Medium of Music Essay Example
Medium of Music Essay Example

Medium of Music Essay Example

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  • Pages: 3 (685 words)
  • Published: September 17, 2017
  • Type: Compendium
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The medium of music involves the transmission of tone, which is the audible sound that travels through the air and reaches an audience. This tone can be produced by various instruments or by the human voice and possesses qualities such as timbre, pitch, duration, and intensity. Timbre refers to the distinct quality or color of a tone. Pitch indicates whether a tone is high or low and is determined by vibrations and the material producing the sound. The slower the vibration or shorter the vibrating material, the lower or higher the pitch respectively. Duration contributes to rhythm in compositions by determining how long a sound lasts over time. In music, notes are used to indicate specific durations. Intensity relates to how loud or soft a sound is and is influenced by pressure applied during production on an instrument. It plays a crucial role in evoking emotions as sounds transition from loudne

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ss to softness or vice versa. Sound intensity levels are often indicated with Italian terms like "fortissimo" (very loudly) and "pianissimo" (very softly). Expressions like crescendo (increasing loudness), decrescendo (decreasing loudness), or diminuendo (becoming softer) also convey variations in softness and loudness. The piano, invented in 17th-century Italy under its alternative name "pianoforte," revolutionized musical instruments by allowing for both soft (piano) and loud (forte) dynamics through its mechanisms. In Western orchestras, musical instruments are classified into three categories: strings, woodwinds, and brass.

The string section, which includes violins, violas, cellos, and double basses, is considered the core of an orchestra. These instruments produce sound by either rubbing the vibrating strings with horsehair or plucking them with fingers.

Woodwind instruments generate sound when air is blow

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through them by musicians across a hole or through a reed at the mouthpiece. These instruments are made of tubes with holes that can be opened or closed using fingers or keys to alter the pitch of tones. Examples of woodwind instruments are clarinets, oboes, English horns, bassoons, and concentrations.

Brass instruments consist of cylindrical tubes with bell-shaped ends made from brass material. Musicians blow into conical mouthpieces in a specific manner to create tones. Some examples of brass instruments include trumpets, trombones, French horns,and tubas.These instruments contribute style to climactic moments in orchestral pieces.

The percussion section encompasses various instruments played by striking,m scraping shaking or scratching them using hands sticks or other hard objects.Examples of percussion instruments include timpani or kettledrums, xylophones, glockenspiel (or lyre), vibraphones, and drums like snare drums, bass drums, and tom-toms. Other examples are cymbals, chimes, triangles, and gongs. These instruments provide rhythmic accents for the percussion section.

Both piano and guitar can be classified as both string and percussion instruments. They belong to the string section when playing melodies but are part of the percussion section when playing rhythms.

There are different types of musical ensembles such as symphonic or philharmonic orchestras, chamber orchestras, string quartets, woodwind quintets, and jazz bands.

A symphonic or philharmonic orchestra is a large ensemble with over a hundred members that includes strings, woodwinds, brass instruments, and percussion. Examples of this type of orchestra include the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (POP) and the Slovakia Philharmonic Orchestra.

On the other hand,a chamber orchestra consists of around 30 to 50 instrumentalists who are divided into sections.The Prague Chamber Orchestra serves as an example in this category.

A string quartet is a small ensemble

typically composed of two violins,a viola,and a cello. The Allegretto String Quartet demonstrates this arrangement.In the meantime, there are different types of musical ensembles. One example is a woodwind quintet which consists of musicians playing flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and French horn. The Dorian Wind Quintet is an illustration of this type of ensemble. Another type is a jazz band known for its improvisation and syncopation. The Jazz Band Combo typically includes a pianist, drummer, and string bassist but can also feature five additional musicians playing lead guitar, bass guitar, rhythm guitar, drums, and keyboard. To effectively guide these groups during performances, the conductor must have extensive knowledge of the music and provide precise directions using their baton and hands.

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