Chapter 5 how music works part III dynamics timbre and instruments I Dynamics a How loud or how soft the different tones are b In scientific terms the amplitude of a tone is measured in decibels i The higher the decibel count the louder the sound 1 This is mainly what accounts for what we perceive as dynamics c Our perceptions of dynamics are often context dependent i A loud dynamic level in a heavy metal rock band s performance is going to be much louder in absolute terms i e in decibels than a loud dynamic level in a solo flute recital 1 The flute will have a larger range ii Dynamic range is the range between the softest and loudest notes II Timbre a The character or quality of a musical tone or tones i Differences in timbre are primarily what enable us to distinguish between the sounds of a trumpet and a flute or between those of an acoustic unamplified guitar and an electric amplified guitar b Different types of ensembles also have characteristic timbres i A choir sounds categorically different than a symphony orchestra which in turn has a completely different timbre than a heavy metal band 1 The genuinely heavy metal sound of a Caribbean style steel band like the one heard on CD ex 1 30 takes us into yet another timbral universe c Spectrograms are the computer generated images that allow us to visually compare different timbres i The different shapes of spectrograms and different timbres of tones can be explained by the fact that every tone is actually comprised of multiple pitches d A partial is one of many pitch components of a tone i A spectrogram is essentially a snapshot of all of the partials contained in a tone as well as of the loudness amplitude of each of the partials relative to all the others ii The actual timbre you hear when a tone is played on a saxophone or flute is the audible equivalent of that snapshot iii A tone consists of two types of partials 1 The fundamental pitch represented as the darkest part of a spectrogram and a series of overtones or harmonics a The fundamental pitch is often so much louder than the harmonics that it basically absorbs them e The Aboriginal Australian didgeridoo which we heard earlier on CD ex 1 13 Ibis by Alan Maralung i A high are has been developed for the technique that generates a great variety of timbres 1 In some music traditions the ability of performers to manipulate the relationship between the fundamental pitch of a tone and its harmonics ii Using a difficult technique called circular breathing 1 Involves breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth at the same time a The skilled didgeridoo player is able to produce a continuous tone uninterrupted by breath pauses Its timbre is constantly being transformed b 2 Creating a veritable world of timbral diversity from a single tone a Changing the shape and positioning of his or her mouth relative to the instrument and employing a variety of different blowing techniques the player manipulates the relationship between the fundamental pitch and its harmonics in myriad ways thereby f The human voice is capable of some rather remarkable feats of timbral manipulation through the use of harmonics i Example The Mongolian khoomii overtone singing song of CD ex 1 6 1 Other than the accompanying instrumental part played on an instrument called a tobshuur all of the different layers of sound are produced by the voice of a single vocalist Amartuwshin Baasandorj 2 The high pitched whistling lines and the ultra low pitched guttural tones 3 Multiphonic singing creates the effect that he is singing not just one but multiple tones at the same time a i e multiple sound or multiple tone singing g Differences in timbre enable us to distinguish between i Different types of tones 1 Vocal tones trumpet tones flute tones didgeridoo tones ii Similar types of tones performed by different musicians h The timbres of music are described variously in terms of 1 Gravelly velvety airy not to be confused with musical i Textures textures ii Human anatomy iii Metaphysics iv Emotions 1 Nasal guttural throaty 1 Ethereal heavenly otherworldly 1 Cheery somber melancholy v Technological spheres 1 Industrial techno space age vi Socioeconomic classes 1 Rich majestic vii Food 1 Creamy sweet i The master metaphor for timbre is color i Timbre is very often defined as tone color 1 Color designations are rarely used in connection with actual timbres the blue notes in blues music and related styles get their name from their pitches not their timbres 2 Red hot music is usually described as such due to its fast tempos and loud dynamics rather than anything to do with its palette of tone colors j Often the most distinctive verbal description we can provide of a tone s timbre is to identify the name of the instrument that produces it III Music Instruments a A music instrument is defined as any sound generating medium used to produce tones in the making of music i This includes ii The human voice iii All manner of traditional instruments associated with the world s music traditions 1 Guitar violin trumpet flute didgeridoo cymbals maracas iv The entire spectrum of instruments and devices used in computer generated and electronic music 1 Synthesizers digital samplers sound modifiers v The sources of any other natural found or newly invented sounds that music makers use with the intention that they be heard as musical tones or that music listeners perceive as music when they hear them 1 Gumballs rattling in a machine a jackhammer hammering a bird singing b Music instrument classification i The oldest documented instrument classification systems come from countries such as India and China and have histories dating back more than 3 000 years ii Elaborate instrument classification systems also have been preserved in oral aural tradition 1 The Are are people of Malaita whose inverse conceptions of pitch we encountered earlier a Their principal category of instruments is called au i Au means bamboo b Since the primary melodic instruments among the Are are are bamboo panpipes the Are are classify all instruments capable of producing melodies as bamboo instruments iii Western instrument classification system employs three main categories strings winds and percussion 1 The string category includes a Violin viola cello string bass guitar mandolin and harp 2 Wind instruments include a Trumpet French horn trombone tuba flute clarinet bassoon and oboe 3 Percussion encompasses a All drums shakers cymbals triangle and xylophone 4
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