Quiz 2 Flashcards
Concertmaster
The leader of the 1st violin section, and in a very real sense the co-leader of the orchestra. Also known as the principal violinist, the concertmaster is always a highly skilled player, and leads the orchestra using body language, primarily with the head and with the bow
Pizzicato
Plucking the strings with a finger, rather than using the bow. This results in a soft, percussive sound, and it is especially effective in the lower strings
Vibrato
An intentional wobble to the pitch, oscillating up and down slightly. This gives the tone a warmer, more human quality. Strings, winds, and vocalists all use vibrato
Baton
The small stick used by conductors to show the beat and tempo
Aerophone
Technical name for any instrument that is blown into
Embouchure
General term for all the position of the mouth used in playing aerophones. This applies to all instruments that are blown into
Chamber music
Music written for a small ensemble, with one player per part, and originally performed in a small hall/room
Orchestral music
Music written for a largeensemble, with multiple players on the string parts, performed in larger concert halls
Homogeneous
Instruments that sound the same, i.e. The string family and the brass family
Heterogeneous
Instruments that sound different i.e. The members of the woodwind family
Vibrations
Caused by the how (strings), the lips (brass), the reed (all the woodwinds except flute), by air blowing across an opening (flute, organ), or by being struck (percussion)
Cane
A form of bamboo, used for making reeds in oboes, clarinets, and saxophones
Double reed
A special form of reed, used in the oboe and bassoon
Definite pitch
A percussion instrument that sounds a steady, organized pitch: bells, timpani, marimba, xylophone
Indefinite pitch
A percussion instrument that makes a noise with no defineable pitch: cymbals, triangle, drums ( except timpani)
