References

The information from this site came from The World Book Encyclopedia published by the Field Enterprises Educational Corporation in Chicago.

If you wish to learn more some interesting web sites to look at are:

• UNSW Music Acoustics
• The Guide to Symphony Orchestra Instruments
• DSO Kids

Brass – French Horn

 

Orchestras commonly use the French horn for its warm, mellow tone.  The French horn has 16 feet of brass tubing, which is twisted and ends in a wide bell.  When this instrument was first produced crooks created a change in tone by altering the length of the tube.  Crooks are extentions of the tube.  In 1754, Joseph Hampel invented stopping which is a method that the player would change the tone by placing his or her hand into the bell.  In 1800’s, three or four pistons were added for a smoother change in pitch.

 

Brass – Tuba

 

Musicians frequently use tubas in the band.  They are sometimes used in orchestras.  The tuba has the largest cupped mouthpiece of all the brass instruments.  This instrument also contains a bell, coiled tubing, slide pull ring, and piston valves.  A form of the first tuba was called a Roman buccina.  Improvements were made to the instrument over the years.  Phasey altered the instrument in 1870’s by widening the bore, producing the instrument we now know of today as the tuba.  Tubas produce the lowest tone in the brass instruments.  The helicon and sousaphone are variations of the tuba and include bell joints of different shapes. 

Brass – Trumpet

 

A trumpet with out valves can date back as far as 2000 B.C.  These early instruments were constructed from shells or bones.  The modern trumpet is a treble brass instrument that consists of small-bore cylindrical tubing, a bell, cupped mouthpiece, and three piston valves.  The piston valves enable the instrument to form the notes on a scale.  They were created in 1818 by Heinrich Stolzel and Friedrich Bluhmel, German brass players.

 

 

Brass – Trombone

 

The Trombone is characterized as being a brass instrument with a long tube that is bent twice with a bell on one end and cupped mouthpiece at the other.  It was designed after the trumpet.  The portion of the tube that slides was added in Italy during the 14^th century, enabling the player to adjust the length of the tube.  Sound is created by vibration of lips when the player blows.  The tone is adjusted by changing the slide position and embouchure. 

Strings – Violin

 

In the 1500s violins were first created.  During this period Cremona, Italy, was the center for violin production.  Antonio Stradivari designed the modern violin, in the late 1600’s and early 1700’s.  The tone can be effected by the type of wood that the violin is made from.  The violin consists of 70 different pieces.  These sections are made exactly to come together when glued.  The chest is the term used for the hollow wooden container.  The violinist moves the bow back and forth over four strings.  With the other hand he or she stops the strings on the fingerboard. 

Strings – Cello

 

During the 1600s the cello was used as common solo instrument.  It is larger than the violin, 4 feet lone and 1.5 feet across.  Producing deep, rich tones, the cello has four strings that create sound that is an octave lower than the viola.  The size causes the cello to be the second largest viol instrument.  The cello is placed on the floor and rests against the players knees.   The first cellos were created in Cremona, Italy in the 1500’s.

 

 

 

Strings – Double Bass

 

The bass is sometimes called a double bass, contrabass, or bass viol.  It is the largest and lowest-pitched viol instrument.  In the first form the bass only had three strings.  As the design of the base developed, it now has four strings.  This instrument is used in orchestras, concert, and jazz bands.  The base stands six feet tall.  Due to this large size the player must stand. 

Strings – Viola

 

The viola is comparable in shape to the violin. This instrument is played by resting the Viola on the left shoulder.  The right hand holds a bow.  The bow is made from horse hair and is longer than the violin. The sound is in the tenor range and violas are occasionally used as a solo instrument. It is larger than the violin, from 14 to 17 inches. The strings used are thicker than the violins.  Music that is written fro the viola is in the alto clef, which is not typically used for many instruments.  Music that contains notable viola parts include: six string quintets by Mozart and Opus 18 by Johanns Brahms.

 

 

Percussion – Cymbals

 

In 3000 B.C., cymbals can be found in Indus civilizations.  The name cymbal comes from the Greek word kymbalon, meaning hollow of a cup.  As early as 1680, cymbals can be seen used in the orchestra during the production of Esther, in Hamburg, Germany.  This instrument could be described as having the shape of a broad-brimmed hat.  The boss is located in the center.  Attached to the boss is a piece of leather.  The sound comes from the collision of two cymbals together or hitting one cymbal with a beater.  Cymbals can come in a variety of sizes, but typically are 14 to 15 inches in diameter.