Orchestra – a large group of musical instruments performing works specially designed for this composition.
Depending on the composition, orchestras have different expressive, timbre and dynamic capabilities and have different names:
- symphony orchestra (large and small),
- chamber, folk orchestra,
- wind,
- pop,
- jazz.
In a modern symphony orchestra, instruments are divided into the following groups:
I. Bowed strings: violins, violas, cellos, double basses.
II. Woodwinds: flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons.
III. Brass: horns, trumpets, trombones, tubas.
IV. Drums:
A) noise: castanets, rattles, maracas, whip, tom-tom, drums (large and small). Their parts are written on the same sheet music – “thread”.
b) with a certain pitch: timpani, cymbals, triangle, bell, xylophone, vibraphone, celesta.
V. Keyboards: piano, organ, harpsichord, clavichord.
VI. Additional group: harp.
The full sound of an orchestra is called “ tutti " - ("All").
Conductor - (from French - “to manage, lead”) manages a group of musicians - performers, he owns the artistic interpretation of the work.
On the console in front of the conductor lies - score (full musical notation of all parts of orchestral instruments).
Parts of instruments in each group are recorded one after another, starting with the highest sounding instruments and ending with the lowest.
Arrangement of orchestral music for a piano performer is called clavier .
Characteristics of symphony orchestra groups
I. String-bowed
These are instruments that are similar in appearance and sound color (timbre). In addition, their sound is produced with a bow. Hence the name. The most virtuosic and expressive instrument of this group is violin
. It sounds like a singer's voice. It has a gentle, singing timbre. The violin is usually assigned the main melody of the piece. The orchestra has I and II violins. They play different parts.
Alto
looks like a violin, but is not much larger in size and has a more muffled, matte sound/
Cello
can be called a “big violin”. This instrument is not carried on the shoulder like a violin or viola, but rests on a stand that touches the floor. The sound of the cello is low, but at the same time soft, velvety, noble.
The largest instrument of this group is double bass
. They play on it while sitting because it is taller than a person. This instrument is rarely used as a solo instrument. Its sound is the lowest, buzzing in this group.
The string and bow group in the orchestra is the leading group in the orchestra. It has enormous timbre and technical capabilities.
II. Woodwinds
Wood is used to make wooden instruments. They are called wind instruments because they produce sound by blowing air into the instrument.
Flute
(from Italian it means “wind, blow”). The sound of the flute is transparent, ringing, cold.
It has a melodious, rich, warm, but somewhat nasal sound. oboe.
Has a varied timbre clarinet.
This quality allows him to perform dramatic, lyrical, scherzo paintings
Performs the bass line bassoon
- an instrument with a thick, slightly hoarse timbre.
The lowest bassoon has a name contrabassoon
.
A group of woodwind instruments is widely used for sketching pictures of nature and lyrical episodes.
III. Brass
Copper metals (copper, brass, etc.) are used to make brass instruments.
The entire group of brass instruments sounds powerfully and solemnly, brilliantly and brightly in the orchestra.
Has a sonorous “voice” pipe
. The loud sound of the trumpet can be heard even when the entire orchestra is playing. Often the trumpet has a lead part.
French horn
(“forest horn”)
may sound in pastoral music.
At the moment of highest tension in a musical work, especially of a dramatic nature, along with trumpets, trombones.
The lowest brass instrument in the orchestra is tuba.
It is often played in combination with other instruments.
Percussion Problem– enhance the sonority of the orchestra, make it more colorful, show the expressiveness and variety of rhythm.
This is a large, motley and diverse group that is united by a common method of producing sound - impact. That is, by their nature they are not melodic. Their main purpose is to emphasize the rhythm, enhance the overall sonority of the orchestra and complement and decorate it with various effects. The only permanent members of the orchestra are the timpani. Beginning in the 19th century, the strike force began to expand rapidly. Big and snare drums, cymbals and triangles, and then tambourine, tom-tom, bells and bells, xylophone and celesta, vibraphone. But these instruments were used only sporadically.
A characteristic feature of a number of instruments is the presence of white and black keys, which are collectively called a keyboard or, in an organ, a manual.
Basic keyboard instruments: organ
(relatives - portable
, positive
),
clavichord
(related - spinet
in Italy and virginal
in England), harpsichord, piano
(varieties – piano
And piano
).
Based on the sound source, keyboard instruments are divided into two groups. The first group includes instruments with strings, the second includes organ-type instruments. Instead of strings, they have pipes of various shapes.
Piano
is an instrument in which both loud (forte) and quiet (piano) sounds were produced with the help of hammers. Hence the name of the instrument.
Timbre harpsichord
- silvery, sound - quiet, of equal strength.
Organ –
the largest musical instrument. They play it, like a piano, by pressing the keys. In ancient times, the entire front part of the organ was decorated with fine artistic carvings. Behind him are thousands of pipes of various shapes, each with its own special timbre. Consequently, the organ produces both the highest and lowest sounds that the human ear can perceive.
VI. A frequent participant in the symphony orchestra is plucked string tool – harp , which is a gilded frame with stretched strings. The harp has a delicate, transparent timbre. Its sound creates a magical flavor.
Timbre characteristics of instruments
Types of orchestras
Orchestra of Russian Folk Instruments
The composition of such an orchestra includes the main groups:
- Plucked strings:
- domras, balalaikas, gusli
- Brass:
- flute, pity, Vladimir horns
- Pneumatic reed:
- button accordions, harmonicas
- tambourines and drums
- Additional tools:
- flute, oboe and their varieties
Orchestra of Belarusian Folk Instruments
Approximate composition:
- String instruments:
- gusli, violin, bassetla
- Wind instruments:
- Pipe, pity, pipe, pipe, horn
- tambourines and cymbals
- Accordion
– (or multi-timbre, ready-chosen button accordion) is a reed, pneumatic (“air”) keyboard instrument. It got its name from the name of Drene, the Russian legendary singer and storyteller Bayan. This instrument has buttons on both sides, on which the performer plays the melody on the right side, and accompaniment on the left.
In modern concert performance, button accordions are most widespread. The left keyboard has special timbre register switches that make it possible to change the timbre of the instrument and change the color of the sound.
There are also electronic button accordions, which have unlimited sound power and a very large number of timbre colors. - Balalaika - a relative of the lute, mandolin, guitar. Musical symbol of the Russian people. This is a plucked string instrument. It has a wooden triangular body and a long neck on which strings are pulled. The sound is produced by striking all the strings at once with the index finger or by plucking. There are several types of balalaikas: piccolo, prima, second, alto, bass and double bass.
- Harmonic
(accordion, accordion) is a wind musical instrument that has become widespread in many countries.
It is equipped with bellows and a push-button keyboard. A characteristic feature of the instrument: the ability to change the pitch of the sound by changing the tension of the movement of the bellows.
Another type of harmonic is accordion . On one side of the accordion there are keys, like those of a piano, on which a melody is played, on the other there are several rows of buttons for accompaniment. When you press several of them, an entire chord sounds. Hence the name accordion. - Domra - a bit like a balalaika, only its body is oval, pear-shaped, and the strings are tuned to fourths.
- Cymbals - a stringed percussion instrument, is a low trapezoid-shaped box or wooden frame over which strings are stretched. The instrument is played with sticks or hammers. The gentle sound of the cymbals in timbre resembles the sound of the gusli.
- Guitar - one of the few musical instruments on which the sound is prepared and produced with the fingers.
- Gusli - an ancient Russian plucked string instrument.
Brass band
A brass band is a group of musicians playing various wind and percussion instruments.
According to their composition, the instruments of a modern brass band are divided into small brass orchestra, small mixed, medium mixed and large mixed.
The core of the small brass orchestra consists of: cornets, altos, tenors, baritones, basses.
With the addition of woodwinds (flutes, oboes, clarinets, saxophones, bassoons), as well as trumpets, horns, trombones and percussion instruments to this group, small mixed, medium, large mixed compositions are formed.
Variety orchestra
This orchestra includes traditional groups of instruments of a symphony orchestra - woodwinds - horns and strings (violin, viola, cellos).
Jazz orchestra (jazz band)
This orchestra consists of trumpets, clarinets, trombones and a “rhythm section” (banjo, guitar, double bass, drums and piano).
Materials used in the work:
1. Z. Osovitskaya, A. Kazarinova In the world of music. First year of study. M., “Music”, 1996.
2. M. Shonikova Musical literature. Rostov-on-Don, 2003.
3. Y. Ostrovskaya, L. Frolova Musical literature in definitions and musical examples. St. Petersburg, 2004.
4. M.F. Musical Kingdom. Minsk, 2002.
Welcome to a brief overview of the musical instruments of a symphony orchestra.
If you are just starting to get acquainted with classical music, then perhaps you do not yet know what musical instruments the members of the symphony orchestra play. This article will help you. Descriptions, images and sound samples of the main musical instruments of the orchestra will introduce you to the huge variety of sounds produced by the orchestra.
Preface
The musical symphonic tale "Peter and the Wolf" was written in 1936 for the new Moscow Central Children's Theater (now the Russian Academic Youth Theater). This is the story of the pioneer Pete, who shows courage and ingenuity, saves his friends and captures the wolf. From the moment of its creation to the present day, the piece has enjoyed undiminished worldwide popularity among both the younger generation and experienced classical music lovers. This play will help us identify different instruments, because... each character in it is represented by a certain instrument and a separate motive: for example, Petya - string instruments (mainly violins), Birdie - a flute in a high register, Duck - oboe, Grandfather - bassoon, Cat - clarinet, Wolf - horn. After familiarizing yourself with the presented instruments, listen to this piece again and try to remember how each instrument sounds.
Sergei Prokofiev: "Peter and the Wolf"
Bowed string instruments.
All bowed string instruments consist of vibrating strings stretched over a resonating wooden body (soundboard). To produce sound, a horsehair bow is used, clamping the strings in different positions on the fingerboard to produce sounds of different pitches. The family of bowed string instruments is the largest in the lineup, grouped into a huge section with musicians playing the same line of music.
A 4-string bowed instrument, the highest sounding in its family and the most important in the orchestra. The violin has such a combination of beauty and expressiveness of sound as, perhaps, no other instrument. But violinists often have a reputation for being nervous and scandalous people.
Felix Mendelssohn Violin Concerto
Alto - in appearance it is a copy of a violin, only slightly larger, which is why it sounds in a lower register and is a little more difficult to play than a violin. According to established tradition, the viola is assigned an auxiliary role in the orchestra. Violists are often the target of jokes and anecdotes in the musical community. There were three sons in the family - two smart, and the third was a violist... P.S. Some people believe that the viola is an improved version of the violin.
Robert Schumann "Fairy Tales" for viola and piano
Cello- a large violin that is played while sitting, holding the instrument between the knees and resting its spire on the floor. The cello has a rich low sound, wide expressive abilities and a detailed performance technique. The performing qualities of the cello won the hearts of a huge number of fans.
Dmitri Shostakovich Sonata for cello and piano
Double bass- the lowest in sound and the largest in size (up to 2 meters) among the family of bowed string instruments. Double bass players must stand or sit on a high stool to reach the top of the instrument. The double bass has a thick, hoarse and somewhat dull timbre and is the bass foundation of the entire orchestra.
Dmitri Shostakovich Sonata for cello and piano (see cello)
Woodwind instruments.
A large family of various instruments, not necessarily made of wood. Sound is generated by the vibration of air passing through the instrument. Pressing the keys shortens/lengthens the air column and changes the pitch of the sound. Each instrument usually has its own solo line, although it can be performed by several musicians.
The main instruments of the woodwind family.
- modern flutes are very rarely made of wood, more often of metal (including precious metals), sometimes of plastic and glass. The flute is held horizontally. The flute is one of the highest sounding instruments in the orchestra. The most virtuosic and technically agile instrument in the wind family, thanks to these advantages she is often assigned orchestral solos.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Flute Concerto No. 1
Oboe-a melodic instrument with a range lower than that of a flute. Slightly conical in shape, the oboe has a melodious, but somewhat nasal timbre, and even sharp in the upper register. It is primarily used as an orchestral solo instrument. Because oboists must contort their faces while playing, they are sometimes perceived as abnormal people.
Vincenzo Bellini Concerto for oboe and orchestra
Clarinet- Comes in several sizes, depending on the required pitch. The clarinet uses only one reed (reed), and not double like a flute or bassoon. The clarinet has a wide range, warm, soft timbre and provides the performer with wide expressive possibilities.
Check yourself: Karl stole corals from Clara, and Clara stole a clarinet from Karl.
Carl Maria von Weber Clarinet Concerto No. 1
The lowest sounding woodwind instrument, used both for the bass line and as an alternative melody instrument. There are usually three or four bassoons in an orchestra. Due to its size, the bassoon is more difficult to play than other instruments of this family.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Bassoon Concerto
Brass instruments.
The loudest group of instruments in a symphony orchestra, the principle of producing sounds is the same as that of woodwind instruments - “press and blow”. Each instrument plays its own solo line - there is a lot of material. At different eras of its history, the symphony orchestra changed groups of instruments in its composition; a certain decline in interest in wind instruments occurred in the era of romanticism; in the 20th century, new performing possibilities for brass instruments opened up and their repertoire expanded significantly.
Horn (horn)- originally derived from the hunting horn, the horn can be soft and expressive or harsh and raspy. Typically, an orchestra uses from 2 to 8 horns, depending on the piece.
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade
An instrument with a high clear sound, very suitable for fanfares. Like the clarinet, the trumpet can come in different sizes, each with its own timbre. Distinguished by its great technical agility, the trumpet brilliantly fulfills its role in the orchestra; it can perform wide, bright timbres and long melodic phrases.
Joseph Haydn Concerto for trumpet
Performs more of a bass line than a melodic line. It differs from other brass instruments by the presence of a special movable U-shaped tube - a backstage, by moving which back and forth the musician changes the sound of the instrument.
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov Trombone Concerto
Percussion musical instruments.
The oldest and most numerous among groups of musical instruments. Often the drums are affectionately called the “kitchen” of the orchestra, and the performers are called “jack of all trades.” The musicians treat percussion instruments rather harshly: they hit them with sticks, hit each other, shake them - and all this in order to set the rhythm of the orchestra, as well as to give color and originality to the music. Sometimes a car horn or a device that imitates wind noise (aeoliphon) is added to the drums. Let's consider only two percussion instruments:
- a hemispherical metal body covered with a leather membrane, timpani can sound very loud or, conversely, softly, like a distant rumble of thunder; to extract different sounds, sticks with heads made of different materials are used: wood, felt, leather. An orchestra usually has two to five timpani players, and it is very interesting to watch the timpani players play.
Johann Sabastian Bach Toccata and Fugue
Plates (pairs)- convex round metal discs of different sizes and with an indefinite pitch. As noted, a symphony can last ninety minutes, and you only have to hit the cymbals once; imagine the responsibility for the exact result.
Music and various sounds accompany a person throughout his life. We are surrounded by the sounds of the forest, birdsong, the sound of the sea and, of course, music. She is always with us, in times of joy and in moments of sadness, in sadness and in joy, night and day. To extract sounds, man invented various types of musical instruments. Currently, there are musical instruments that are divided into several groups:
- strings;
- winds;
- drums.
The emergence of musical instruments
It is difficult now to find out how and when the first musical instrument appeared. Legend has it that the shepherd's pipe was first invented by the Greek gods. Music also accompanied primitive people: they danced, clapped and drummed. The conclusion suggests itself that the first musical devices were percussion musical instruments.
Much later, people learned to make wind instruments from animal horns. Man learned to produce gentle sounds after the invention of bowed instruments.
Types of musical instruments are divided into different classes and families depending on:
- sound source;
- material of manufacture;
- timbre and type of sound;
- way of producing sounds.
Each musical instrument has its own device in order to obtain the necessary sound. This is how the classification of musical instruments appeared. The list is constantly growing, electronic musical instruments have appeared. But live music is still beyond competition.
In fact, every body, if set in motion or vibration, can produce sound. This kind of sound source is used for classification.
Groups of instruments, depending on the method of producing sound, are divided into subgroups.
Percussion instruments
Percussion musical instruments appeared at a time when people were hunting. Percussion musical instruments were invented, the names of which are known to everyone: drums and tambourines. They were made from dried skins and hollow objects: fruits, wooden blocks, clay pots. To produce sound, they beat percussion instruments with fingers, palms or special sticks. That is, percussion musical instruments are instruments in which sounds are produced using blows, shaking, hammers, sticks or palms.
Today, drums are the largest family of musical instruments. Based on their pitch, they are divided into two groups:
- indefinite pitch - drums, there - there, cymbals, tambourine, triangle, castanets;
- a certain pitch - bells, timpani, vibraphone, xylophone.
Wind instruments
Wind musical instruments are a type of instrument in which sound arises from the vibration of air in a tube. They are classified according to manufacturer, material and methods of sound production. This category can be divided into:
- wooden – flute, fanot, oboe;
- brass - trombone, trumpet, tuba, horn.
String instruments
Stringed musical instruments are a group of instruments in which the source of sound is the vibration of strings. String instruments are divided into:
- plucked strings – gusli, guitar, dombra, balalaika, dombra, sitar, harp;
- bowed instruments - violin, viola, cello, double bass;
- drums - piano, dulcimer,
At the beginning of the 20th century, electric musical instruments appeared. The first such tool is theremin, was invented back in 1917. Today, numerous modern sound synthesizers have been created that can imitate not only the sound of many famous musical instruments, but also reproduce all kinds of sounds - thunder, birdsong, the sound of an airplane or a passing train. As a rule, synthesizers are produced with a piano keyboard.
Video: Gordon Hunt, Saint-Saëns Oboe Sonata
Basic information Agogo is a Brazilian folk percussion musical instrument, which consists of two different-toned sheep bells without tongues, connected by a metal curved handle. There are different variations of agogo. For example, with three bells; or agogos, made entirely of wood (also with two or three bells). The rhythmic pattern performed by agogo players is the basis of the polyrhythmic structure of the Brazilian carnival samba.
Basic information Asatayak is an ancient Kazakh and ancient Turkic percussion musical instrument. The shape resembles a staff or cane with a flat head, decorated with ornaments and metal rings and pendants. Asatayak had an open and sharp sound. To enhance the sound of the instrument, the bucks used konyrau - bells, which were attached to the head of the asatayak. When shaking the instrument, the konyrau complemented the sound with a metallic ringing. And asatayak,
Basic information Ashiko is a West African percussion musical instrument, a drum in the shape of a truncated cone. They play the ashiko with their hands. Origin The homeland of Ashiko is considered to be West Africa, presumably Nigeria, the Yoruba people. The name is most often translated as “freedom”. Ashikos were used for healing, during initiation rituals, military rituals, communication with ancestors, for transmitting signals over distances, etc. Drums
Basic information Bania (bahia) is a Bengali percussion musical instrument, common in Northern India. It is a small one-sided drum with a leather membrane and a bowl-shaped ceramic body. The sound is produced by striking the fingers and hand. Used together with tabla. Video: Bania on video + sound A video with this instrument will appear in the encyclopedia very soon! Sale: where to buy/order?
Basic information Bangu (danpigu) is a Chinese percussion musical instrument, a small one-sided drum. From the Chinese ban - wooden plank, gu - drum. There is a female version of bangu and a male version of bangu. It has a bowl-shaped wooden body with massive walls, with the convex side facing up. There is a small hole in the middle of the body. The leather membrane is stretched over the convex part of the body
Basic information Bar chimes is a self-sounding percussion musical instrument related to traditional Asian wind chimes. The instrument was introduced into use by percussionists by American drummer Mark Stevens, in whose honor it received the original name Mark Tree, which is widespread in the West. In Russia, the name Bar Chimes is more common. Metal tubes of different lengths that make up the instrument sound when they touch each other
Basic information, device The drum is a percussion musical instrument, a membranophone. Distributed among most peoples. It consists of a hollow cylindrical wooden (or metal) resonator body or frame, onto which leather membranes are stretched on one or both sides (plastic membranes are now used). The relative pitch of the sound can be adjusted by the tension of the membranes. The sound is produced by striking the membrane with a wooden mallet with a soft tip, a stick,
Basics The boiran is an Irish percussion instrument that resembles a tambourine with a diameter of approximately half a meter (usually 18 inches). The Irish word bodhran (in Irish it is pronounced boron or boiron, in English - bouran, in Russian it is customary to pronounce boiran or boran) is translated as “thundering”, “deafening” (and also “annoying”, but this is only in some cases ). Hold the boyran vertically, playing it in a specific way with a wooden
Basic information The big drum (bass drum), also sometimes called the Turkish drum or “bass drum”, is a percussion musical instrument with an indefinite pitch of sound, low register. It is a drum - a wide metal or wooden cylinder, covered with leather on both sides (sometimes only on one side). The sound is produced by striking a beater with a massive head wrapped in dense material. If it is necessary to perform complex
Basics Bonang is an Indonesian percussion musical instrument. It is a set of bronze gongs, secured with cords in a horizontal position on a wooden stand. Each gong has a bulge (penchu) in the center. The sound is produced by striking this convexity with a wooden stick wrapped at the end with cotton cloth or rope. Sometimes spherical resonators made of burnt clay are suspended under the gongs. Sound
Basic information Bongo (Spanish: bongo) is a Cuban percussion musical instrument. It is a small double drum of African origin, usually played while sitting, holding the bongo between the calves of the legs. In Cuba, the bongo first appeared in the province of Oriente around 1900. The drums that make up the bongos vary in size; the smaller of them is considered “male” (macho - Spanish macho, literally
Basic information A tambourine is a percussion musical instrument consisting of a leather membrane stretched over a wooden rim. Some types of tambourines have metal bells attached to them, which begin to ring when the performer strikes the membrane of the tambourine, rubs it, or shakes the entire instrument. The tambourine is common among many peoples: the Uzbek doira; Armenian, Azerbaijani, Tajik def; shamanic drums with a long handle among peoples
Basic information A tambourine (tambourine) is a percussion musical instrument, a small metal rattle (bell); is a hollow ball with a small solid ball (several balls) inside. Can be attached to horse harness (“Troika with bells”), clothing, shoes, headdresses (jester’s cap), tambourine. Video: Bell on video + sound A video with this instrument will appear in the encyclopedia very soon! Sale: where
Basic information Bugai (Berbenitsa) is an accompanying frictional percussion musical instrument with a sound reminiscent of the roar of a Bugai. The bugai is a wooden cylinder, the top hole of which is covered with skin. A tuft of horsehair is attached to the skin in the center. Used as a bass instrument. The musician, with hands moistened with kvass, pulls his hair. Depending on the place of contact, the pitch of the sound changes. Bugay is widespread
Basic information Vibraphone (English and French vibraphone, Italian vibrafono, German vibraphon) is a percussion musical instrument that belongs to metal idiophones with a certain pitch. Invented in the USA in the late 1910s. The instrument has wide virtuoso capabilities and is used in jazz, on the stage and in percussion ensembles, less often in a symphony orchestra and as a solo instrument.
Basic information Gaval (daf) is an Azerbaijani folk percussion musical instrument. Very similar to tambourine and tambourine. One of those rare musical instruments that has retained its original form to this day. The Gaval device is a wooden rim with sturgeon skin stretched over it. In modern conditions, the ghaval membrane is also made of plastic to prevent moisture. TO
Basic information, structure, structure Gambang is an Indonesian percussion musical instrument. It consists of wooden (gambang kayu) or metal (gambang gangza) plates mounted horizontally on a wooden stand, often lavishly decorated with paintings and carvings. The sound is produced by striking two wooden sticks with a flat washer-like winding at the ends. They are held loosely between the thumb and forefinger, the other fingers
Basic information Gender (gendir) is an Indonesian percussion musical instrument. In gamelan, gender carries out a variational development of the main theme set by the gambang. The Gender device consists of 10-12 slightly convex metal plates, fixed in a horizontal position on a wooden stand using cords. Bamboo resonator tubes are suspended from the plates. Gender plates are selected according to the 5-step Slendro scale
Basic information The gong is an ancient percussion musical instrument of a symphony orchestra, which is a relatively large concave metal disk freely suspended on a support. Sometimes the gong is mistakenly confused with tam-tam. Varieties of gongs There are a huge number of varieties of gongs. They differ in size, shape, sound character and origin. The most famous in modern orchestral music are Chinese and Javanese gongs. Chinese
Basic information The guiro is a Latin American percussion instrument, originally made from the fruit of the gourd tree, known in Cuba and Puerto Rico as "higuero", with serifs applied to the surface. The word "guiro" comes from the language of the Taino Indians who inhabited the Antilles before the Spanish invasion. Traditionally, merengue often uses metal guiro, which has a sharper sound, and salsa
Basic information Gusachok (gander) is an unusual ancient Russian folk noise percussion musical instrument. The origin of the gander is very vague and ambiguous. Perhaps it was also played by buffoons, but in modern copies the clay jug (or “glechik”) is replaced by a papier-mâché model of the same shape. The gander has close relatives in different countries of the world. Let's face it, all relatives are very
Basic information Dangyra is an ancient Kazakh and ancient Turkic percussion musical instrument. It was a tambourine: a headband covered on one side with leather, inside of which metal chains, rings and plates were hung. Both dangyra and asatayak were attributes of shamanic rituals, which is why they were not widely used in the musical life of the people. Already since the beginning of the 19th century, both
Basic information Darbuka (tarbuka, darabuka, dumbek) is an ancient percussion musical instrument of indefinite pitch, a small drum, widespread in the Middle East, Egypt, the Maghreb countries, Transcaucasia and the Balkans. Traditionally made from clay and goatskin, metal darbukas are now also common. It has two holes, one of which (wide) is covered with a membrane. According to the type of sound production, it belongs to
Basic information A wooden box or wood block is a percussion musical instrument. One of the most common percussion musical instruments with an indefinite pitch. The sound of the instrument is a characteristic clicking sound. It is a rectangular block of ringing, well-dried wood. On one side, closer to the top of the block, a deep slot about 1 cm wide is hollowed out. The instrument is played with wooden or
Basic information The djembe is a West African percussion musical instrument in the shape of a goblet with an open narrow bottom and a wide top, over which a membrane made of leather, most often goatskin, is stretched. Previously unknown to the West, since its “discovery” it has gained enormous popularity. In terms of shape, djembe belongs to the so-called goblet drums, and in terms of sound production - to membranophones. Origin, history of Djembe
Basic information Dholak is a percussion musical instrument, a barrel-shaped wooden drum with two membranes of different diameters. They play the dholak with their hands or a special stick; You can play sitting cross-legged, placing it on your knees, or standing, using a belt. The tension force of the membranes is regulated by a system of rings and rope constrictions. Dholak is common in Northern India, Pakistan and Nepal; very popular
Basic information A carillon is a percussion musical instrument that, through a clock mechanism, forces a series of bells to play a melody, just as a rotating shaft sets an organ in motion. Often used in churches, especially in the Netherlands, in China it was known already in ancient times. The carillon is played “by hand” using a special keyboard. There are 600-700 carillons in the world. Famous musicians
Basic information Castanets are a percussion musical instrument, which consists of two concave shell plates, connected in the upper parts with a cord. The plates have traditionally been made from hardwood, although fiberglass is increasingly being used in recent years. Castanets are most widespread in Spain, Southern Italy and Latin America. Similar simple musical instruments suitable for rhythmic accompaniment of dance
Basic information The cymbal is an ancient oriental percussion musical instrument, consisting of a metal plate (bowl), in the middle of which a belt or rope was attached to be put on the right hand. The cymbal was struck against another cymbal, worn on the left hand, which is why the name of this instrument is used in the plural: cymbals. When the cymbals hit each other, they make a sharp ringing sound. Among the Jews
Basic information The clave (Spanish clave, literally “key”) is the simplest Cuban folk percussion musical instrument. Idiophone of African origin. It consists of two sticks made of hard wood, with the help of which the main rhythm of the ensemble is set. A musician playing the clave (usually a singer) holds one of the sticks in his hand so that the palm forms a kind of resonator, and the other
Basic information A bell is a metal percussion musical instrument (usually cast from so-called bell bronze), a sound source that has a dome-shaped shape and, usually, a tongue striking the walls from the inside. Bells without a tongue are also known, which are struck with a hammer or a log from the outside. Bells are used for religious purposes (calling believers to prayer, expressing solemn moments of the Divine service) and in
Basic information Orchestral bells are a percussion musical instrument of a symphony orchestra (idiophone). It is a set of 12-18 cylindrical metal tubes with a diameter of 25-38 mm, suspended in a stand frame (height about 2 m). They hit them with a mallet, the head of which is covered with leather. The scale is chromatic. Range 1-1.5 octaves (usually from F; notated an octave higher than it sounds). Modern bells are equipped with a damper. In the orchestra
Basic information Bells (Italian campanelli, French jeu de timbres, German Glockenspiel) are a percussion musical instrument with a certain pitch. The instrument has a light ringing timbre in the piano, brilliant and bright in the forte. Bells come in two varieties: simple and keyboard. Simple bells are a set of chromatically tuned metal plates placed in two rows on a wooden
Basic information Congo is a Latin American percussion musical instrument of indefinite pitch from the genus of membranophones. It is a barrel elongated in height, with a leather membrane stretched from one end. Used in pairs - two drums of different diameters (one is tuned lower, the other higher), often the conga is played simultaneously with the bongo (assembled on the same percussion set). Congo height 70-80
Basic information Xylophone (from the Greek xylo - wood + background - sound) is a percussion musical instrument with a certain pitch. It is a series of wooden blocks of different sizes, tuned to certain notes. The bars are struck with sticks with spherical tips or special hammers that look like small spoons (in the jargon of musicians, these hammers are called “goat legs”). Xylophone tone
Basic information Cuica is a Brazilian percussion musical instrument from the group of friction drums, most often used in samba. It has a creaky, sharp timbre of a high register. Kuika is a cylindrical metal (originally wooden) body, with a diameter of 6-10 centimeters. The skin is stretched over one side of the body, the other side remains open. On the inside, to the center and perpendicular to the leather membrane, it is attached
Basic information Timpani (Italian timpani, French timbales, German Pauken, English kettle drums) are a percussion musical instrument with a certain pitch. They are a system of two or more (up to five) metal boilers, the open side of which is covered with leather or plastic. There is a resonator hole in the bottom of each boiler. Origin The timpani is an instrument of very ancient origin. In Europe, timpani, close
Basic information Spoons are the oldest Slavic percussion musical instrument. In appearance, musical spoons are not much different from ordinary wooden table spoons, only they are made from harder wood. In addition, musical spoons have elongated handles and a polished impact surface. Sometimes bells are hung along the handle. The play set of spoons may include 2, 3 or
Basic information, device A snare drum (also sometimes called a military drum or “working drum”) is a percussion musical instrument that belongs to the membranophones with an indefinite pitch. One of the main percussion instruments of a symphony orchestra, as well as jazz and other genres, where it is part of a drum kit (often in several copies of different sizes). The snare drum is metal, plastic or
Basic information Maraca (maracas) is the oldest percussion-noise musical instrument of the indigenous inhabitants of the Antilles - the Taino Indians, a type of rattle that produces a characteristic rustling sound when shaken. Currently, maracas are popular throughout Latin America and are one of the symbols of Latin American music. Typically, a maraca player uses a pair of rattles, one in each
Basic information Marimba is a keyboard percussion musical instrument consisting of wooden blocks mounted on a frame, which are struck with mallets, a relative of the xylophone. The marimba differs from the xylophone in that the sound produced by each bar is amplified by a wooden or metal resonator or a pumpkin suspended underneath it. Marimba has a rich, soft and deep timbre that allows you to achieve expressive sound. The marimba arose in
Basic information Musical pendant (breeze) is a percussion musical instrument. It is a bunch of small objects that produce a pleasant chime when the wind blows, widely used in landscape design, especially when decorating porches, verandas, terraces, awnings, etc., adjacent to the house. It is also used as a musical instrument. Musical pendants are most widely used in the southern regions as an anti-stress remedy and
Basic information Pkhachich is an Adyghe and Kabardian folk percussion musical instrument, a relative of the rattle. It consists of 3, 5 or 7 plates of dried hardwood (boxwood, ash, chestnut, hornbeam, plane tree), loosely tied at one end to the same plate with a handle. Typical tool dimensions: length 150-165 mm, width 45-50 mm. Pkhachich is held by the handle, pulling a loop,
Basic information The cencerro (campana) is a Latin American percussion musical instrument of indefinite pitch from the ideophone family: a metal bell without a tongue, played with a wooden stick. Its other name is campana. Modern cencerros have the shape of a bell somewhat flattened on both sides. The appearance of the sencerro in Latin American music is associated with the ritual bells of econ Congolese religious cults. It is believed that in
Basic information Tabla is an Indian percussion musical instrument. The big drum is called baina, the small one is called daina. One of the most famous musicians who glorified this instrument throughout the world was the legendary tabla player Ravi Shankar. Origin The exact origin of the tabla is unclear. But according to existing tradition, the creation of this instrument (like many others, whose origin is unknown) is attributed to Amir
Basic information Tala (or talan; Sanskrit Tala - clapping, rhythm, beat, dance) is a South Indian paired percussion musical instrument from the category of percussion, a type of metal cymbal or cymbal. Behind each of them there is a silk or wooden handle. The sound of the tala is quite soft and pleasant. Video: Tala on video + sound Video with this instrument coming very soon
Flute, accordion, violin, piano, drum - instruments that everyone knows well. But can you say with confidence which group of musical instruments each of them belongs to? To winds or strings, to drums or keyboards?
Wind instruments
They are divided into two groups: wooden and copper. But don't rush! The fact is that the first ones are not necessarily made of wood: for example, a transverse flute is made of metal, silver or cupronickel! What can we say about the saxophone? This “wooden” instrument is made of... copper! But brass instruments are indeed made of metal, though often not of what appears in their name.
Wooden instruments are divided according to the method of exciting sound into muzzle (flute) and reed. Reed (their name comes from their feature: under the influence of passing air, a reed plate, “reed,” vibrates) - these are flute, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon, oboe.
Brass instruments include horn, bugle, trumpet, tuba and trombone. The organ is a wind instrument, but it occupies a special place because it also belongs to the keyboard.
String instruments
On what basis are stringed instruments grouped? Yes, in a very simple way: how the sound is produced is how the group is called. Plucked strings: harp, guitar, mandolin, lute... Stringed strings: viol d'amour, viola da gamba, violin, viola, cello, double bass.
Percussion instruments
To extract sound from instruments of this type, they must be made to vibrate: either by knocking on them, or shaking them, or otherwise moving them. There are at least four groups:
1) cymbals, gongs, bells, bells;
2) xylophone, vibraphone, African balafon;
3) timpani, drums;
4) castanets, triangles, rattles, rattles (accompaniment instruments).
Keyboard instruments
These include: organ, harpsichord (keyboard-plucked), piano (keyboard-percussion). The piano (or piano) is a wonderful musical instrument, invented in the 17th century and significantly improved at the end of the 18th century. Since then it has remained the most revered and universal instrument in the West.
Chinese percussion instruments
Chinese music, whose history dates back to ancient times, generally did not have musical notation. Nevertheless, she had a huge influence on the development of musical art in Southeast Asia.
Orchestra
Since its appearance in the 17th century, the orchestra - its composition - has undergone significant evolution. Today's arrangement of string instruments in an orchestra (in a semicircle from left to right): violins, violas, cellos and double basses. Behind them in the depths are flutes and reed wind instruments; further away are brass instruments, and completely in the background are percussion and less commonly used instruments.
Boguslav Martinu (1890-1959)
This is how the Czech composer portrayed himself, basing his work on folk music.
Italian trumpet
This beautiful musical instrument of unusual shape was created in the 17th century. It is made of iron. The relief of the decorations is achieved by embossing, i.e. hammer and chisel.
Drums of Black Africa
Three musicians from southern Chad play (from left) the balafon (a type of xylophone), tambourine and tom-tam.
Viol d'Amour
The instrument, which was played like a violin, was very fashionable in the 18th century. This example, made of ebony and inlaid with ivory, dates back to the 16th century.
"Futuristia" ("Futuristic Future")
This work by the Frenchman Pierre Henri (b. 1927) is a tribute to the Italian artist Luigi Russolo, who was also a pioneer of “onomatopoeia” in music. And Henri himself is known primarily as the author of electroacoustic music.