Music Transcription Timbre and Instrumentation 5

Question 1

In music transcription, the 'attack' of a sound refers to:

Accepted Answer

The initial portion of a sound as it builds to full volume

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Oboe

Answer

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:

Accepted Answer

Harpsichord

Answer

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:

Accepted Answer

A rapid, growling tremolo effect

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Recorder cannot play dynamics as expressively as flute

Answer

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.

Music Transcription Practice Test

Music Transcription Practice Test

Music Transcription Timbre and Instrumentation 5