Music Transcription Instrument Identification and Timbre Questions and Answers

Question 1

You are transcribing a piece for orchestra and hear a solo woodwind instrument with a characteristically 'reedy,' 'nasal,' and 'piercing' timbre, which cuts through the ensemble.
This instrument is responsible for tuning the orchestra with the note 'A'.
Which instrument is it most likely?

Accepted Answer

Oboe

Answer

Flute

Answer

Clarinet

Answer

Bassoon

Question 2

When transcribing a string quartet, you are trying to distinguish the viola part from the second violin part. Which timbral characteristic is most indicative of the viola?

Accepted Answer

A darker, richer, and more mellow tone.

Answer

A brighter, more brilliant and penetrating tone.

Answer

A very low-pitched, resonant sound an octave below the cello.

Answer

A light, airy sound created by blowing across a lip plate.

Question 3

In a passage for a string instrument, you hear short, sharp, percussive sounds created by plucking the strings with the fingers rather than using the bow. What is the Italian term for this performance technique?

Accepted Answer

Pizzicato

Answer

Arco

Answer

Col legno

Answer

Sul ponticello

Question 4

You are transcribing a jazz piece and hear a trumpet solo with a distinctive thin, buzzy, and metallic 'wah-wah' quality. The sound is very focused and lacks the warmth of the open instrument. Which type of mute is the performer most likely using?

Accepted Answer

Harmon mute

Answer

Straight mute

Answer

Cup mute

Answer

Plunger mute

Question 5

A transcriber notes a sound that begins with a sharp attack followed by a long, shimmering decay. The instrument is capable of playing both melodies and complex chords, and its sound is produced by hammers striking strings when keys are pressed. To which instrument family is this instrument most commonly assigned?

Accepted Answer

Keyboards

Answer

Woodwinds

Answer

Brass

Answer

Percussion

Question 6

Which of the following pairs of instruments, one from the woodwind family and one from the string family, are most likely to be confused aurally in a dense orchestral texture due to their similar roles as the primary soprano voice and their agile, high-register capabilities?

Accepted Answer

Flute and Violin

Answer

Oboe and Cello

Answer

Clarinet and Viola

Answer

Bassoon and Double Bass