the double bass sounds an octave below written pitch.
The trumpet and French horn are transposing instruments that sound different pitches than written.
The trombone is a non-transposing instrument that plays at concert pitch.
The flute, oboe, and bassoon are non-transposing woodwinds, while the clarinet usually transposes.
The piccolo sounds an octave above written pitch.
Percussion instruments are either definite pitch like timpani, or indefinite like bass drum.
In a string quartet the instruments are violin 1, violin 2, viola and cello.
The cor anglais is a lower version of the oboe, and the bass clarinet is a lower clarinet.
Brass instruments like cornet and euphonium are common in bands but not orchestras.
The bottom note on a flute is middle C.
Reed instruments include single reeds like clarinet and double reeds like oboe.
The tuba and trumpet can come in different keys and be transposing instruments.
Understanding clefs, transposition, ranges, and families helps read an orchestral score.
Transcripts
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