LESSON 10

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Musical Content on Timbre

Objectives

In this lesson, the student will be able to:

1. Get a bird’s-eye view of content topics under timbre as written in the Department of Education
(DepEd) curriculum; and

2. Review and familiarize with the musical content pertaining to timbre.

Introduction

This lesson will refresh our memory and understanding on musical concepts related to timbre.

THINK: Overview and Review

First, it would be helpful to get an overview of content topics under this musical element. Presented
below is an outline prepared for you and is based on the current version of the Department of
Education’s (DepEd) Curriculum for Music.

Timbre

For Grade 1:

Quality of Sound in Music

Difference between Speaking and Singing

For Grade 2:

Quality of Sound in Music

Introduction to Voice Production

Differentiation in Sound Quality

Introduction to Musical Instruments

For Grade 3:

Voice Production Techniques

Variations in Sound Quality:

Similar
b. Different

For Grade 4:

Variations of Sound:

A Instrumental

b. Vocal

For Grade 5:

Vocal and Instrumental Sounds

Basic Voice Range Classifications:

a. Soprano

b. Alto

c. Tenor

D Bass

Aural and Visual Identification of Instruments in:

a. Drum and Lyre Band

 b. Rondalla

C Native Bamboo Orchestra (“Pangkat Kawayan”)

For Grade 6:

Introduction to Instruments of the Western Orchestra

Now that we have attained a bird’s-eye view of what content topics are supposed to be taught, let us
refresh and review some musical topics that may be abstract or a little difficult to understand.

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. Music may
be divided into two major categories: that which is produced from our own bodies, exemplified by the
voice

(vocal music); and music that is produced from playing instruments (instrumental music). 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. Let us look at the image
below to understand more clearly what this means:

The example in the image is the Filipino kundiman, “Mutya ng Pasig,” by Nicanor Abelardo, written for
voice and piano. The voice is the soloist, while the piano is the accompaniment, supporting the vocal
line. In the image above, the soloist’s line begins in the second system, labelled “Canto,” an Italian term
for song. The piano plays alone during the first five measures of the piece, giving an introduction.

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.

c. 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.

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C. Tenor – This range is the naturally highest occurring type of voice in adult males.

c. Bass This is the lowest sounding male voice. In reality, there are more voice range classifications,
such as the baritone, mezzo soprano, bass baritone, and lyric soprano, but for elementary
students, the four abovementioned will suffice.

Identifying Ensemble Instruments

In this section, we will discuss and take a look at different musical ensembles and the instruments that
comprise them.

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. It is made up primarily of two sections: the lyre section, which
plays the melody; and the drum section, which functions as the accompaniment part. Usually
 made up of around 30 to 40 members, a drum and lyre corps also has a complementary color
guard, members (majorettes) who carry and represent a group or institution’s flag and/or other
symbols and emblems. 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 usually struck with wooden sticks.

c. 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.

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.

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.

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 or “talungating,” the
bamboo piano or “tipangklung,” the bamboo flute or “tulall,” the bamboo knockers or “kalatok,”
and the bamboo musical rattles or “angklung.”

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 with 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.
 c. 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 string 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 that 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.

c. 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 truments
tend to be the loudest of the wpiece 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
toneet 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 horn, 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
piano, though it is smaller in size. It produces a delicate, metallic sound.

c. 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.

d. Triangle It is a small handheld triangular instrument made of metal that gives a bright, sparkling
sound when struck.

e. 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.

f. 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.

g. Bass Drum – Also consisting of a cylindrical shell with two heads, this drum is bigger, around 36
inches in diameter and 16 inches deep.

h. 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.