Music Transcription Timbre and Instrumentation 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In music transcription, the 'attack' of a sound refers to:
- The loudest point of a note
- The initial portion of a sound as it builds to full volume (Correct answer)
- The sudden end of a note
- The pitch of the first note
Correct answer: The initial portion of a sound as it builds to full volume
Attack is the ADSR envelope stage describing how quickly a sound rises from silence to its peak amplitude.
Question 2: Which woodwind instrument uses a double reed made of two pieces of cane bound together?
- Clarinet
- Flute
- Oboe (Correct answer)
- Bass clarinet
Correct answer: Oboe
The oboe (and bassoon) use double reeds consisting of two pieces of cane that vibrate against each other, unlike the single reed of clarinets.
Question 3: A transcriber is working with a recording and identifies a plucked string instrument with a very short decay and metallic timbre. This is most likely a:
- Acoustic guitar
- Harpsichord (Correct answer)
- Harp
- Mandolin
Correct answer: Harpsichord
The harpsichord has a characteristically short decay and bright, metallic, plucked timbre due to its quill-plucking mechanism.
Question 4: The term 'flutter-tongue' (Flatterzunge) as a woodwind or brass technique produces:
- A smooth, legato tone
- A rapid, growling tremolo effect (Correct answer)
- A pitch bend upward
- A very soft pianissimo
Correct answer: A rapid, growling tremolo effect
Flutter-tongue involves rapidly rolling the tongue (like a rolled 'r') while playing, creating a distinctive buzzing or growling tremolo sound.
Question 5: When transcribing a recorder part for flute, which register difference is most important to account for?
- Recorder's lowest note is C4, same as flute
- Recorder lacks the ability to play above C6
- Recorder cannot play dynamics as expressively as flute (Correct answer)
- Recorder has a larger range than flute
Correct answer: Recorder cannot play dynamics as expressively as flute
The recorder's dynamics are largely fixed and cannot be varied by breath pressure as expressively as the flute's, making dynamic realization different in transcription.
Question 6: Which term describes the technique of rapidly alternating between two notes on a string instrument using the bow?
- Vibrato
- Glissando
- Tremolo (Correct answer)
- Portamento
Correct answer: Tremolo
Tremolo on string instruments involves rapid back-and-forth bow strokes on a single pitch, or sometimes alternating two pitches, creating a shimmering effect.
Question 7: In brass instrument acoustics, what determines whether an instrument's harmonic series is complete (including the fundamental) or missing the fundamental?
- The material of the bell
- Whether the bore is cylindrical or conical (Correct answer)
- The length of the tubing
- The number of valves
Correct answer: Whether the bore is cylindrical or conical
Conical-bore instruments (like the horn and euphonium) support the fundamental more readily, while cylindrical instruments (like trumpet and trombone) have a less usable fundamental.
Music Transcription Timbre and Instrumentation 5
In music transcription, the 'attack' of a sound refers to: