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

• Piccolo• Oboe• Clarinet• Bassoon• Saxophone• Flute• English Horn

Can you match the picture with the name/sound?

Sound Examples

• 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>.

• Piccolo. Grahm Nasby’s Online Resources. “Concert Band Instrumentation”. 13 October, 2006. <http://www.grahamnasby.com/misc/concertband-instrumentation.shtml>.

• Rubber band. Micron. “Amplifying Sound”. 23 October, 2006. <http://www.micron.com/k12/lessonplans/sound/amplify>.

• Trombone Positions. Sandi. “Trombone Slide Position Chart”. 13 October, 2006. <http://www.sandi.net/depts/vapa/worksheets/parts_trombone.pdf>.

• Tuba. Grahm Nasby’s Online Resources. “Concert Band Instrumentation”. 13 October, 2006. <http://www.grahamnasby.com/misc/concertband-instrumentation.shtml>.

• Woodwind Section. Adamson Military Band. “Woodwind Section”. 1 October, 2006. <http://www.adamsonband.co.uk/AboutMain.htm>.