Music Content

on Timbre
Presented By : Botin, Gador, Gay & Kimpan
 Timbre
Timbre, also known as tone color, refers to
the character and quality of a sound that
differentiate one musical instrument or
voice from another. It gives a certain
identity to a musical instrument.
 Two major categories of Music

Vocal music Instrumental music

• is produced • music that is
from our own produced from
bodies, playing
exemplified by instruments.
the voice.
In both of these categories, music may be played in
different ways such as the following:

a. Solo - The word "solo" means "alone" in Italian. It is a

musical composition for a single instrument without
accompaniment, or a work wherein a single instrument or
voice is featured eminently throughout, even with
accompaniment.
Accompaniment is the background music that supports
a principal part or parts.
b. Duet - Basically, it is a musical composition written for two
parts, or two prominent parts supported by an accompaniment.

C. Trio - It is a musical composition written for three parts, either

for voice.or instruments.

d. Ensemble - It is a musical composition written for a relatively

large group of performers. Some examples of ensembles are
choirs, orchestras, and bands. However, small musical groups of
four or five people may still be considered as an ensemble.
 Voice Range Classifications: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Bass

Here are the four most common classifications which denote a person's voice range.

a. Soprano-It is a type of human voice with the highest pitch, usually possessed by
women, though there are some boys who are classified under this type in their younger
years, but change as they grow and mature. In an SATB (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and
Bass) choir setting, it is the topmost voice.

b. Alto Also called contralto, it is a low female voice. In an SATB choir piece, it is the
second highest part.
c. Tenor - This range is the naturally
highest occurring type of voice in adult
males.

d. Bass-This is the lowest sounding male

voice.
 Identifying Ensemble Instruments

1. Drum and Lyre Band - Also called a drum and

lyre corps, it is a type of Filipino marching band
that was derived from the drum and bugle corps,
for reasons of it being more economically feasible
to maintain and organize.
 Instruments found within this band are the
following:

a. Lyre-Also called bell lyre, it is a portable percussion instrument

where a set of tuned steel bars are hit by either metal or wooden
mallets.

b. Snare Drum-It is composed of a cylinder-shaped shell with two

heads. usually made out of wood or metal. This shell has two heads,
the bottom part outfitted with gut wires or strings called snares that run
parallel to one another. The upper head, also called the batter head, is
c. Tenor Drum-A deep cylindrical drum, it is struck with felt-headed or side-

d.drum sticks. It is not outfitted with snares. It is also called a long drum. d.
Bass Drum-Also consisting of a cylindrical shell with two heads, this drum is
bigger, around 36 inches in diameter and 16 inches deep.

e. Cymbals - Usually held by hand in pairs, these instruments provide loud,

occasional accents while marching. These are broad circular plates with a
small bump or boss in the middle. Cymbals are usually made of a tin and
copper alloy.
Instruments of the Drum and Lyre Band:
2. Rondalla - Originating from Spain, it is an ensemble (performing
group) that was later customized and transformed to fit Filipino culture.
Also called the Filipino "stringed band," these groups play a wide range
of repertoire, from folk, modern, and even foreign classical music.
These are mostly transcriptions of other vocal and instrumental
compositions. The usual instruments found within a rondalla are the
bandurria, laud, octavina, guitar, and double bass. Rondallas are found
throughout the country, especially in many public schools.
a. Bandurria-It is a small stringed instrument derived from the guitar. It
has six courses (strings in pairs) of metal strings, tuned into fourths
Usually, it plays the top (treble) part. It is played by using a plectrum, a
small pick or piece used to pluck a stringed instrument, usually made of
plastic, metal, ivory, or a shell.

b. Laud - Similar to the bandurria, this plucked instrument is also tuned

in fourths, but is pitched one octave lower. It is relatively bigger than the
bandurria.
C. Octavina - It has a shape almost exactly like the guitar, but has a set of 14
strings. This plucked instrument shares the same tuning as the laud.

d. Guitar - Plucked either with or without a plectrum, the guitar has six strings, a
single open round sound hole, a slightly curved back, and sides in the figure of a
waist. It is one of the most widely used and popular musical instruments.

e. Double Bass - Also called contrabass, it is the largest of the bowed string
instruments and has the lowest pitch. It is related to the violin, viola, and cello. It
can be played either by plucking or with a bow.
Instruments of the Rondalla:

Guitar

Doble Bass
3. Native Bamboo Ensemble ("Pangkat Kawayan") It is a unique Filipino
performing group or ensemble that uses nontraditional bamboo instruments,
sourced locally. Also known as the "Singing Bamboos of the Philippines,"
this group is composed of musically talented elementary students from
Manila and Quezon City. It was founded on September 6, 1966. The
instruments this group uses are the bamboo tube or "bumbong," the bamboo
marimba of "talungating," the bamboo piano or "tipangklung," the bamboo
flute or "tulali," the bamboo knockers or "kalatok" and the bamboo musical
rattles or "angklung."
Instruments used in Native Bamboo Ensemble
4. The Western Orchestra The modern orchestra is divided
into several sections, namely: the strings, the woodwinds, the
brasses, and the percussion. A conductor usually leads an
orchestra. The term "orchestra" is of Greek origin, which
referred to the area directly in front of the stage in concert
halls, theaters, and other performance venues.
Strings Section

The instruments of this section produce sounds by either bowing or plucking tight
strings attached to a hollow resonating box that amplifies the sound.

a. Violin A stringed instrument that is commonly bowed but may also be plucked, it
has a hollow, resonating body made of wood an attached neck and peg box. Its
fingerboard, just like all the other instruments in this section,does not have frets. It
has four strings and is the highest-pitched member of this section. It can be played
either as a solo or an ensemble instrument.
b. Viola-Slightly larger than the violin, it is the second highest-pitched member of the
violin family. Music for the viola is usually notated in the alto clef, and its four strings
are tuned a fifth below that of the violin.

c. Cello - Also called violoncello, it is the second lowest-pitched of the bowed

tstring instruments and possesses a deep, rich tone in its low register. Due to its size, the
cello is played between one's legs. It has a lower range than the viola.

d. Double Bass - Also called contrabass, it is the largest of the bowed string instruments
and has the lowest pitch and range. It can be played either by plucking or with a bow.
Woodwinds Section

The instruments of this section were initially constructed out of wood, but today some of
them are made out of metal. Blowing wind into a tube sets up vibrations mat in turn
make sounds.

a. Flute - The flute is a long, slender, cylindrical shape instrument wherein the player
blows through a side hole. It is held horizontally. Its timbre is usually gentle, light, and
airy, but can also stand out clearly when played in a higher register.

b. Clarinet-Sound is produced by blowing into a reed (a small piece of cane) which

vibrates. Slightly conical in shape, it is usually made of ebony. Its timbre is rich and
flexible, close to the sound of a human voice.
c. Oboe - Just like clarinet, the oboe uses a reed, but in this case, it has a
double reed. Blowing air into an oboe is relatively harder since a player has
to force air between two reeds which are lashed together. Because of this, the
oboe has a crisp and focused sound. Before a performance, the oboe usually
gives the standard tuning pitch (A or La) to the entire orchestra.

d. Bassoon - Another double reed instrument, the bassoon is a low-ranged

woodwind, bigger and longer than the other woodwind instruments. Its bore
is folded in the middle to reduce its lengthy exterior dimensions.
Brass Section

Brass instruments tend to be the loudest of the wind

instruments. To produce a sound, the player blows into a
small metal mouthpiece which makes the lips vibrate
This vibration sets up vibrations inside the brass tube.
a Trumpet-It is the instrument with the highest range in this
section. It has a bright and powerful tone. It is usually used in
martial or military themes Pitches are controlled by a valve
that either connects or disconnects the main tubes with the
secondary tubes

b. French Horn- it is lower, mellower than the trumpet. Its tube

is coiled into a somewhat circular fashion, which gives it its
distinct shape
c. Trombone - Instead of using a valve like the trumpet and
the French hom the trombone uses a sliding mechanism to
produce and control pitches. The trombone has a lower range
than the trumpet.

d. Tuba- Having a low register, this instrument usually is the

foundation for the brass section. It is less flexible than the
other brass instruments.
Percussion Section

Percussion instruments produce sound by striking or hitting

them with wooden or metal mallets or sticks. Some
percussion instruments have a definite pitch, such as the
timpani, xylophone, tubular bells, and marimba, while others
have indefinite pitches like gongs and drums.
a. Timpani or Kettledrums - These are large drums that are capable
of being tuned into exact low pitches or sounds. These are usually
played in groups of two or three. Specialized drumsticks called
timpani sticks or timpani mallets are used in hitting the drumhead
to produce sounds

b. Glockenspiel - Related to the lyre, this instrument has small

steel bars that when struck, produce a brilliant, penetrating sound.
c. Celesta-Not played with sticks or mallets, the celesta has a keyboard
and is played similarly like a plano, though it is smaller in size. It
produces a delicate. metallic sound.

d Marimba-Usually mounted on stands, a marimba is played like the

xylophone in that it is struck with mallets. It is originally an African
instrument. It has resonators under each of its bars.

e. Triangle It is a small handheld triangular instrument made of metal

that gives a bright, sparkling sound when struck.
f. Snare Drum It is composed of a cylinder-shaped shell with two
heads, usually made out of wood or metal. This shell has two
heads, the bottom part outfitted with gut wires or strings called
snares that run parallel to one another. The upper head, also called
the batter head, is usually struck with wooden sticks.

g. Tenor Drum - A deep cylindrical drum, it is struck with felt-

headed or side- drum sticks. It is not outfitted with snares. It is also
called a long drum.
h. Bass Drum - Also consisting of a cylindrical shell with two
heads, this drum is bigger, around 36 inches in diameter and
16 inches deep.

i. Cymbals Usually held by hand in pairs, these instruments

provide loud, occasional accents while marching. These are
broad circular plates with a small bump or boss in the middle.
Cymbals are usually made of a tin and copper alloy.
Timpani Celesta

Glockenspiel
Marimba Snare Drum

Triangle
Tenor Drum
Cymbals

Bass Drum
Thank You