For Monday 1/26:
Read Chapters 8 & 9
(Yes, we are reading chapters out of order. Yes, we’ll go back and read the ones we’ve skipped for now!)
Organology:
– Not the study of pipe organs
– Not the study of heart, lungs, kidneys…
– The study of musical instruments! Structure, function, history, etc.
- Name as many musical instruments as you can.
- How do different kinds of instruments produce sound?
Instrument Categories of the World:
- Aerophones: produce sound by causing a body of air to vibrate
- Chordophones: produce sound with vibrating strings stretched between two points
- Idiophones: creates sound by the instrument itself vibrating, without the use of strings or membranes
- Membranophones: produce sound with vibrating stretched membrane.
Examples:
Japan: Shakuhachi & Koto
Australia: Didgeridoo
Scotland: Bagpipes
Portland: The Unipiper
India: Sitar
Russia: Balalaika
Hawaii: Ukulele
Japan Taiko Drums
Mali: Djembe
Everywhere: Cowbell
Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, by Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
– A set of variations on a theme by baroque composer Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
– Demonstrates the instruments of the orchestra from woodwinds to percussion
- Theme: Tutti (all), woodwinds, brass, strings, then percussion
- Variation A: Piccolo and flute 2:11
- Variation B: Oboes 2:43
- Variation C: Clarinets 3:38
- Variation D: Bassoons 4:16
- Variation E: Violins 5:07
- Variation F: Violas 5:38
- Variation G: Cellos 6:40
- Variation H: Double basses 7:42
- Variation I: Harp 8:44
- Variation J: Horns 9:34
- Variation K: Trumpets 10:20
- Variation L: Trombones and bass tuba 10:51
- Variation M: Percussion (timpani; bass drum & cymbals; tambourine & triangle; snare drum & wood block; xylophone; castanets & gong; whip; percussion tutti) 12:04
- Fugue: Cycles through the instruments in order again 13:50
Preview of harmony:
Two versions of the same tune — how are they different?