Mediums of music

Literature- all sounds are produced by human voice.

Music- the human voice is just one member of instruments.

Musical instruments- is a mechanism that is able to generate musical vibration and launch them into the air
and it is also the means of the composers to convey their messages to the listeners. It is also their mediums of
expression.
- four properties of musical sound-
Pitch
Duration
Volume and Color (tembre)
1. Pitch- location of the tone in the musical scale, refers to the highness or lowness of tone. Vibration of
musical sound are regular. All sound are produced by vibration. The width, thicknkess, density and tension of
the vibrating body also affect the outcome.
2. Duration- length of time over which vibration is maintained. Tones are not only high or low but also short
and long.
3. Volume- force or percussive effect, loud or soft. "Forte"-loud, "piano"- soft.
4. Timbre of tone color- quality of the sound produced by other instrument. This is influenced by size, shape,
the proportion of the instrument and the material of which it is made.
Range- total number of tones an instrument can produce from highest to lowest, this is also determined by the
size of the medium. Large objects vibrate more slowly and slower vibration create lower tones. Small objects
produced faster vibration and a higher tone.
Four basic area of pitch range- soprano, alto, tenor and bass.
The two mediums in music
× vocal medium
× instrumental medium
1. Vocal medium- human voice is the oldest and most popular of all instruments and is the most natural form
of music.
Vocal register- 6 classes of vocal register;
Female
1. Soprano (high register)
2. Mezzo soprano ( medium register)
3. Alto or contralto ( low register)
Male
4. Tenor( high register)
5. Baritone ( medium register)
6. Bass ( low register)
Choir or chorus- song by many different ranges or register.
Vocal qualities- classified according to their timbre or quality of sound. Lyric and dramatic ranges.
1. Coloratura soprano- highest and lightest of all voices. Music written for this voice is full of runs, trills and
light ornaments.
2. Lyrics soprano and lyric tenor- less high and flute like, sings less ornamental music. Suited to sweet song like
melodies.
3. Dramatic soprano and dramatic tenor- heavier and can convey intense emotions in dramatic situations.
4. Mezzo soprano- voice is between the soprano and contra lto in quality and range.
5. Contralto- voice is low and rich in quality.
6. Tenor- highest type in men's voices.
7. Baritone- voice has a range between tenor and bass.
8. Bass voice- the lowest and deepest quality.
Different musical instruments.
Musical instruments are of three types- the instrument which are bowed, blown and are struck.
Bowed- strings
Blown- brasses ( usually made of brass) and woodwinds ( originally made of wood)
Struck- percussion instrument.
The most common string, woodwind and brass instruments used in the Philippine music are listed below in
order of range.
Strings Woodwinds Brasses
Violin piccolo trumpet
Viola flute french horn
Violoncello clarinet trombone
(or cello) oboe tuba
Bass english horn
Pecrussion bass clarinet
Snare drum bassoon
Fox drum contrabassoon
Cymbal
Gong
Triangle
String instruments
- provide the basic orchestral sounds. They produce stones by means of the vibration of the stretch strings.
Two types of string instruments.
1. Bowed string
2. Plucked strings.
Bowed strings- produce tone by means of a bow of horsehair drawn across the strings.
Violin is the highest member of the string section of the orchestra and is universally admired for its voice like
quality. It can be played very quietly or loudly, very slowly or extremely fast. ( soprano)
Viola- slightly larger than violin. Strings are longer, thicker and heavier and is lower in range. Used for harmony
than melody. Particularly for themes of a mournful or passionate nature.( alto)
Violoncello or cello- much longer than viola, lower in range and the strings are thicker and heavier than viola.
Has to be held between the knee of a seated performer. Notable for its rich and romantic tone and is the
foundation for the harmony of the string choir. (Tenor)
Double bass or contrabass- largest member and lowest in range of the string family. Used as a support for the
string choir or orchestra. The performer stands to play this instrument.
Plucked strings- bowed string class can produce tone by plucking the string ( pizzicato). The player flux the
string either with his finger or with a plectrum.
Guitar- most popular stringed instrument today. Seldom used in orchestra but a part of jazz bands. Virus in
shape and in the number of strings and it consists of a fingerboard with "frets"( narrow metal cross strips).
-Other plucked strings which are seldom found being played in symphony orchestras-
Banjo
Flute
Mandolin and ukulele
String instruments are preeminent in playing "legato" ( smooth and connected), "staccato"( short and
detached), "pizzicato"( plucked).
-Other special effects possible on each of the string instruments-
Spiccato- playing with short, crisp strokes of the bow.
Saltallato- bouncing the bow on the string to produce light, detached tones.
Martellato- hammering the bow quiver on the strings making each tone separate and emphatic.
Tremolo- making the bow quiver on the strings to produce a shimmering effect.
Vibrato- denotes the rich throbbing tones
Glissando- player moves of finger of his left hand rapidly along the strings, sounding all the pitches of the scale.
String section in the orchestra has come to be known as "the heart of the orchestra"
Woodwind instruments ( blown by players)
- consists of members of four different families; flute and piccolo, oboe and english horn, clarinet and bass
clarinet, bossoon and contrabassoon. The pitch of the notes or altered by shortening or lengthening column of
air vibrating inside, this is done by covering and uncovering little holes with keys work by fingers. Most
decorative instrument, they contribute the greatest variety in the ensemble.
Saxophones are prominent in orchestra.
Woodwinds possess a solo literature and are widely used in chamber music.
Flute- first instruments of the woodwind in the order of ceremonies. High pitched wind instrument. A
cylindrical tube made of silver alloy or metal. Tone is cool and velvety.
Piccolo- smaller flute, produces the highest notes. Tones are produced by piercing and shrill.
Oboe(made of wood)- body is a tube which gets wider in the end. The tone is focused and intense in all
register. Described as plaintive, nasal and reedy. Associated with pastoral effects and with nostalgic melodies.
English horn (large oboe)- wider and longer and ends in a pear-shaped bell, account for its soft and mournful
timbre. Sound is richer and more plaintive.
Clarinet- often takes the part of the violin in band music. It has a wide range, from low to high and from soft to
loud.
Produces three distinct tone color;
1. Upper register- sound is clear and powerful.
2.middle register- sound is smooth and relaxed.
3.lower register- tones are rich and hollow.
Bassoon and contrabassoon (tenor and bass)- part of oboe family, most flexible and useful of the bass
instruments. Capable of staccato.
Three registers of bassoon
Low register- weightly and thick.
Midle register- dry and sonorous.
High register- reedy and intense.
Saxophone- blend well with either woodwind or brass.
The brasses- consist of trumpets, horn, trombone and tuba. Indispensable for their ability to play very loudly,
for melody, for sustaining harmony, for rhythmic accent and for the flame like sonority they contribute to the
climaxes. The player sound this instrument by blowing through the mouthpiece.
Trumpet- firm and brilliant timbre that lends radiance to the orchestral mass. Associated with martial pomp
and vigor or battle calls.
Horn or french horn- a versatile instrument that has a smooth mellow tone but can be made to sound very
brassy. Blends equally with woodwind, brass and strings, it serves as the connecting link among them. Can
project sound across great distances.
Trombone- in italian means "large instrument", are two of kind; tenor and bass. Tone is rich and mellow it can
play softly but is more often used to achieve effects of the nobility and grandeur.
Tuba- bass of the brass choir. Furnishes the foundation for the harmonic fabric. Sounds like bass trombone but
fuller, richer and more powerful.
Cornet- brass wind musical instrument of trumpet family. It is used in orchestras, bands and brass band. Larger
than trumpet, possess greater agility and the tone is rounder but last brilliant than the trumpet.
The percussion instrument
- made to sound by heating them with sticks or by striking or shaking their parts together. It falls into two
categories, with definite and indefinite pitch.
Percussion of definite pitch are;

kettledrums or timpani- played with two padded sticks which may either be soft or hard. Range extends from
a mysterious rumble to attend a thunderous roll.
Glockenspiel- ( german for a set of bells) has a series of horizontal tuned plates. Player strikes this with
mallets, producing bright metallic sound.
Xylophone- tuned block of wood which produce a dry, crisp timber when struck. Experts attain dazzling speed
and accuracy

Marimba (simply a xylophone with a resonator)- xylophone of american and south american origin and
associated with dance music.
Percussion with no definite pitch;
- snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, gong, triangle and etc.
Snare drum- small drum in the orchestra
Chimes- set of tuned metal tubes of various lengths attached to a frame and struck with a hammer. Called
upon to stimulate church bells, range from a metallic thing called to a sonorous clang.
Harp- oldest musical instruments. Appeared in the babylonian inscriptions. Strings are played by plucking
producing a crystalline tone. Chords on the heart are frequently played in broken form.
Keyboard instruments
Consists of a series of black and white keys. A performer depressed a kry, tone sounds. Piano, celeste,
harpsichord and organ are all keyboard instrument of definite pitch.
Celesta- percussion instrument of definite pitch, has steel plates which are hammered. Appearance resembles
a miniature upright piano.
Harpsichord- string instrument that are plucked bye quills or leather or brass tounge attached to the keys.
Organ- a wind instrument whose sound are made by air force through pipes.
Piano most popular and widespread of all instruments. A useful instrument. Has the ability to sound several
tones simultaneously. An indispensable instrument for accompaniment.
Organ- principal keyboard instrument it has physical properties which makes it a wind instrument. It sounds
are made by air force by mechanical means through pipes. Electronic organ is now commonly used.
-Other instruments which are played by a keyboard-
Piano accordion- a melody keyboard for the right hand.
Harmonium- a keyboard instrument related to the organ.
Combinations of instruments
Ensemble media - two or more performers are equally engage in playing or singing a piece of music. Medium
is called an ensemble and the music is called an ensemble music.
Instrumental ensembles
Orchestra- most spectacular ensembles. Composed of any sizable group of instrumental performers. Number
of instruments used varies according to the demands of music .
A large orchestra 2/3 are string players, 1/3 are real players and 3 to 5 people take care of the percussion.
The symphony orchestra a large in ensemble which includes all the principal instrumental types. Has 100
players but still varies according to the kind of music being played.
Four instrumental grouping
String section, woodwind section, brass section and percussion section. Each of these has soprano, alto, tenor
and bass.
Concerto- a form written for orchestra usually solo instrument.
Band an instrumental ensemble, large like the orchestra. Closely associated with outdoor events.
The rondalla best known instrumental group in the philippines today. Made up mostly of stringed instruments,
banduria- assumes the lead part and plays the melody, laud and the octavina- altar and the contrapuntal
parts, piccolo tuned above banduria, guitarra and the banjo gives ability to the rhythm and support the
harmony.
Pangkat or bandang kawayan- interesting musical ensemble in the philippines. Composed of instruments
made of bamboo. ( bumbong, native marimba or talunggating, bamboo harp or tipangklung, gabbang
patterned after muslim type xylophone, tulali or bamboo flute, bungkaka or bamboo clapper, kalatok or
bamboo knocker)
Mixed ensembles - instruments and voices. Such musical types as an opera, oratorio, cantata, mass, requiem
mass and symphonies may employ vocal soloist chorus and orchestra. 20th century.
Chamber orchestra- applied to small instrumental ensembles only few performers for apart. Between a
chamber ensemble and a full orchestra.
Chamber ensembles- only a few performers (2 to 8 instruments).
Common chamber music ensembles are:
1. Solo sonata- for solo instrument ( violin, cello, flue, oboe, horn and etc.)
2. String quartet- most common medium of chamber music consists of two violins viola and cello. When
replaced with a piano the ensemble is called piano quartet.
3. Duos, trios, quantets and other- two instruments have equal importance is a duo, three instruments trio, 5
quintet and so on.
Special ensembles- music involves, significant trend in recent years has been the development of electronic
instruments.

Place various instruments such as acoustic piano, electric piano, string ensemble, castanets, gourd, maracas,
melodians, tambourine, cordians, trumpet, and trombone, guitars and electric bass guitars.
The conductor- director of orchestra and nose every detail of the music nba able to give the most precise
direction with his baton and hands.
Dec 3, 2019