Embedded Files
Instrument ID
Instrument ID
Visually Identify Instruments
Directions: Click the gear icon in the top right corner. Select the "Answer with: English" option to see the pictures. Click the card to see the name and check your work. Select the shuffle icon in the bottom right corner to shuffle the cards to get a better variety.
Alternatively, you can open the flashcard set on Quizlet with this link.
Pieces for Discussing Instrumentation
Pieces for Discussing Instrumentation
This Youtube playlist contains works that feature interesting or special instrumental combinations for classroom discussion.
Additional Pieces
Terence Blanchard, "Blut Und Boden (Blood and Soil)," from BlackkKlansman (2018)
Instructor Note: Juxtaposition of instrumental groupings from different genres.
Johnathan Harvey, "Mortuos Plango, Vivos Voco," from Tombeau de Messiaen (1994)
Instructor Note: Transformation of church bell samples into vocal samples.
Punch Brothers, "Familiarity," from Phosphorescent Blues (2014)
Instructor Note: Bluegrass instruments imitating electronically processed sounds
Jacob, Druckman, Aureole (1979)
George Crumb, "Music For A Summer Evening (Makrokosmos III)" (1974)
Stephen Sondheim, "Clip of Color & Light," from Sunday in the Park with George (1983)
Alarm Will Sound (performing Aphex Twin), "Cock/Ver10"
Listening for Instruments
Listening for Instruments
(These playlists are also included in the Aural Anthology)
Instrument ID: Solo Instruments
This Youtube playlist features solo works for aural instrument ID.
Instrument ID: Instruments in Ensembles
This Youtube playlist contains pieces by small ensembles for practice identifying different instruments heard in a group.
Transposing Instruments
Transposing Instruments
Excerpts for practice with transposing instruments
1) Koji Kondo, “Overworld Theme,” from Super Mario Bros.
From the video game, Super Mario Bros. (1985), mm. 1–14
Directions: Arrange mm. 1–14 for a Flute, B♭ Clarinet, and Bassoon trio. The Flute and Bassoon parts are complete. Fill in the missing clarinet part. Add an appropriate clef, key signature, and time signature at the beginning.
2) Samual Coleridge-Taylor, “Oh, The Summer”
mm. 1–18 (1909)
Directions: Arrange mm. 1–18 for a alto and tenor saxaphone duet with piano. Add an appropriate clef, key signature, and time signature at the beginning. Be sure the solos fit the instruments' ranges. Rebeam the rhythms appropriate for 3/8 time.
3) W. C. Handy, “St. Louis Blues,” mm. 1–12
Arranged for Brass Quintet by Maeve Lander (1914)
Directions: Option 1: Rewrite the Trumpet and Horn parts in the worksheet provided at concert pitch to show the pitches that will actually sound.
Option 2: Trumpet 2, Horn, and Trombone all play the same rhythms, but they don't play in unison throughout. In the space between the staves, notate the interval between the Trombone and Horn part, and also between the Horn and Trumpet 2 part. You may find it helpful to rewrite the parts at concert pitch first using the worksheet below.
More Examples
More Examples
Music By Women. Select the "Instrumentation" filter to sort by instrument or ensemble type, or click on "Score Reading" and select transposing instruments.
Timothy Chenette, Foundations of Aural Skills, "Musical Timbre: Instrument Identification" - See the playlists on the page.
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