Musical Instruments and Composers: An Introduction
Musical Instruments
Three Groups of Instruments
- String Instruments
- Bowed: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass
- Plucked: Harp
- Hammered: Piano
- Wind Instruments
- Woodwind: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Alto Oboe (English Horn)
- Brass: Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Tuba
- Percussion Instruments
- Definite Pitch: Xylophone
- Indefinite Pitch: Drums
Human Voice
- Female: Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Contralto
- Male: Countertenor, Baritone, Bass
Instrument Details
Bowed String Instruments
The violin family includes the violin, viola, cello, and double bass (contrabass). All have four strings. Notable makers include Stradivari and Amati, whose instruments are highly valued.
Harpsichord
The harpsichord’s design and color vary. It has no pedals and cannot sustain sound, producing a consistent, metallic tone.
Harp
The harp’s pitch is inversely proportional to string length. It comes in various sizes, is an ancient and expensive instrument, and uses pedals. Playing techniques include glissando (sweeping across the strings) and arpeggio (playing the notes of a chord in sequence).
Piano
Originally called the pianoforte (meaning “soft-loud”), the piano is a hammered instrument. It typically has two or three pedals to control the sound, offering dynamic range. Two main types are upright pianos and grand pianos. Pedals include the soft pedal, sostenuto pedal (for practice), and damper pedal.
Flute
The flute can be a flûte à bec (recorder) or flûte traversière (transverse flute). The piccolo is a type of flute with the highest pitch and smallest size.
Oboe
The oboe (hautbois) uses a reed. Some oboes have single reeds, while others have double reeds. It has a columnar shape and a distinctive, nasal, high-pitched, expressive sound. The oboe player often performs a cadenza, a solo passage showcasing their skills.
Alto Oboe (English Horn)
The English horn has a lower pitch than the oboe (a fifth lower). Some instruments are transposing instruments, meaning their notation differs from other instruments (e.g., alto oboe, clarinet, French horn).
Clarinet
Made of wood or ebonite, the clarinet uses a single reed. Two common types are the B♭ and A clarinets. It has a wide range, including the dark, low notes of the chalumeau register.
Bassoon
The bassoon is the lowest-pitched woodwind instrument with a double reed. It is longer than the clarinet and has a deep, warm sound. Sometimes called the “clown of the orchestra,” it is a non-transposing instrument, considered the cello of the woodwind family.
Trumpet
The trumpet has the highest pitch among brass instruments and is considered the soprano of the brass family. It has a penetrating sound, sometimes considered annoying. It is prominent in jazz music; Louis Armstrong was a famous trumpet player.
French Horn
The French horn has a warmer, more expressive sound than the trumpet, though it can also produce harsh sounds. It is a transposing instrument and is considered the best brass instrument for solos.
Trombone
The trombone player must find the notes, similar to a violinist. It is not typically considered a solo instrument.
Tuba
The tuba has a very low pitch and is rarely played solo. It is crucial for providing the bass line in an orchestra. It is the largest brass instrument.
Musical Forms
Rondo
Rondo was most often used in the final movement of classical multi-movement forms.
Concerto
A concerto is a musical form featuring a soloist (or soloists) and an orchestra. It often includes a cadenza. A solo concerto features a single soloist, while a concerto grosso features a small group of soloists. The concerto typically has three or four movements: fast (allegro), slow (adagio-lento), moderate, and very fast (allegro-presto). In a concerto grosso, the full orchestra is called tutti (or ripieno), and the small group is called concertino (or principale).
Symphony
A symphony is a musical form played by the entire orchestra without soloists. It typically has three or four movements: allegro, adagio-lento, moderato, and presto-allegro. The allegro movement often follows a structure: Exposition (introduction, Theme A [masculine, dynamic, rhythmic], transition/bridge, Theme B [feminine, soft, lyrical], sometimes a coda), Development (expanding on Themes A and B, introducing new elements), and Recapitulation (Theme A, bridge, Theme B [in a different key]).
Quartet: Four musicians playing together.
Motive: Four notes (e.g., Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5).
Trio: Piano, violin, cello.
Octave: Eight notes (e.g., Do-Do).
Pizzicato: Plucking the strings of a violin or other stringed instrument.
Arpeggio: The notes of a chord played in rapid succession, either ascending or descending.
Composers
Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was a German composer who lived in Vienna. He bridged the Classical and Romantic periods. He was a composer, conductor, and pianist. His music is often romantic and melancholic. Notable works include nine symphonies, 32 piano sonatas (including the “Pathétique Sonata” and the “Moonlight Sonata”), Symphony No. 7 (Karl’s theme), Symphony No. 9 (“Ode to Joy”), Für Elise, and Missa Solemnis. He became completely deaf and was the first to use a human voice in a motive with two notes.
Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, from Salzburg, with his story taking place in Vienna, played the harpsichord and violin. At a young age, he composed concertos, symphonies, and operas. His music is generally simple, joyful, and easy to understand. Notable works include “The Marriage of Figaro,” “Don Giovanni,” “Requiem of a Dream,” “The Magic Flute,” and “The Abduction from the Seraglio.”
Other composers mentioned: Antonio Salieri, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Frédéric Chopin.