Quiz 5 • Spring 2022

MUTH 131 • Frederick

QUIZ #5
(100 POINTS)

This take-home quiz is due at the beginning of class on Wednesday, May 25th.

This is a take-home, open-notes assignment. There is no time limit on this quiz and you do not need to
complete it in one sitting. You must complete the quiz on your own; you may NOT communicate with
anyone else (in person or electronically) concerning this quiz.

In addition to this document, there are several supplemental files that you’ll need on Blackboard.

Type up your responses and submit along with any visuals (timbre graphs, etc.). If you’d like, you may also
submit annotated copies of scores and/or annotated versions of the acoustics visuals.

You may submit this quiz either electronically (on Blackboard) or in person.

By agreeing to the honor code, you are declaring that you followed the directions above,
you worked by yourself, and you did not discuss the quiz with any other individuals.

Along with your quiz submission, you should write:

“I have adhered to the honor code on this quiz” and sign your initials.

This quiz contains three parts. PICK TWO parts to complete.

(You should answer all questions within each part.)

Late Submission Policy:

All quizzes submitted after 12 pm (noon) on Wednesday, May 25th will be considered late.
Late quizzes will be penalized 15 points.

1
PART 1: INSTRUMENTATION IN AN ORCHESTRAL SCORE

This part involves analysis of the 1st movement of Clara Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 7, mm.
1–31. You can find a score for this excerpt on Blackboard. You can access a recording here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXyqaDkE7PU.

1. Construct a timbre/instrumentation graph for this excerpt. You can find a pdf chart for your timbre
graph on Blackboard. (Notice that the instruments appear in a different order on the timbre graph,
as compared to the score.)

2. After making your graph, write a paragraph describing what it shows about the instrumentation of
this excerpt. In particular, describe the role of each instrumental family (woodwinds, brass, strings).

PART 2: TIMBRAL LAYERS IN EDM

This part involves aural analysis of 808 State’s Cubik (Kings County Perspective) (1990). You can access a
recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke0RcBMDjA4.

1. Using only the recording, construct a timbre graph for this track. You can find a pdf chart for your
timbre graph on Blackboard.

Tips: The electronic layers are listed from bottom to top in the order that they enter. After
punctuation from the “percussion sample,” the excerpt begins with a repeated “low riff.” Each
repetition of this riff is one measure; use the timings on the chart to help. Also, the tom-tom and
snare drum play two separate rhythms, but they always occur together, so I’ve included them as a
single layer in the chart.

2. In our analysis of Dave Angel’s “Sighting” in class, we used the timbre graph to show how the
different timbres were used in two different roles. In that piece, some sounds were articulative, while
others were more rhythmic. Using your timbre graph, write a paragraph describing how are each of
the timbres/layers are used in “Cubik.” Can you break the timbral layers into different categories
based on their roles?

(Reminder: You only need to complete two of the three big parts of this quiz.)

2
PART 3: ACOUSTICS OF INSTRUMENTAL TIMBRES

This part involves discussion of the physical properties of sound that create instrumental timbres. On
Blackboard, you’ll find a pdf with screenshots from Sonic Visualiser showing a cello, clarinet, and marimba
playing the same pitch, G♭4. Each screenshot includes a waveform, spectrum plot, and spectrogram.

1. The pitch G♭4 has a frequency around 370 Hz. Calculate the frequencies of the first three overtones
above this fundamental. Show your work.

2. In class, we discussed how the relative strengths of overtones is one factor that contributes towards
our perception of distinct instrumental timbres. Using the spectrum plots from Sonic Visualiser,
write a few sentences comparing the strengths of these overtones between the three instruments. In
your answer, you should also explain how these harmonics are visually represented in the spectrum
plot and spectrogram. (If you’d like, you can submit annotated copies of these screenshots.)

3. The waveform’s envelope is another important component to our perception of timbre. Write a few
sentences comparing these waveform’s envelopes. Which two instruments have similarly shaped
envelopes? Use the ADSR terminology (attack, decay, sustain, release) in your response.

(Reminder: You only need to complete two of the three big parts of this quiz.)