Unit 6 –Music

LESSON 1
JESSICA R. BALDEMOR
Instructor
The Mediums of music
 The Properties of Musical Sound

Musical sounds have four properties, namely: pitch, duration, volume, and color (timbre).
1. Pitch

All musical sounds have pitch. By pitch, we mean the location of a tone in the musical scale in relation
to high or low. It therefore refers to the highness or lowness of tone. All sounds are caused by vibration. The
musical note and noise are both caused by something vibrating (moving to and fro) but sounds of definite pitch
are created by regular or periodic vibrations.
 The vibrations of a musical sound are regular. The sound produced by speaking
results from irregular vibrations and is thus, not of definite pitch while that produced by singing
results from regular vibrations and is thus, definite in pitch.

There are many different pitches, ranging from very high to very low. Pitch is
determined by the rate of vibration which to a large extent depends on the length of the
vibrating body. Other conditions being equal, the shorter a string or column of air, the more
rapidly it vibrates and the higher the pitch. The longer a string or column of air, the fewer the
vibrations per second and the lower the pitch. The width, thickness, density, and tension of the
vibrating body also affect the outcome.
2. Duration
This property of sound depends on the length of
time over which vibration is maintained. Tones are not only
high or low but also short and long.
3. Volume
The term refers to force or percussive effects as a result
of which the tone strikes us as being loud or soft. Forte
means loud; piano means soft.
4. Timbre of tone color.
This is the individual quality of the sound produced by
other instruments. This depends on how the instrument
accentuates the over tones within the sound wave. It is
influenced by a number of factors such as the size, shape, and
the proportions of the instrument, the material of which it is made,
and the manner in which the vibration is set up.
5. Range.

The range of an instrument has to do with the total number of tones it can produce from
highest to lowest, and is determined largely by the size of the instrument. Large objects vibrate
more slowly than small ones, and slower vibrations create lower tones. Small objects produce
faster vibrations and hence higher tones. Thus, the range of a cello is lower than that of a
trumpet. The total pitch range is divided into four basic areas: soprano, alto, tenor, and bass
which correspond to the names given to different types of human voices: high female (soprano),
low female (alto), high male (tenor), and low male (bass). Furthermore, each range is divided into
three registers; high, middle, and low. Thus, we speak of the high register of a bassoon, the
middle register of a violin, the low register of a trumpet, etc.
The Two mediums in Music

We have two mediums in music. The vocal medium and the instrumental medium.

Vocal medium

The oldest and still most popular of all instruments is the human voice. It is the most
personal and direct of all instruments as it comes from within the body. The song
projected by the human voice is the most natural form of music.
Vocal Register

Voices differ considerably in range and register. The six classes of vocal
register:

(1) soprano (high register female voice)

(2) mezzo- soprano (medium register female voice)

(3) alto or contralto (low register female voice)

(4) tenor (high register male voice)

(5) baritone (Medium register male voice and

(6) bass (low register male voice)

If each of the ranges is sung by many singers, the group is a chorus or a choir. Choral
music is either accompanied or unaccompanied. A chorus may be accompanied by
any group of instruments or by a solo keyboard instrument. It is frequently used in
combination with the orchestra.
Vocal Qualities

In addition to the six-vocal register, voices are also classified according to their timbre or
quality of sound. Thus, we distinguish lyric and dramatic sopranos ( or altos, etc.)

1. The coloratura soprano is the highest and lightest of all voices. The music written for this
voice is full of runs, trills and light ornaments.

2. The lyric soprano voice is less high and flute-like and usually sings less ornamental
music. The voice is specially suited to sweet song like melodies in which beauty of tone is
the predominant quality.

3. The dramatic soprano voice is heavier and can convey intense emotions in dramatic
situations.
4.The mezzo-soprano voice is between the soprano and contralto in quality and range.
5. The contralto voice is low and rich in quality. The tenor is the highest type in men's
voices.
7. The lyric tenor, like the lyric soprano has a voice specially suited to sweet songlike
melodies.
8. The dramatic tenor, like the dramatic soprano has a heavier voice and is capable of
conveying intense emotions in dramatic situations.
9. The baritone voice has a range between tenor and bass.
10. The bass voice has the lowest and deepest quality.
THE DIFFERENT MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

Musical instruments have always been a source of wonder to both the player and the listener. They
figure in our music either singly, in small groups (chamber music) band, or as part of the ensemble-orchestra.

Musical instruments are of three main types: the instruments which are bowed, instruments which
are blown, and instruments which are struck. These in turn are divided into four groupings. The instruments
which are bowed are the strings. Those which are blown fall into two groups: the brasses, so called because
they are usually made of brass and the woodwinds, so named because they were originally made of wood.
The modern flute and piccolo are almost always made of metal. The fourth group is made up of instruments
which are struck. They are called percussion instruments.
The most common string, woodwind, and brass instruments used in Philippine music are listed
below in order of range, from highest to lowest. Their size corresponds to their pitch - smaller
instruments producing faster vibrations and thus higher sounds, and larger instruments producing

slower vibrations and thus lower sounds.

Strings Woodwinds brasses’
Violin Piccolo Trumpet

Viola Flute French horn

Violoncello ( cello) Clarinet Trombone

bass Oboe tuba

English horn

Bass clarinet

Bassoon

contrabassoon
THE STRING INSTRUMENTS

String instruments, also called stringed instruments, provide the

basic orchestral sounds. They produce tones by means of the vibration of a
stretched string. There are two types of string instruments: (1) bowed strings
and (2) plucked strings.
Bowed Strings.

These instruments produce tone by means of a bow of horsehair drawn across the strings. The
bowed strings, which include the violin, viola, violoncello, and double bass are the mediums of music that
can express the most poignant feeling and can continue playing infinitely without fatigue. These have four
strings which are made to vibrate by drawing a bow across them. The hair of the bow is rubbed with rosin so
that it will "grip" the strings. The player holds the bow in his right hand. He stops the string by pressing down
a finger of his left hand at a particular point on the finger board, thereby leaving a certain portion of the
string free to vibrate. By stopping the string at another point, he changes the length of the vibrating portion,
and with it the rate of vibration and the pitch.
 The violin is the highest member of the string
section of the orchestra. It is universally admired for its
voice-like quality.

Preeminent in lyric melody, it is also capable

of brilliance and dramatic effect. It has a wide

range of tones which can be sustained indefinitely.

It can be played very quietly or loudly, very slowly

or extremely fast.
The viola is slightly larger than the violin. Its strings are
longer, thicker, and heavier; it is lower in range. It is used
more for harmony than for

melody. It, however, is an effective melody

instrument, particularly for themes of a mournful

or passionate nature.
The violoncello, properly known as cello, is much longer than the
viola. It is lower in range than the viola and the strings are thicker and
heavier than those of the viola. The bow is shorter and heavier and
the instrument has to be held between

the knee of a seated performer. It is notable for its rich and

romantic tone. If the violin is the soprano of the string

section and the viola is the alto, the cello is the tenor.

Together with basses, the cellos supply the foundation for the
harmony of the string choir.
The double bass, known also as the contrabass, is the
largest member of the string family. It rests upon the floor,
and the performer stands to play it. It is the lowest in
range of the string group. Its deep indistinct tones come
into focus when

they are duplicated an octave higher, usually by

the cello. It is most often used as a support supplying

the bass tones for the string choir or orchestra.

Plucked strings

Although instruments of the bowed string class can

produce tone by plucking the strings (pizzicato), the
plucked string instruments produce tone solely by this
means. The player plucks the strings either with his
fingers or with a plectrum held in his hands.
The Woodwind Instruments

The woodwind instruments consist of members of four different families: flute and piccolo,
oboe and English horn, clarinet and bass clarinet, and bassoon and contrabassoon. These instruments
are blown by the player. The pitch of the notes are altered by shortening or lengthening the column of
air vibrating inside the instrument. This is done by covering and uncovering little holes with keys
worked by fingers or by fingers alone. They are the most decorative instruments and because they are
so different in timbre, they contribute the greatest variety in the ensemble. Saxophones are also
included in this group. Besides being prominent in the orchestra, the woodwinds possess a solo
literature and are widely used in chamber music.
The flute is a cylindrical made of a silver alloy or metal. It
is the coloratura soprano of the woodwind choir. It’s
sound is silvery or liquid. It can play rapid, bbrilliant scale
passages. Its tone is cool and velvety in the low register
but in its upper register, the sound is bet, in and stands
out against the orchestral mass.
The piccolo, which is a smaller flute, produces the
highest notes in the orchestra. Tones produced are
piercing and shrill.
The oboe is made of wood. The body is a tube which gets
wider at the end. The double reed in the mouthpiece
consists of two slips of cane so shaped as to leave
between them an extremely small passage for air.
Because

of this compression, the tone is focused and intense

in all registers. Oboe timbre is generally described as

plaintive. nasal, and reedy. The instrument is associated

with pastoral effects and with nostalgic melodies.

The clarinet is the instrument that often takes the part of
the violin in band music. It has a single reed, a small
elastic piece of cane fastened against its chisel-shaped
mouthpiece. It has a remarkably wide range from low to
high and from soft to loud and produces three distinct tone
colors: (1) in its upper register, the sound is

clear and powerful; (2) in its middle register, the sound is

smooth or relaxed; (3) in its lower register, the tones are

rich and hollow.
The bassoon and contrabassoon are the tenor and bass,
respectively, of the oboe family. The bassoon is one of the
most flexible and useful of the bass instruments. Its tone
is weighty and thick in the low register, dry and sonorous
in the middle, reedy and intense in the upper. It is capable
of a hollow-sounding

staccato and wide leap that create a humorous

effect; it is at the same time a highly expansive

instrument.
The saxophone. This wind instrument has a single reed
that combines the reed mouthpiece of a clarinet with a
curved conical metal tube. It blends well with either
woodwind or brass.
THE BRASSES

The brasses have been regularly used in many countries. They consist of
the trumpet, horn, trombone, and tuba. They are indispensable for their ability to play
very loudly, for melody, for sustaining harmony, for rhythmic accent, and for the
flamelike sonority they contribute to the climaxes. These instrument have cup-
shaped mouth pieces ( except for the horn, whose mouthpiece is shape like a
funnel). A player sounds a brass instrument by blowing into the mouthpiece, varying
the note by altering the tension of his lips. This allows him to blow a series of notes
but not a complete scale.
The trumpet possesses a firm and brilliant timbre that lends

radiance to the orchestral mass. Because of its military history,

it is often associated with martial pomp and vigor or battle calls.

Played softly, the instrument commands a lovely round tone.

The muted sound, which is made by inserting the mute,

a pear shaped device of metal or cardboard in the bell is much used.

The horn, generally called the French horn, normally has a smooth, mellow tone
but can be made to sound very brassy. The timbre of the horn blends equally well
with woodwinds, brass, and strings, for which reason it serves as the connecting
link among them. The horn has the ability to project sounds across great
distances.By playing a mute or by putting a hand into the bell, the performer

can get a muted sound, a poetic faraway sound which is haunting. By pushing
one's hand far into the bell and blowing with greater force, one can produce an
extremely brassy, almost threatening sound. The horn is a versatile instrument; as a
solo instrument, it is very satisfactory because it has a wide range and can be loud
or soft, lyrical or dramatic.
The trombone, which in Italian means "large

instrument," are of two kinds: tenor and bass.

The two are alike in construction but the bass

trombone has a lower range. The trombone's tone is

rich and mellow. It can play softly, but it is more often

used to achieve effect of nobility and grandeur.

The tuba is the bass of the brass choir. Like the

string bass and contrabassoon, it furnishes the

foundation for the harmonic fabric. Its sound is

rather like the bass trombone, but fuller, richer,

and more powerful.

The cornet is a brass-wind musical instrument of the

trumpet family, consisting of a long-looped tube, 9 feet

long. It is used in orchestras, bands, and brass bands.

This instrument is larger than the trumpet.

It has a shorter body and possesses greater agility.

The tone is rounder but less brilliant than that of the

trumpet
THE PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS

The percussion section comprises a variety of instruments that are made to sound by hitting
them with special sticks, or by striking or shaking their parts together. Some are made of metal or
wood. In others, such as the drums, vibration is set up by striking a stretched skin. The percussion
instruments fall into two categories – those of definite and those of indefinite pitch. The percussion
instruments of definite pitch are the kettledrum or timpani, which are used in sets of two or three. The
kettledrum is a hemisphere copper shell across which is stretched “head” of calfskin held in place by a
metal ring. The instrument is played with two padded sticks, which may either be soft or hard. Its
dynamic range extends from a mysterious rumble to a thunderous roll.
The Glockenspiel (German for a set of bells) consist of a
series of horizontal tuned plates of various sizes, made of
steel. The player

strikes these with mallets, producing bright

metallic sounds.
The Xylophone consist of tuned blocks of wood which

produce a dry, crisp timbre when stuck. Expert xylophone

players attain dazzling speed and accuracy.

The manimba, a xylophone of African and South
American origin, is associated with dance music. It is
simply a xylophone with a

resonator. Small tubes suspended under

the wooden bass resonate the sound of the

vibrating wood.
The chimes consist of a set of tuned metal tubes of
various lengths attached to a frame and struck with a
hammer. They have a broad dynamic range,

from a metallic tinkle to a sonorous clang and are

frequently called upon to stimulate church bells.

The harp is said to be one of the oldest musical instruments. Its earliest from
appeared in the Babylonian inscriptions several thousand years ago.

The instrument is almost extinct today. It survives in

the modern orchestra, as a supporting instrument most of

the time. Its strings are played by plucking , producing

a crystalline tone that blends well with the orchestral timbres.

The pedals are used to shorten the stings thereby raising the pitch.

Chords on the harp are frequently played in broken form; that is,

the tones are sounded one after another instead of simultaneously.

KEYBOARD INSTRUMENT

These instruments are operated by means of a

keyboard which consists of a series of black and white
keys. When a performer depresses a key, a tone sounds.
Keyboard instruments produce tones in a variety of ways.
 The following is a further description each

of the keyboard instruments.

The piano is the most popular and most widespread of all instruments. It is widely used
in the home, in small orchestras and dance bands.

It has the ability to sound several tones

simultaneously and has the capacity to

present complex musical textures by itself,

making it an extremely useful instrument.

It is an indispensable instrument for accompaniment.

The organ is a principal keyboard instrument but as
mentioned earlier, it has a physical property which makes
it a wind instrument. Its sounds are made by air forced by
mechanical means through pipes. The pipes. The pipes
are controlled by two or more keyboard and a set of
pedals. On the modern organ, gradations in the volume of
tone are made possible by means of small boxes. An
organ is capable of sustaining tones indefinitely.
Nowadays, the electronic organ is commonly used.
COMBINATION OF INSTRUMENTS

The different instruments discussed are most commonly found not only in
Western countries but also in the Philippines due to its contact with the Western
nations.

The composer uses them in any combination he wishes, but certain

combinations or ensembles as they are usually called in music have been found to
be particularly satisfying and consequently commonly used.
Ensemble Media

When two or more performers are equally

engaged in playing or singing a piece of music, the
medium is called an ensemble (an sam b’l )and the music
is called ensemble music.

Instrumental ensembles exist in almost infinite

combinations. Some of these are as follows:
Orchestra

It is the most spectacular of ensembles, composed of any sizable group of instrumental

performers usually under the direction of a conductor. In the orchestral ensemble, several instruments
of the same kind usually play a given part. This is particularly true of the strings. An orchestra may vary
in size from a relatively small groups to an ensemble of a hundred or more players. The number of
instruments used in orchestra varies according to the demands of the music. The orchestra is
constituted with a view of securing the best balance of tone. The performers are divided into four
sections we have described. In large orchestras, approximately two thirds are string players and one
third are wind players. Three to five people take care of the percussion.
The Symphony Orchestra

The symphony orchestra is a large ensemble which includes all the

principal instrument types. The modern symphony orchestra has about 100
players, but this number varies according to the kind of music being played. It is
composed of four sections corresponding to the four instrumental groupings, the
string section, the woodwind section, the brass section and the percussion section.
Each of these sections has at least one instrument which falls into each of the four
basic ranges : soprano, alto, tenor and bass.
Concerto
The concerto is a form written for orchestra and
usually one solo instrument (piano, violin, and the like) is
given a prominent role in music.
Band
A band is an instrumental ensemble, large like
the orchestra but consisting mainly or exclusively of wind
and percussion instruments. Although the band is closely
associated with outdoor events (parades, funerals, football
games, among others), it is also used as a concert
ensemble.
The Rondalla
This is the best-known instrumental group in the Philippines today. It is a band made
up mostly of stringed instruments: the banduria, which assumes the lead part and plays the
melody; the laud and the octavina, which carry the alto and contrapuntal parts; the piccolo,
tuned above the banduria, which plays the ornamental passages; and the guitarra and the
banjo, which give solidity to the rhythm and support the harmony. Some percussion instruments
have found their way into the rondalla to add color and varied tonal rhythmic effects.
A very interesting musical ensemble in the Philippines is the Pangkat or Bandang
Kawayan composed of instruments made of bamboo. Among these are the single-note
bumbong, the native marimba or talunggating, the bamboo harp or tipangklung, the gabbang
which is patterned after the Muslim-type xylophone, the tulali or bamboo flute, the bungkaka or
bamboo clapper, and the kalatok or bamboo knockers.
Mixed Ensembles.
A considerable literature of music exists for large
mixed ensembles which include instruments and voices.
Such musical types as an opera, oratorio, cantata, Mass,
Requiem Mass, and even symphonies may employ vocal
soloist, chorus and orchestra. Mixed chamber ensembles
have made their appearance in the 20th century.
Chamber Orchestra
The term chamber orchestra is applied to small
instrumental ensembles in which there are only a few
performers for a part. Chamber orchestras are in a
category of ensemble between a chamber ensemble and
the full orchestra
Chamber Ensembles
Chamber music is a medium which calls for only a few performers (from
two to about eight or nine instruments) with one player to each part. The most
common chamber music ensembles are listed below:
1. Solo Sonatas.
Music written for a solo instrument (violin, cello, flue, oboe, horn, and the like), with
an accompaniment by such instruments as the piano or harpsichord, belongs to the
category of chamber music ensemble.
2. String Quartet.
The most common medium of chamber music appears to be the
string quartet. It consists of two violins, a viola, and a cello. When the piano
replaces one of the four instruments, the ensemble is called a piano quartet.
3.Duos, Trios, Quintets, and Other.
Music in which two instruments have equal importance is called a
duo; music for three instruments is a trio; for five, a quintet; for six, a sextet;
for seven, a septet, for eight, an octet; for nine, nonet. These ensembles
may consist of any combination of instruments, including strings,
woodwinds, brass, keyboard, and percussion instruments.
Special Ensembles
As music evolves composers search for new media more years has been
the development of electronic Instruments which many contemporary congenial to
their changing musical ideas. A particularly significant trend in recent years has
been the development of electronic instruments, which many contemporary
composers feel are more versatile than traditional instruments and more suitable
for achieving the sounds they want for the music.
In the Philippines, a new kind of ensemble has developed. The Filipinos
are lovers of music and perhaps due to strong family ties, have featured family
ensembles. The Figueroa and the Tajanlangit families, for example are worthy of
mention.
THE CONDUCTOR
Today, the size of the orchestras and the complicated
music have made the conductor essential. The conductor
is the director of the orchestra. He has to know every
detail of the music and be able to give the most precise
directions with baton and hands.