Music and Physics
Karissa Huhner
The Woodwind Family
• The woodwind family consists of piccolos, flutes,
oboes, english horns, clarinets, bassoons, and
saxophones.
• With the exception of the piccolo and flute, the
sound is produced by a vibrating reed.
• Different pitches are produced by opening and
covering holes along the instrument
The Brass Family
• The brass family typically consists of trumpets, (french)
horns, trombones, euphoniums, and tubas.
• Sound is produced by forcing air through the
mouthpiece.
• With the exception of the trombone, pitches are altered
by pressing or releasing valves.
• All brass players also tighten or relax their lips to change
pitch.
The Percussion Family
• The percussion family contains the most instruments.
Some of the standard instruments include the bass
drum, snare drum, timpani, bells, cymbals, and the
triangle.
• Sound is produced by striking some part of the
instrument with a mallet, stick, or hands.
• Not all percussion instruments can produce multiple
pitches. In most cases the pitch of the instrument is
dependent on the size of the instrument.
• The piccolo is the highest
pitched instrument in the
band.
• The tuba is the lowest
pitched instrument
commonly found in
bands.
– The contrabassoon can
actually produce lower tones
than the tuba, but it is not
commonly found in bands.
• The sound clip “shows”
the difference in pitch
between the piccolo and
tuba. Listen carefully for
the tuba, it is particularly
low.
Sound Examples
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•
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Piccolo
Oboe
Clarinet
Bassoon
Saxophone
Flute
English Horn
Can you match the picture with the name/sound?
Sound Examples
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•
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French Horn
Trumpet
Tuba
Trombone
Euphonium
Can you match the picture with the name/sound?
How is the pitch of instruments
determined?
• As was mentioned earlier, the biggest
determining factor in the pitch an
instrument produces is the size of the
instrument.
• The distance that air travels in the
instrument also determines the pitch.
Generally…
• The larger and longer an instrument is, the
lower the pitch.
• The smaller and shorter an instrument, the
higher the pitch.
One of the easiest ways to see this
is with the trombone.
• The higher the
note is on the
staff, the higher
the pitch of the
note.
• Notice how the
trombone slide
gets longer as
the notes get
lower?
Some things you can try on your
own:
• Hold a rubber band
so that it is stretched
between two fingers.
Pluck the rubber
band.
• Now, increase the
distance between
your fingers,
stretching the rubber
band. Pluck the
rubber band again.
• What do you notice
about the sound?
Does it sound lower
or higher than before?
• Try the same thing
with rubber bands of
different widths. What
do you notice?
Music References
•
Beethoven, Ludwig Van. Horn Sonata, Op. 17. III. Allegro Moderato. Albert Linder, horn. Naxos: BIS-CD-47.
Compact disc.
•
Donizetti, Gaetano. Concertino for Cor Anglais and Orchestra in G minor. Andante con Variationi. Budapest
Camerata conducted by Laszlo Kovacs. Marco Polo: Donizetti: Instrumental Concertos. Compact disc.
•
Handel, George Frideric. Trumpet Concerto in D minor. II Furioso. Miroslav Kejmar, trumpet. Naxos: Famous
Trumpet Concerti. Compact disc.
•
Holst, Gustav. Second Suite in F for Military Band. I. March, IV. Fantasia on the Dargason.. Edmonton Wind
Ensemble conducted by Harry Pinchin. CBC Records: Snake Fence Country. Compact disc.
•
Marcello, Benedetto. Cello Sonata in F major (arr. for tuba). II. Allegro. Michael Lind, tuba. Naxos: BIS-CD-95.
Compact disc.
•
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus. Bassoon Concerto in B flat major, K. 191. I. Allegro. Stephan Turnovsky, bassoon.
Naxos: 8.550345. Compact disc.
•
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus. Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622. III. Rondo: Allegro. Ernst Ottensamer, clarinet.
Naxos: 8.550345. Compact disc.
•
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus. Oboe Concerto in C major, K. 271k/ K. 314. I. Allegro aperto. Martin Gabriel, oboe.
Naxos: 8.550345. Compact disc.
•
Taffanel, Paul. Fantasy on Der Freischutz. Robert Aitken, flute. Naxos: BIS-CD-166. Compact disc.
•
Tubin, Eduard. Alto Saxophone Sonata. III. Allegro vivace. Pekka Savijoki, alto saxophone. Compact disc.
•
Vivaldi, Antonio. Cello Sonata No. 1 in B flat major, RV 47 (arr. for trombone). IV. Allegro. Christer Torge,
trombone. Naxos: BIS-CD-95. Compact disc.
•
Vivaldi, Antonio. Piccolo Concerto in C major, RV 445. Gunilla von Bahr, piccolo. Naxos: BIS-CD-21. Compact
disc.
Picture References
•
Brass Section. Adamson Military Band. “Brass Section”. 1 October, 2006.
<http://www.adamsonband.co.uk.AboutMain.htm>.
•
Percussion. Hyper Music. Hyper Music- Musical Instruments. “Percussion”. 13
October, 2006. <http://www.hypermusic.ca/inst/mainmenu.html>.
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Piccolo. Grahm Nasby’s Online Resources. “Concert Band Instrumentation”. 13
October, 2006. <http://www.grahamnasby.com/misc/concertbandinstrumentation.shtml>.
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Rubber band. Micron. “Amplifying Sound”. 23 October, 2006.
<http://www.micron.com/k12/lessonplans/sound/amplify>.
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Trombone Positions. Sandi. “Trombone Slide Position Chart”. 13 October, 2006.
<http://www.sandi.net/depts/vapa/worksheets/parts_trombone.pdf>.
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Tuba. Grahm Nasby’s Online Resources. “Concert Band Instrumentation”. 13
October, 2006. <http://www.grahamnasby.com/misc/concertbandinstrumentation.shtml>.
•
Woodwind Section. Adamson Military Band. “Woodwind Section”. 1 October, 2006.
<http://www.adamsonband.co.uk/AboutMain.htm>.