Section 2 (Arranging) - Orchestration Flashcards
What is orchestration
Thr practice of assigning instruments to musical lines
What are the six common function of the woodwind section
- Melodic lines and solos
- Difficult technical passages
- Harmonic backgrounds
- Reinforcing other instruments
- Counter melodies
- Contrasting textures and colors
How does the low register of the piccolo sound
Soft and hollow
How does the piccolo sound as it get louder
Clearer
At the top of its voice how does the piccolo sound
Brilliant and piercing
How does the flute sound at its lowest point, what happens as it get higher
It begins soft and lush
Gets brighter and louder as it goes up
When is the flute appropriate for melodic lines
When they require a warm dark and rich tone
How does the oboe sound at its lowest point and what happens as it get higher
Low its ready and uncentered
Becomes bright clearer and more controlled as it increases in volume
How the the oboe sound at its lowest point and what happens as it get higher
Low its ready and uncentered
Becomes bright clearer and more controlled as it increases in volume
The oboe blends well with
Flute clarinet and muted trumpet
How does the bassoon sound at its lowest point, what happens as it get higher
Reedy and uncontrolled in its low range
Bright and clear in the mid-upper register
What does the bassoon blend well with
Tenor sax and any member of the low brass
How does the Bb clarinet sound at its lowest point, what happens as it get higher
In its lowest register is dark thin and weak
Progressively getting clearer and brighter
And finally thin and piercing at the top
What do Bb clarinets blend well with
Woodwinds and brass
How does the bass clarinet sound at its lowest point, what happens as it get higher
Lower its full and warm
Progressively getting thinner
What is the bass clarinets unique capability
Serving as the foundation of the clarinet family
How does the alto sax sound at its lowest point, what happens as it get higher
Harsh and uncontrolled lower range
Brighter and more controlled as it raises
Thin and shrill at the top
What does the timbre if the alto sax do to any line
Warns the color
How does the tenor sax sound at its lowest point, what happens as it get higher
Low/mid produces a full and rich tone
Thin and shrill as it get into the upper register
What is the tenor sax good at doubling
Euph and trombone
What quality of the ensemble does the tenor sax enhance
The sonorous quality
How does the bari sax sound at its lowest point, what happens as it get higher
Full and rich in the low register
Thinner as the pitch increases
Uncontrolled and thin at the top
Likely doublings for the bari sax
Bass clarinet and bassoon
When is thr woodwind section must effective
When its not too dense
When combining woodwinds with brass what range do you put the woodwinds in
The top of the comfort zone to upper tessitura
What can happen with like instruments playing in the unison
Intonation problems
What harmonic tool can you use to accompany active themes
Sustained accompaniments
What is homophobic writing
The movement of accompanying parts in the same rhythm as the melody or lead line
Why should the chord stack be closely observed
Various degrees of open and closed positions will yield different sounds
What are the four different homophonic writing techniques
Superimposed
Interlocked
Enclosed
Overlapped
Explain superimposed
All stackef by instrument group lowest to highest
Explain interlocked
Every other note is given to a different instrument family
Example (high to low): Flute 1 Clarinet 1 Flute 2 Clarinet 2
Explain enclosed
An instrument group surrounded by another instrument group
Example low to high: Oboe 1 Clarinet 1 Clarinet 2 Oboe 2
Explained overlapped
Instrument groups double certain tones overlapping each other
Example high to low: Flute 1 Flute. 2 oboe 1 Oboe 2 clarinet 1 Clarinet 2
What are the 5 common uses of the brass section
- Emphasize accented figures
- Present the melody
- Build and create climactic points
- Accentuate crescendos and dynamic
5, act as a homophonic unit
How does the trumpet sound at its lowest point, what happens as it get higher
Weak and uncontrolled pedal tones
Clear and rich brighter as it get higher
How does the horn in f sound at its lowest point, what happens as it get higher
Pedal tones uncontrolled Dark and rich gets brighter and blending Then expressive Penetrating at the top
How does the trombone sound at its lowest point, what happens as it get higher
From dark and uncentered
Rich in the middle
To bright and penetrating
How does the euphonium sound at its lowest point, what happens as it get higher
dark and controlled
gets warmer
bright and thin at the top
what does the euphonium sound good with
sax horns and clarinets
what certain characteristic does the euphonium bring to music
roundness to articulations
How does the tuba sound at its lowest point, what happens as it get higher
pedals are full and uncentered
low tessitura very full and centered
higher clear and blending
top is thin and supported
what are the things to consider in homophonic writing
balance timbre range characteristic
closed positions may sound too
dense or dissonant
open voicings may make the music
susceptible to intonation issues and balance issues
what can the trumpet double
clarinet oboe and flute
what can the trombones double
bassoons and tenor saxophones
what can the euphonium double
tenor and bari sax
what can the horn in F double
lower clarinets alto and tenor sax
what can the tuba double
bari sax
what is extremely effective for climactic points in music
brass choir
what are the 6 functions of the percussion section
- emphasize the rhythmic pulse and style of the piece
- accentuate crescendos, dynamic levels, and other effects
- emphasize rhythmic figures, which may be harmonized in the winds
- emphasize accents
- produce and resolve climactic points
- add color to passages by doubling other wind instruments
in general what are the three choices in writing for percussion
- a rhythm that duplicates that of the ensemble
- a rhythm that contrasts with that of the ensemble
- a sustained pitch or tone
what are the two percussion groups
definite pitch
indefinite pitch
snare drum location
3rd space
bass drum location
1st space
gong location
below 1st line and 1st space
cymbals location
below 1st line
1st and 4th space
above 5th line
triangle and tamb location
1st and 4th space
above 5th line
what does a wooden snare produce
warm tone
what does a metal snare produce
brighter more articulate
how do you muffle a concert bass drum
left hand on reso head
knee into batter head
what are the most common xylo mallets and what sound do they produce
rubber or plastic
piercing and brittle
what are marimba mallets made up of
rubber mallets wrapped in yarn
what gives a vibraphone the tremolo effect
a motor that runs a butterfly valve that opens and closes the resonator tubes
concert band instrumentation for a small fleet band
flute/picc oboe bassoon
clarinets 1-3 3 sax’s (not soprano)
trumpet 1-3 2 F horns
2 trombones 1 bass trombone
euph tuba percussion
concert band instrumentation for a large fleet band
flute flute/picc 2 oboe 2 bassoon
clarinets 1-3 2 alto sax tenor sax bari sax
trumpet 1-4 2 F horns
2 trombones 1 bass trombone
euph tuba percussion
what does polyphonic mean
many sound
multiple parts each with their own melody
examples of polyphonic texture
canons and fugues
the 4 groups that play unison melodic lines
- flute clarinet and oboe
- clarinet, flute, horn, and trumpet
- oboe, flute, and muted trumpet
- bassoon, horn, trombone, and euphonium
what is probably the most important part of a vocal arrangement
the entrance set up so they can pre hear their entrance. essential for establishing tonality
what should avoid having under a vocalist
thick background pads and overly active counter lines in the vocalists register
soprano vocalists range
C4-C6
mezzo soprano vocalists range
A3-A5
alto vocalists range
F3-E5
contra alto vocalists range
E3-D5
Tenor vocalists range
C3-B4
baritone vocalists range
G2-F4
bass vocalists range
E2-E4
three practical vocal style ranges
jazz, broadway, and classical
jazz female range
G3-C5
broadway showtunes
C4-E5
what is a singers comfort range
middle fifth
how do you determine the correct key for a male vocalist
collaborate
