THE MEDIUMS OF MUSIC

Like literature, music is an art that deals with sound. In literature, all sounds are produced by the human
voice. In music, however, the human voice is but one a number of possible instruments. Different listeners
have different and even opposed associations upon hearing the same musical sounds. It is helpful for the
listener have some understanding of the various musical instruments most frequently used our culture
and of the kind of sounds they produce.

A musical instrument is mechanism that is able to generate musical vibrations and launch them into the
air. These various musical instruments are the means by which the composer communicates to the
listener; they are his medium of expression. Like any artist, the composer must choose his medium for
any given composition according to the requirement of his or her artistic conception.

Before turning to the different mediums of music, it is important to know the four properties of musical
sound and what the term range denotes as we are going to meet them in the course of the discussion of
the different instruments.

The Properties of Musical Sound

Musical sounds have four properties, namely: pitch, duration, volume, and color (timbre).

1.Pitch.

- All musical sounds have pitch. By pitch, we mean the location of a tone in the musical scale in relation
to high or low. therefore refers to the highness lowness of tone. All sounds are caused by vibration. The
musical note and noise are both caused by something vibrating (moving to and fro) but sounds of definite
pitch are created by regular or periodic vibrations. The vibrations of musical sound are regular. The sound
produced by speaking results from irregular vibrations and is thus, not of definite pitch while that
produced by singing results from regular vibrations and is thus, definite in pitch. There are many different
pitches, ranging from very high to very low. Pitch is determined by the rate of vibration which to large
extent depends on the length of the vibrating body. Other conditions being equal, the shorter string or
column of air, the more rap- idly it vibrates and the higher the pitch. The longer string or column of air,
the The fewer the vibrations per second and the lower the pitch. The width, thickness, density, and tension
the vibrating body also affect the outcome.
2. Duration.

-This property of sound depends on the length of time over which vibration is maintained. Tones are not
only high or low but also short and long.

3. Volume.

-The term refers to force or percussive effects result of which the as tone strikes as being loud soft. Forte
means loud; piano means soft.

4.Timbre of tone color.

-This is the individual quality of the sound produced by other instruments. This depends on how the
instrument accentuates the tones within the sound wave. It influenced by number of factors such as the
size, shape, and the proportions of the instrument, the material of which made, and the manner in which
the vibration is set up.

5.Range.

- The range of an instrument has to do with the total number tones it can produce highest to lowest, and
is determined largely by the size of the instrument. Large objects vibrate more slowly than small ones,
and slower vibrations create lower tones. Small objects produce faster vibrations and hence higher tones.
Thus, the range of a cello is lower than that of trumpet. The total pitch range is divided into four basic
areas: soprano, alto, tenor, and bass which correspond to the names given to different types of human
voices: high female (soprano), low female (alto), high male high, (tenor), and low male (bass).
Furthermore, each range is divided into three registers; middle, and low. Thus, we speak of the high
register of a bassoon, the middle register of a violin, the low register of a trumpet, etc.

The Two Mediums in Music

We have two mediums in music: the vocal medium and the instrumental medium.

Vocal Medium.

-The oldest and still most popular of instruments the human voice. is the most personal and direct of all
instruments as it comes from within body. The song projected by the human voice is the most natural
form of music.
Vocal Register

- Voices differ considerably in range and register. The six classes of vocal register are:

(1)soprano(high- register female voice),

(2)mezo soprano medium register female voice,

(3)alteor contralto (low-register female voice),

(4) tenor (high-register male voice),

(5) baritone (medium- register male voice),

(6) bass (low-register male voice).

Pilita Corales- Asia's Queen of Songs

If each of the ranges is sung by many singers the group is a chorus or choir. Choral music is either
accompanied or unaccompanied. A chorus may be accompanied by any group of instruments or by a solo
keyboard instrument. is frequently used in combination with the orchestra.

Vocal Qualities. In addition to the six vocal registers, voices are also classified according to their timbre
or quality of sound. Thus, we distinguish lyric and dramatic sopranos (or altos, etc.).

1. The coloratura soprano is the highest and lightest of all voices. The music written for this voice is full of
runs, trills, and light ornaments.

2. The lyric soprano voice is less high and flute-like and usually sings less orna- mental music. The voice is
specially suited to sweet song- like melodies which beauty of tone is the predominant quality.

3. The dramatic soprano voice is dramatic situations. heavier and can convey intense emotions in range.

4. The mezzo-soprano voice is between the soprano and contralto in quality and range

5. The contralto voice is low and rich in quality.

6. The tenor is the highest type in men's voices.

7. The lyric tenor, like the lyric soprano has voice specially suited to sweet songlike melodies.

8. The dramatic tenor, like the dramatic soprano has a heavier voice and is capable of conveying intense
emotions in dramatic situations.

9. The baritone voice has range between tenor and bass.

10. The bass voice has the lowest and deepest quality.

The Different Musical Instruments

Musical instruments have always been source of wonder to both the player and the listener. They figure
in our music singly, in small groups (chamber music), band, or as part of the ensemble-orchestra.

Musical instruments of three main types: the instruments which are bowed, instruments which are
blown, and instruments which are struck. These in turn are divided into four groupings. The instruments
which are bowed are the strings. Those which are blown fall into two groups: the brasses, so called
because they are usually made of brass and the woodwinds, so named because they were originally made
of wood. The modern flute and piccolo are almost always made of metal. The fourth group is made up of
instruments which are struck. They are called percussion instruments.

The most common string, woodwind, and brass instruments used in Philippine music are listed below in
order of range, from highest to lowest. Their size corresponds to their pitch smaller instruments producing
faster vibrations and thus higher sounds, and larger instruments producing slower vibrations and thus
lower sounds.

•Strings •Woodwinds •Brasses

Violin piccolo Trumpet

Viola flute French horn

Violoncello(cello) Bass clarinet Trombone

Bass oboe Tuba

English horn

bassoon

contrabassoon

The String Instruments

- the basic orchestral String instruments, also called stringed instruments, provide string. They produce
tones by means of the vibration of a stretched string.
2 types of string instruments:

(1) bowed strings

(2) plucked strings.

Bowed Strings.

- These instruments produce tone by means of bow of A horsehair drawn across the bow strings which
include the violin, viola, violoncello, and the double bass are the mediums of music that can express the
most poignant feeling and can continue playing infinitely without fatigue.

These have four strings which are made to vibrate by drawing the bow across them. The hair of the bow
is rubbed with rosin so that will "grip" the strings. The player holds the bow in his right hand he stops the
string by pressing down finger of his left hand at a particular point on the finger board, thereby leaving
certain portion of the string free to vibrate. By stopping the string at another point, he changes the length
of the vibrating portion, and with it the rate of vibration and the pitch.

The violin is the highest member of the string section of the orchestra. It is universally admired for its
voice-like quality. Preeminent in lyric melody, it is also capable of brilliance and dramatic effect. It has
wide range of tones which can be sustained very indefinitely. It can be played very quietly or loudly, slowly
or extremely fast.

The viola is slightly larger than the violin. Its strings are longer, thicker, and heavier; it is lower in range,
It is used more for harmony than for melody. however, is an effective melody instrument, particularly for
themes of a mournful or passionate nature.

The Violoncello (cello) The violoncello, properly known as cello, is much longer than the viola. It lower
in range than the viola and the strings are thicker and heavier than those of the viola. The bow is shorter
and heavier and the instrument has to be held between the knee of seated performer. is notable for its
rich and romantic tone. If the violin is the soprano of the string section and the viola the alto, the cello is
the tenor. Together is with basses the cellos supply the foundation for the harmony of the string choir.

Plucked strings-Although instruments of the bowed string class can produce tone by plucking the strings
the plucked string instruments produce tone solely by this means. The player plucks the strings either with
his fingers or with plectrum held in his hand.

The guitar family seems to be the most popular stringed instrument today. It varies considerably in shape,
and in the number of strings, but basically, consists of finger board with frets (narrow metal cross strips),
attached to light wooden body with flat top and back. It seldom used in an but nowadays part of bands.
This instrument is associated mostly with dance band instrumentation and popularly used as instrument
to accompany the singing of folk songs as well as popular songs.

There are other plucked strings which are seldom, if ever, found being played in symphony orchestras:
the banjo, the flute, the mandolin, and the ukulele.

The string instruments are preeminent in playing legato (smooth and connected). They are capable too of
the opposite quality of tone, staccato (short and detached). A special effect, pizzicato (plucked), is
executed by the performer's plucking the string with his finger instead of using the bow. This is used
frequently on the double bass in jazz. Some of the special effects possible on each of the string instruments
spiccato, which is with short, crisp strokes of the bow; sailtallato which bouncing the bow playing to
produce light, detached tones; martellato which is hammering the

bow quiver on the string making each note separate and emphatic, and tremolo, which making the bow
quiver on the string to produce a shimmering effect. Vibrato denotes the rich, throbbing tones achieved
when the player moves his finger slightly from the back to the required spot. In glissando, the player
moves finger of his left hand rapidly along the string, sounding all the pitches of the scale.

The string section the orchestra has come to be known as "the heart of the orchestra." The strings figure
prominently solo instruments and in chamber music; in duets, trios quartets, quintets, and the like.

The Woodwind Instruments

The woodwind instruments consist of members of four different families:

-flute and piccolo,

-oboe and English horn,

-clarinet and bass clarinet,

-and bassoon and con- trabassoon.

These instruments are blown by the player. The pitch of the notes are altered by shortening or lengthening
the column of air vibrating inside the instrument. This is done by covering and uncovering little holes with
keys worked by fingers or by fingers alone. They the most decorative instruments and because they are
so different in timbre, they contribute the greatest variety in the ensemble.

Saxophones are also included in this group. Besides being prominent in the orchestra, the woodwinds
possess solo literature and are widely used in chamber music.

The Flute, the first instrument of the woodwinds in the order of ceremonies, has nature somewhat distinct
from that of other instruments of the section.
The flute- A high pitched wind instrument (16 inches long) consisting of a long slender tube finger holes
and keys. produces cooler sound the other instruments.

The flute is cylindrical tube made of a silver alloy or metal. It is the coloratura soprano of the woodwind
choir. Its sound is silvery or liquid. It can play rapid, brilliant scale passages. Its tone is cool and velvety in
the low register but in its upper register, the sound is bright, thin and stands out against the orchestral
mass.

The Piccolo,

-which smaller flute, produces the highest notes in the orchestra. Tones produced are piercing and shrill.

The Oboe

-is made of wood. The body is a tube which gets wider at the end. The double reed in the mouthpiece
consists of two slips of cane so shaped as to leave between them an extremely small passage for air.
Because of this compression, the tone is focused and intense in registers. Oboe timbre generally described
as plaintive, nasal, and reedy. The instrument is associated with pastoral effects and with nostalgic
melodies.

The Oboe double

-reed woodwind instruments having a high penetrating tone with 17 keys and six rings

The English horn

- is a large oboe. The oboe and the English horn look very much alike except that the English horn is wider
and longer and ends in pear-shaped bell, which accounts for its soft, somewhat mournful timbre. Its range
slightly lower than that of the oboe and its sound is richer and more plaintive.

The Clarinet

-is the instrument that often takes the part of the violin in band music.It has a single reed a small elastic
piece fastened against its chisel-shaped mouthpiece. It has remarkable wide range, from low to high and
from soft to loud~ that produces 3 distinct tone colors 1) in its upper register, the sound in is its clear and
and produces three distinct tone colors; (2) in its middle register, the sound smooth and relaxed; (3) In its
lower register the tones are rich and hollow.
The Bassoon and Contrabassoon

-are the tenor and bass, respectively, of the oboe family. The bassoon is one of the most flexible and useful
of the bass instruments. Its tone is weighty and thick in the low register, dry and sonorous in the middle,
reedy and intense in the upper. is capable of hollow-sounding staccato and wide leaps that create
humorous effect; it is the same time highly expansive instrument.

The Saxophone.

-This wind instrument has single reed that combines the mouthpiece of clarinet with curved conical metal
tube. blends well with either woodwind or brass.

The Brasses

- have been regularly used in many countries. They consist of the trumpet, horn, trombone, and tuba They
are indispensable for their ability to play loudly, for melody, for sustaining harmony, for rhythmic accent,
and for the flamelike sonority they contribute to the climaxes. These instrument have cup-shaped mouth-
pieces (except for the horn, whose mouthpiece is shaped likea funnel). Aplayer sounds a brass instrument
by blowing into the mouthpiece, varying the note by altering the tension of his lips. This allows him to
blow of notes but not complete scale.

The Trumpet

-trumpet possesses firm and brilliant timbre that lends radiance to the orchestral mass. Because of its
military history, is often associated with martial pomp