Timbre Flashcards
Consort (AH)
A group of similar instruments in the Renaissance period
E.g. a consort of lutes or a consort of viols
A consort made up of different instruments is called a ‘broken’ or ‘mixed’ consort
Piano trio (AH)
A work for piano and two other instruments, normally violin and cello
Coloratura (H)
High, florid singing
Involves elaborate ornamentation of a melody
Sounds very difficult to perform
Concertino (H)
The small group of solo instrumentalists in a concerto grosso
Harmonics (H)
The high, eerie sounds produced on a string instrument by lightly touching the string at certain points
Ripieno (H)
The larger group of ensemble instruments in a concerto grosso
String quartet (H)
Work for two violins, a viola and a cello
Tremolando (H)
Means ‘trembling’
Rapid repetition of a note on a string instrument
Rapid alternation of two notes on any instrument
A cappella (N5)
Singing without accompaniment
Arco (N5)
Using the bow on a string instrument
Baritone (N5)
Male singer between a tenor and a bass
Con sordino (N5)
With a mute (specifically on a brass instrument)
Brass and string instruments can use mutes
Flutter tonguing (N5)
A technique used on brass or woodwind instruments where the player rolls an ‘r’
Mezzo soprano (N5)
Female singer between a soprano and an alto
Pizzicato (N5)
Plucking a string instrument
Rolls (N5)
Very fast repetition of a note on a percussion instrument
Reverb (N5)
An electronic effect
Can give the impression of different hall acoustics
Alto (N4)
A low female voice
Backing vocals (N4)
Singers supporting the lead singer
Usually sing harmonies in the background
Bass (N4)
A low male voice
Brass band (N4)
A band with brass and percussion instruments
Distortion (N4)
An electronic effect used in rock music
Used to colour the sound of an electric guitar
Muted (N4)
Using a device that alters the sound of an instrument
Brass and string instruments can use mutes
Soprano (N4)
A high female voice
Tenor (N4)
A high male voice
Wind band (N4)
A band with woodwind, brass and percussion instruments
Choir (N3)
A group of singers performing together
Folk group (N3)
A group of singers and instrumentalists
They perform a variety of traditional music
Legato (N3)
The notes are played smoothly
Orchestra (N3)
A large group of string, woodwind, brass and percussion instruments
Scottish dance band (N3)
A band that plays Scottish music for people to dance to
Instruments can include fiddle, accordion, piano and drums
Staccato (N3)
The notes are detached
Steel band (N3)
Band whose instruments are made out of oil drums called pans
The top of each drum is hammered into panels to make different pitches
