Timbre

encountered at Symphonic Performances. Additionally, Kahane kept switching instruments from the electric guitar back to the banjo. The addition of the electric guitar and banjo changed the timbre and feeling of the orchestral instruments when played all together. It added a modern edge to traditional symphonic timbre. The implementation of the banjo in “Hard-Circus Road” evoked that idea of the North Carolina Mountains symbolic of the pieces inspiration. “Hard-Circus Road…

Joseph Maurice Ravel was a 20th century French composer who was regarded as France’s greatest living composter in the 1920’s and 30’s. He completed 85 works, although many were unfinished or abandoned. His works included pieces such as Daphnis et Chloe, Rapsodie espagnole and Bolero, his most famous composition, which was a one movement orchestral piece. He wrote pieces for piano, chamber music, two piano concerti, ballet music, opera and song cycles. His style of music was impressionism. He…

1. Explain the difference between periodic and aperiodic waveforms. What are the visual differences? What are the characteristic sonic qualities of each? (2 points) Answer: A periodic waveform has repeatable patterns. Also, periodic waveforms have a tone. Most musical instruments have repeating periodic waveform. The periodic waveforms can also be found in bird sound and human vocal voice. However, an aperiodic waveform dose not have a repeating waveform and tone, like noise, the engine idling…

an evil, money seeking man in the film The Magnificent Seven directed by Antoine Fuqua. James Horner and Simon Franglen’s film score in The Magnificent Seven transported me back to the old west. Horner and Franglen effectively utilized the unique timbres of select instruments, texture, and foreshadowing making the audience feel as if they are riding along side the misfits, a character in the story experiencing all that unfolds on the screen. The first scene in the movie unfolds as a crowd of…

This is one that I must work on as conductor. He uses the same four elements of music, which are duration, pitch, timbre, and intensity. Duration consists of pulse, rhythm, meter, and note lengths. He gives good guidelines on what to do with short and long notes and how to handle dissonance. When talking about tempo, he says that choirs tend to drag the tempo when they…

Music is the center of the world on a day to day basis. Certain songs can impact us to the very core of who we are, and we become awe-inspired by them. Then, we add them to our playlists in hopes of enjoying them day in and day out. Not often do we sit back and really think as to why they influence us so much. One of my favorite songs is titled “Clean” by Natalie Grant. This song describes how Jesus takes our brokenness and sin and washes us completely clean. The composition begins with a very…

very reedy and nasal timbre because she focused her voice…

The wind quintet featured a flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and horn. These instruments differ from each other significantly in timbre and technique. This piece somehow evoked a feeling of sadness in me as the pace slowed and the tone quality became darker. The time signature and tempo felt completely different from the previous set. The bassoon would occasionally lead the movement…

“Something” was released on The Beatles’ 1969 Abbey Road album. The Beatles were considered the most important rock and roll band of the twentieth century and the British Invasion. They demonstrated early innovations and lyrical expansion. George Harrison wrote this piece beginning in 1968, although was not finished until the following year. Harrison wrote “Something” on the piano during a recording of the White Album when the band had some downtime to finish some personal matters. The song’s…

return back to the home key at the end. (2) The tempo constantly changes throughout the Concerto no. 5. There is a lot of build up throughout the beginning which ultimately leads to the harpsichord solo towards the end. The harpsichord adds a unique timbre to the piece, which is different from the rest of the concerto. Bach was known for his improvisation and daring combinations of…