Instrument Classification PDF

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Essay for MUSIC 1 class. Grade: A+...

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Instrument Classification In the Western European tradition, instruments can be classified one of two ways: 1. Based on the Hornbostel-Sachs System, developed in 1914 by the German musicologists

Curt Sachs and Erich M. von Hornbostel, which divides instruments according their sound source—a vibrating string, column of air, membrane, electronic means, or the instrument itself. 2. Based on the Western Symphonic Classification, which divides instruments into strings,

woodwinds, brass, percussion (Ударные), keyboard, or electronic instruments depending on the instrumental family to which they belong within the symphony orchestra—the largest Western instrumental ensemble. The list below is based on the Hornbostel-Sachs System. Instrument Classification Sound Source Hornbostel-Sachs System

Acoustic Guitar Chordophones Instruments that produce sounds via vibrating strings, such as the guitar. The strings may be plucked, bowed, hit, or strummed. !! As you may have surmised, some instruments may be classified under more than one category. For example, an acoustic guitar with electronic amplification is considered both a chordophone and an electrophone

Aerophones Instruments that produce sounds via vibrating columns of air, such as the trumpet.

Trumpet Membranophones Instruments that produce sounds via vibrating membranes, such as the drum. The membranes may be struck or rubbed.

Bass Drum Idiophones Instruments that produce sounds by vibrating themselves—idio comes from the Latin idem meaning the thing itself—such as the castanets. This class includes instruments of various materials (e.g., metal, wood, glass, stone) producing sounds using various techniques (e.g., beating, scraping, shaking, plucking, stamping, rubbing).

Castanets

Electrophones Instruments that produce sounds via electronic means, such as the synthesizer.

Synthesizer

1. African Mbira

2. 2. Mbira Davadzimu (Thumb piano of the Shona people in Zimbabwe)

The Hornbostel-Sachs classification also includes a huge variety of African thumb pianos such as the mbira. The mbira consists of metal strips which are affixed to a wooden resonator and are plucked to produce sounds. Sometimes, bottle tops or cowry shells, which are also affixed to the sound box, vibrate in sympathy when the metal strips are plucked. The buzzing sounds that are generated from these sympathetic vibrations help to increase the density of sound. One of the most important types of mbira is the mbira davadzimu, an instrument that is associated with spirit possession ceremonies, known as the bira. A bira ceremony is usually organized when the Shona people—the largest ethnic group in Zimbabwe—need to communicate with their ancestors to seek explanations to confounding situations such as an unexplained illness or the outbreak of famine. In the bira ceremony, mbira is played to facilitate spirit possession and

open a line of communication between humans and spirits. Notice the buzzing sounds in Taireva below: As you may have surmised, some instruments may be classified under more than one category. For example, an acoustic guitar with electronic amplification is considered both a chordophone and an electrophone. Furthermore, a number of scholars have at various times revised or extended the Hornbostel-Sachs instrument classification, including the 2010 revision by the International Committee for Museums and Collections of Musical Instruments. Other instrument classifications are in use nowadays, including the classification of the instruments of the Kpelle people of West Africa—the largest ethnic group in Liberia—and of the West African Igbo, which incorporates categorizations by musical roles and sociocultural musical importance. How would you classify the mbira? A composer may write a piece to be either sung by a vocalist or performed by one or more instruments. Some pieces include parts written for both vocal and instrumental timbres. Other times, an arrangement is created so that pieces composed for one instrument or voice are played by a different instrument, or for some other use for which it was not originally written. Sounds found in nature or the environment, such as birdcalls, train whistles, sea waves, or the patter of falling rain are sometimes recorded and used by composers. These sounds have a timbre as well. Much as a painter has a whole palette of colors at his or her disposal, the infinite timbral palette offers composers an incredible range of sounds from which to choose.

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Chamber music refers to music that can be played in small rooms by a relatively small number of performers, with one performer for each instrumental part. Chamber music ranges from works for two (duets) to three (trios) to five (quintets) or more instruments, although usually not more than a dozen. The string quartet and sonata were the two most important subgenres of chamber music. String Quartet The string quartet is a genre for four string instruments: two violins, a viola, and a cello.

1. General characteristics of classical music. 

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Melody: Balanced and symmetrical patterns formed well-defined and (usually) short musical phrases, giving listeners a sense of regularity in melody. Listen, for example, to the famous opening of W. A. Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik. Harmony: Classical music used mostly straightforward progressions that kept harmony simple, logical, and yet elegant.

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Rhythm: Composers used regular and dance-like rhythms. Texture: Mostly homophonic textures moved further away from the polyphonic textures of late Baroque music. Form The overall construction of a piece of music. Among others, we looked at three basic forms that illustrate the concepts of unity and variety, binary form (or AB), ternary form (or ABA), and rondo form (usually ABACA or ABACABA). sonata-allegro form became the basis for most instrumental music. Also known simply as sonata form, it consists of three sections: exposition, development, and recapitulation. Sonata-allegro form is not unlike story form, since the forms parallel one another in make-up and purpose. In sonata-allegro from, the exposition section (same word is used in story form) sets the scene. This section is where the musical themes are introduced, the mood is set, and the key, main rhythmic patterns, and harmonies are stated. The second section, the development, is like the “heart” of the story. Here is where the music explores the themes, keys, rhythms, and harmonies, weaving the musical material into something new and interesting. The development section should sustain your interest and make you wonder what is going to happen next, as in a well-told story. In the final section, the recapitulation, the opening material returns, but everything is resolved and finalized—similar to wrapping up the loose ends in the story. pianississimo ppp very, very softly pianissimo pp very softly

piano p soft mezzo piano mp half soft mezzo forte (mf) half loud

forte f loud fortissimo ff very loud fortississimo (fff) very, very loud...