The Brahms clarinet quintet is one of the most popular pieces of music in the clarinet repertoire, but the connection between Brahms and the clarinet goes well beyond this one piece of music. Brahms is recognized as one of the greatest composers for the clarinet, and it was the clarinet that lured this great composer out of early retirement.
Brahms wrote for the clarinet in his earlier orchestral pieces, such as the two Serenades and his Symphonies, but his interest in the clarinet was to be expanded once he met a virtuosic clarinetist named Richard Mülfeld. Beginning his musical career as a violinist, Mülfeld soon rose to be the leading clarinet player of his generation. Becoming friends soon after being introduced, Brahms and Mülfeld would discuss the possibilities of the clarinet, with Mülfeld often playing pieces of the repertoire in his own style for Brahms.
Brahms had decided to retire from composing in the late 1880s, however he was so inspired by Mülfeld's playing that he gave up these plans, and composed the Clarinet Quintet (Op. 115) and Trio (Op. 114) in 1891, as well as two Clarinet Sonatas in F minor and E flat (Op. 120) in 1894.
The Clarinet Quintet was premiered by Mülfeld and the Joachim Quartet on December 12th, 1891. It has been considered a pinnacle of music written for clarinet ever since.
Most clarinetists will incorporate at least one of Brahms pieces for clarinet into their repertoire, with many clarinetists choosing to learn all Brahms wrote for the clarinet.
By Marc Hofkens
Written by Marc Hofkens. Please find hundreds of articles about the clarinet at 1st-clarinet-music
Lots of sheet music for the clarinet to download!
Article Source: EzineArticles
A musical instrument that belongs to the woodwind family, the bassoon is a reed instrument that plays below or within the tenor range. It is made of a reed, a bocal, a butt, a boot, a bass, and a bell.
The bassoon produces a unique tone color and has a thick and reedy timbre. It is an agile instrument that has a wide range and a variety of character. It is part of the concert band, orchestral, and chamber music literature, appearing in the 1800s.
Bassoons are known in various names for different countries: the Italian fagotto, the German fagot, and the French basson.
Material characteristics
The bassoon was traditionally made of maple wood, but modern versions are typically made of polypropylene or ebonite. Today, bassoons are available in either wood or plastic. Wood bassoons are still the material of choice for most experiences and professional bassoonists. They are tuned in a high D pitch and have silver-plated keys. They also come with accessories, such as a seat strap, a crutch, two reeds, neck strap, and drop swabs.
Plastic bassoons, on the other hand, are ideal for use by students and amateurs. They are made of durable polypropylene, making them outlast even the most rigorous practices. They have nickel silver or nickel-plated keys and have spring posts secured by screws and epoxy. They have a closed D hole and plateau key to avoid finger stretching.
Use of bassoons
Bassoons are used in wind ensembles, symphony orchestras, and jazz bands. A modern symphony orchestra usually needs two bassoons, with an additional contrabassoon. Some orchestral works may call for four or more players. The first bassoon player can be called upon to perform solos.
A clarinet is never complete with without a suitable mouthpiece that contributes to its overall timbre and pitch quality. Clarinet mouthpieces are generally attached on the instrument's top end. They can be made of different materials like hard rubber or plastic and they come in varying facing lengths. Using this clarinet mouthpieces guide, you can determine which type of mouthpiece is best for your instrument and your taste.
In this clarinet mouthpiece guide, we shall compare the 2 kinds of materials that make up most of the clarinet mouthpieces made nowadays: plastic and hard rubber.
Plastic: plastic mouthpieces for clarinets are made of durable and solid plastic. They are characterized by their lightweight and thin features, and because of these, you can only use them for a limited period of time only. They can eventually warp over time and can also crack without proper maintenance. However, they are readily available and inexpensive because of mass-production.
Hard rubber: made from heavy-duty rubber, it boasts high durability compared to plastic clarinet mouthpieces. Therefore, you can expect it to withstand cracks, scratches, and other types of damages. It is also more stable for a fuller sound and a longer balanced tone but it demands high maintenance and a high budget for buying.
What to buy
To end this clarinet mouthpiece guide, here are some tips you can use to buy the right one regardless of the material used to make them. For starters, check the mouthpiece bore because this can help determine the quality of sound that you can produce. A small bore produces a focused and compact tone while mellow and dark tones are produced by larger ones. Finally, check the facing length and make sure that it is long for improved flexibility and control. Long-facing mouthpieces also make stronger lows and vigorous sounds.
Important information
A complete clarinet mouthpieces guide is available PickyGuide, the authority in free consumer advice. Access top-ranked, best-reviewed, and most competitively priced clarinet mouthpieces in PickyGuide's recommended products section
Important buying tips
More information on clarinet mouthpieces is available in Picky Guide, one of the fastest growing online magazines giving free consumer advice and product information.
Liszt was born in Raiding, near Sopron, on Oct. 22, 1811. While still a boy, his prodigious talents won the patronage of local Hungarian aristocrats, and his family took him to Vienna in 1821. There he studied piano with Carl Czerny and composition witdh Antonio Salieri. In 1823 Liszt was refused admission to the Paris Conservatory because of a regulation barring foreign students, but he stayed in Paris and took composition lessons from Anton Reicha. Liszt's one-act operetta Don Sanche was performed at the Academie Royale de Musique when he was only 14.
Franz Liszt, portrait by Miklós Barabás, a Hungarian painter, 1847 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
After a number of dazzling European concert tours, Liszt again settled in Paris and became a well-known member of the highest social and intellectual circles. He abandoned a passing thought of becoming a priest to remain a musician, evolving a style of virtuoso piano technique and composing music to serve it. From 1835 to 1839 he lived with the Comtesse Marie d'Agoult, who wrote historical and philosophical works under the name Daniel Stern. They had one son and two daughters. One daughter, Cosima, became the wife first of pianist-conductor Hans von Bulow and later of Richard Wagner.
From 1839 Liszt again traveled throughout Europe, having become-with violinist Niccolo Paganini, with whom he was often compared-the most sought-after of all performing musicians. From 1848 he was kapellmeister to the ducal court at Weimar, where he performed and staged many new musical works-especially those of his friend and future son-in-law, Richard Wagner-and generously helped fellow musicians. When his tenure at Weimar was disturbed, in part by scandal connecting his name with that of Princess Karoline Sayn-Wittgenstein, he gave up piano playing almost completely to devote himself to composition and teaching. From 1859 to 1870 he lived chiefly in Rome, where Pope Pius IX in 1866 made him an abbe.
In 1870 Liszt returned to Weimar to conduct the music festival honoring the centennial of Beethoven's birth. In 1875 he accepted the presidency of the Hungarian Academy of Music at Budapest. His later years were spent in Weimar, Rome, and Budapest and were occupied largely with composition and with numerous pupils and hangers-on. He died in Bayreuth, Bavaria, on July 31, 1886, while attending a Wagner festival.
Works
Liszt's compositions comprise original works and transcriptions of other composers' music. His most popular original compositions are the 20 Hungarian Rhapsodies, which are in part Gypsy rather than truly Hungarian. Although written for the piano, many of the rhapsodies have been orchestrated.
Notable among Liszt's piano works are numerous Etudes; three Liebestraume (originally composed as songs); the Sonata in B Minor; three albums of short pieces called Annees de pelerinages; three Valses oubliees; and the Legends, entitled St. Francois d'Assise predicant aux oiseaux and St. Francois de Paul marchant sur les flots. His organ music includes the Fantasy and Fugue on B-A-C-H (1855) and Variations on Bach's Weinen, Klagen (1862). For solo voices, chorus, and orchestra in varying combinations, Liszt composed Hungaria, Die Legende von der Heiligen Elisabeth, psalms, several Masses, and over 60 songs.
Liszt wrote several books on musical subjects, the best known of which are Des Bohemiens et de leur musique en Hongrie (1859; Eng. tr., The Gipsy in Music), and the partly ghostwritten Frederic Chopin (1852).
Evaluation
Although the artistic quality of much of Liszt's enormous body of compositions remains the subject of argument, his importance is unquestioned in the development of modern piano technique; in the introduction into music of the Mephistophelian element of eerie, mischievous, and elusive tempi called diablerie; in the evolution of harmony and of musical forms; and in the formation of the high romantic musical idioms of the era. He shared with Frederic Chopin and Robert Schumann domination over the composition of specifically pianistic music, inventing many techniques directly related to the keyboard. He developed for orchestra the single-movement, semiprogrammatic form that he called symphonic poem, thus assisting other composers in solving problems raised by music inspired by extramusical materials.
Liszt's harmonic innovations were of prime importance as leading away from the Viennese rococo-classic style of the 18th century to the Romanticism of the 19th and the breakdown of tonality in the 20th century. He prefigured not only the whole-tone scale but also both atonality and polytonality. With Wagner he incarnated and preached the "music of the future" and advocated an almost religiously intended synthesis of the arts. Liszt left scarcely an established musical usage unquestioned or unchanged.
There are some religious taboos when it comes to dance other than religious reasons why on earth would anyone not want to experience the mind and body renewing energy that results from dancing? Truthfully, not all dancing involves the wearing of pink tutus and many forms of dance are quite masculine in nature so preserving masculinity cannot in any way be an adequate excuse for not dancing.
Ballroom dance entertain gentle icon symbol (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
When it comes to dance there are many interesting and amazing styles of dance that span the globe. From the weapon dances of old (which are a perfect display of virility and masculinity though not widely practiced today other than in ceremonial dance) to the grace and beauty of ballet or ballroom dancing there is almost certain to be some form of dance that should appeal to almost anyone on the planet.
Native Americans had an excellent attitude and ideals when it comes to dancing. They danced for almost any reason and let the beat of the drum serve as their guiding spirit. Native Americans danced for worship, for rain, for joy, for grief, and to prepare for war. Their dances were heartfelt and as much a part of their individual natures as it was their tribal identities. Dancing was an essential part of their culture and heritage and is still passed on today though to a much smaller degree.
While some religions discourage dance, others embrace dance as a form of worship and commitment to their deities. Some encourage dance as an expression of praise. Others dance for the joy of the blessings and bounty of their gods or in submission to their gods. Regardless the fact remains that dance plays a vital role in many of the world's religions. If you are a believer, I can think of few better reasons to dance than to express your beliefs in a physical form.
Some people dance simply because they like music and enjoy watching other people dance. There are all kinds of fun dancing styles that can be practiced alone, as a couple, or as a part of a much larger group. In the United States line dancing and square dancing are excellent ways to dance as part of a larger group as well as many types of competitive dancing and as part of a ballet company or other type of competitive or professional dance company. Couples dancing to some degree includes square dancing but other forms of dance such as ballroom dancing as well. Singles dancing is pretty much reserved to competitive dancing and often requires years of practice in order to perfect. Some people devote their lives to this sort of dancing and still never manage to make their mark on the competitive dancing circuit.
Dancing for fitness is another wave that seems to be taking the world by storm. There are many ways that this can be done and it is quite effective among those who would otherwise not exercise at all as well as those who simply love to dance. It is getting out of your seat and moving around to the music. Find a nice driving beat, close the curtains, and dance until you can no longer breath. It's a great way to get that much needed exercise while having fun and not even realizing that you are (gasp) exercising. Mind over matter is a great thing. If it doesn't feel like exercise then there is no reason for your body, mind, or spirit to protest, right?
Dancing is becoming somewhat of a novelty sport around the USA and around the world. Reality television shows such as "Dancing with Stars" and movies such as the one with Richard Gere-Shall We Dance have made ballroom dancing popular and attractive to the average person who would have never considered this form of dance before. With so many wonderful reasons for a person to dance why on earth wouldn't you want to dance?
When visiting Jamaica’s beautiful Ocho Rios make sure you take some time out of your vacationing, water sporting, fun in the sun, and exciting nightlife partying to visit the Bob Marley Nine Mile, the community that helped shape the life and career of one of the most famous musicians of all time. Even if you’re not a particular fan of the man’s music, you’ll get a real sense of what he was about.
Many Bob Marley fans come to Ocho Rios specifically for this unparalleled experience. The quaint village of Nine Mile is nestled high in magnificent mountains of St. Ann, and serves not only as the birthplace of the legendary Reggae King (1945), but also where he was laid to rest in 1981. Fans of Marley have described the Nine Mile experience as one that allowed them to get more in touch with the musician’s roots, to understand the depths of his lyrics, and to come away from it feeling a renewed sense of faith about what’s most important in life.
Be sure to check out the small family house—where the Bob Marley legend all began. Some of Marley’s family are still there, most notably his mother (“Mother B”) and Uncle Lloyd. The small home is littered with photos of the renowned late musician, and you will likely hear stories of Marley’s childhood and early musical career from his mother and/or uncle, as well as the guide. You should also visit Mount Zion Rock (the famous Bob Marley meditation spot), the Fireside, where he cooked many meals, and finally, the mausoleum, the King of Reggae’s final resting place.
If you’re not quite sure how to go about touring through the Bob Marley community, try a Nine Mile guided tour complete with an authentic Rastafarian guide (in authentic Rastafarian garb, no less!) who will take you through the village from one important element to the next, so you don’t miss anything and so you can soak in the entire experience from beginning to end.
The only known photograph of Frédéric Chopin, often incorrectly described as a daguerreotype Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Music in XIX century (1825-1900)
Music in this century belonged to the romantic era music. The cultivation of music in this period was marked by the expression, timbre, and melodies that departed from the works of Beethoven. Composers of this time worked on the composition based on personal experience and sense of nationalism. Poetry could also be one of "raw materials" of the composition making.
In this period, the composer were said to reach a level of virtuoso, meaning a level that indicated that a composer was very skilled in playing musical instruments. Composer has already considered the aspects of the sound and the effects that were generated by the techniques of playing instrument.
In this time, the revolutionary changes happened. The changes were made by Richard Wagner. He combined the elements of music, poetry, and scenarios by using leitmotif technique, namely the technique of using motif or musical theme on both character and part of opera story.
The instruments used in this period were much more diverse. Melody grew longer, more dramatic and emotional. Tempo was also more extreme in which mostly used tempo rubato (freedom).
The famous composers in this time were Franz Schubert, Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, Felix Mendelssohn, Frederic Chopin, Robert Schumann, Franz Liszt, Giuseppe Verdi, Johannes Brahms, Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky, and Richard Strauss.
Photograph of Claude Debussy (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Music in XX century (1900s)
Around 1900, there was a reaction against romantic music. This reaction was expressed in the group of impressionism that was pioneered by Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel. Debussy was "in rebellion" with the romantic music in German by using the melody and harmony which had a new quality system based on whole-tone scales (the interval scale was 1).
Music of this century was called impressionist era. There was atonal expressionism music, namely music without the basic tone but full of expression. The melody movement flew with strange and expressive rhythmic. Many people consider it like notes without meaning.
In this time, all forms and types of noise were allowed. Rhythmic could be very complex and sounded strange but expressive. In addition, composition could vary widely because it was the result of improvisation and change.
The composers of this era were Maurice Ravel, Claude Debussy, Arnold Schoenberg, Scott Joplin, and Charles Ives.
Contemporary Music
The birth of record and radio media created the new markets for classical music and romantic music. Music of this period was known as the music of contemporary era. The typical music of this era was similar to the impressionist era. Its composers were Bela Bartok, Zoltan Kodaly, Olivier Messiaen, Luigi Dallapicolla, and Luciano Berio.
Music in XVIII century (1600-1825)
There were two times in this century. The first era was called the baroque era. This era was around 1600 to 1750. Baroque was the beginning of modern music because it has experienced the revolution from both theory and technique of its cultivating.
The key characteristics of this era included the merger of major and minor scales, many dissonan tones, the development of the orchestra, and the regular structures, but monotony. They also included the use of violin, harpsichord, organ, and flute.
Montage of great classical music composers - from left to right: first row - Antonio Vivaldi, Johann Sebastian Bach, Georg Friedrich Händel, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven; second row - Gioachino Rossini, Felix Mendelssohn, Frédéric Chopin, Richard Wagner, Giuseppe Verdi; third row - Johann Strauss II, Johannes Brahms, Georges Bizet, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Antonín Dvořák; forth row - Edvard Grieg, Edward Elgar, Sergei Rachmaninoff, George Gershwin, Aram Khachaturian (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
In this era, people also knew basso continuo technique, namely the bass accompaniment that brought harmony. There was repetition in the structure of music.
Composers who lived in this era were Johann Sebastian Bach, Georg Friedrich Handel, Antonio Vivaldi, Claudio Monteverdi, and Henry Purcell.
The second era was called the classical era. Sonatas and chamber music grew with more dynamic melodies. All of the classical era rules were applied intelligently by the composers.
The key characteristics of this era were the development of musical harmony, a very strong element of the dynamics that colored the composition, and a dynamic atmosphere that was expressed through the tempo, melody, and harmony. In this era, people also knew the pattern of 'question and answer'. Piano, with its ability to create dynamic, became a very important instrument.
The popular composers in this era were Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Joseph Haydn, and John Gay.
Transition period of Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
This period represented the transition time from classical music to romantic music that was initiated by Beethoven. He brought a dynamic element by using wider harmonies and more emotional techniques of music cultivating.
This period was called as transitional because there were some principles of classical era that were violated by Beethoven. For example: the use of the intro was considered to be the outside of the classical composition theory. However, it was precisely a characteristic of romantic music. Through his works, Beethoven influenced the transition of classical to romantic music greatly.
The development of the classical music in the world is surely affected by the development of Western music. The development of Western music itself is identical with the development of instruments used.
Starting from the medieval times until today, music has undergone huge changes. Changes in the music will continue to run over time where the previous work affects the work in the next era. At least, the development of music can be classified into eight periods.
Music in the middle ages (450-1450)
The history of Western music development began from the religious or liturgical music. The development of music in this time belonged to the ancient time. This music has been around since the Greeks and Hebrews.
Actually, this music was liturgical prayers that were released, so this music was strongly influenced by the activities of the church. The popular music in this time was Gregorian. In this time, the instrument has not been found yet.
Music at the beginning of this century was monophonic. It was dominated by a single voice. Composition was sung without the pressure and relied on improvisation. In the XI century, the existence of counterpoint technique was known, namely the use of harmonization with the movement of the opposite tunes with original melodies (inversion).
The popular composers in this century were Hildegard von Bingen, Moniot d'Arras, and Guillaume de Machaut.
Music in this century was classified into the Renaissance. It was still influenced by the church, but had to use instruments like the organ, flute, and harpsichord. The movement of the melody used kontrapung techniques, namely the movement of several melodic lines at once.
The existence of Madrigal (secular music that was sung without accompaniment), motet, Missa, fantasia, toccatta, and Fugue was also known. This century was called as a renaissance since it emerged as the development of knowledge and art.
Some characteristics of music in this century were polyphonic. In this era, people began to recognize the existence of four-voice choir that was divided into 3 types of composition. Those types were sacred (church), secular (non-ecclesiastical), and instrumental. The division of the melodic phrases was already balanced, while the vocal form was attached to the structure of the text or lyrics.
The composers in this era were Giovanni Gabrieli, Giovanni Perluigi, Orlando Lassus, Guillaume, and Du Fay.
Music in XVII century
Music in this century was influenced by opera and Oratorio. Opera was a musical drama which partly or wholly sung with orchestral accompaniment or instrumental music, while Oratorio referred to the musical drama without a script.
In Oratorio, there was usually a sacred element. Opera was originally pioneered in the Florentine Academy, Italy. Furthermore, the opera was known in France, Germany, and England. The popular composers in this time were Jocopo Peri and Claudio Monteverdi.
Woodwinds (clarinet, oboe, bassoon, etc.) are different from piano in that they require wind (created by the player) to create a tone (using a reed or reeds to create the vibrations needed for sound). In addition to using different techniques to make the reeds vibrate in different ways, the player also changes the tone (creates the notes) by pressing and releasing (using their fingers) keys that are attached along the length of the instrument, or by covering up, then opening, various holes on the instrument.
Saxophones are not considered woodwinds by some as they are made of brass. However, a saxophone is played very much in the same way as most woodwinds. Flutes and piccolos, though made of metal, are often thought of as part of the woodwind family.
As for piano, the type of wood used to make the instrument has a great effect on the quality of sound produced. Certain woods resonate better than others and thus create a better tone. In fact, many lower-priced clarinets are made of plastic and although they provide a serviceable tone, it is not the rich, "wooden" tone coveted by professionals.
Woodwinds are most often found in orchestras and smaller ensembles (although the clarinet can be found in Dixieland or jazz groups). Instruments like the English horn can be found in popular music, while the bassoon may only be found in traditional and ensemble music. There are, however, composers and musicians who explore the use of these instruments in esoteric and unconventional ways. One way to think of the woodwind family is the various instruments mimicking (representing) the human voice such as a clarinet for an alto singer, or a bassoon for a baritone singer. Many modern composer look at this group of instruments in exactly that way.
Woodwinds are tuned by adjusting their length. This is done by repositioning single components of the instrument. The musician often has to twist different sections of the instrument to make these adjustments. The longer the instrument becomes, the lower in pitch a particular note. The intonation of a woodwind is ultimately the responsibility of the player and techniques must be learned to keep the instrument in tune as it is played.
The challenge for the pianist is the fact the some woodwinds play in a different key (a Bb clarinet for example). In order for the two players to play together and communicate, both have to be aware of this and be able to transpose the two parts. For example, when the Bb clarinet plays the note Bb, that note is actually the note C on piano.
Most pianists are used to reading music in a number of different octaves and this is very important when playing with woodwinds because as a group, the cover a wide range of tones. The piano is often chosen as the accompanying instrument of a solo woodwind player or a small ensemble of woodwind instruments. One reason for this is the pianist can easily rehearse each instrument, or easily and accurately play the chords created by the ensemble.
By Duane Shinn
Duane Shinn is the author of a free newsletter on piano chords & chord progressions available at "Woodwinds"
The beginning career of jazz music legend Art Blakey was amazing. He took piano lessons at school. When he was in the seventh grade he played music full-time and was leading a popular band. Not too long after, he started playing drums in the style of such players as Ray Bauduc, Chick Webb and Sid Catlett. He taught himself how to play.
He played with Mary Lou Williams at Kelly's Stable in 1942. Next, with Fletcher Henderson for the next two years, and he toured with. Art then went to Boston to lead a big band, then joined Billy Eckstine's band in St. Louis. Art stayed with that band from 1944-1947.
Art was considered to be among jazz music's finest musicians such as Fats Navarro, Miles Davis and Dexter Gordon. In 1947 when Eckstine's band broke up, Art started the Seventeen Messengers. He would go on to have several other groups with this same name. He then went to Africa to learn all about Islamic people for over a year. By the 1950's he performed with Clifford Brown, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker and Horace Silver.
After they performed together many times, he started another group with Horace which included Kenny Dorham, Hank Mobley with the name Jazz Messengers. Horace left a year later. He was the known leader of the band. The Jazz Messengers played hard-bop jazz music. The roots of which were blues music. Hard bop is a mixture of bebop with gospel and soul music. An example of this is his album Moanin' recorded on Blue Note Records in 1958. They fought hard to keep black people interested in jazz, when the ballroom jazz music disappeared. Many young musicians during the years have been influenced by this style. Jazz musicians such as Keith Jarrett, JoAnne Brackcen, Woody Shaw , Donald Byrd, Delfeayo, Branford and Wynton Marsalis.
In 1971 to 1972, Art world toured with the biggest names in jazz music such as Kai Winding, Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk. He also performed a lot at the Newport Jazz Festival. The best performance was when he was in a battling performance with Buddy Rich, Max Roach and Elvin Jones in 1974. Art continued to tour nonstop with help from Donald Harrison and Terence Blanchard, along with younger musicians such as Benny Green.
Art never thought of his music as similar to African style, although he did use some of their techniques such as using his elbow on the tom-tom to alter pitch. His trademark, the forced closing of the hi-hat on each second and fourth beat was created in 1950-1951, which many jazz musicians copied.
A major jazz musician and innovative in his drum style, he was unique and performed with power. The way he played was loud and aggressive. The jazz critics basically ignored what he did in the 1960's. American audiences left him behind in the 1970's when rock music took over the scene.
He always made time for young jazz musicians, listening to them, and helping them with their jazz music careers.
Each synthesizer is classified according to the method of sound creation. Synthesizers that use a mixture of all these three are also available in modern market. These types are called hybrid synthesizers. Modern synthesizers vary significantly in their working method, potential, dimension and outlook. In the majority of the synthesizers the output is required to be passed through the speaker, or an external amplifier and loudspeakers to convert it into sound.
Format and Types of Synthesizers Designs.
Analog Soft Synths:
When a harmonically rich waveform (Saw, Rectangle, Square, and Triangle) is generated by an oscillator, then the filters or cuts away part of the sound is outputted in a thorough fashion with filters and envelopes. This is the mechanism of Soft Synths.
FM Synths:
Frequency Modulation works in a way where instead of subtracting from a large waveform, the synthesis is started by using several Sine Waves (operators and carriers) at user selectable frequencies and then patched them in various ways to come up with tones.
Apart from these there are others like:
Wavetable and Linear Algorithmic Synths
Sample Playback Soft Synths
Hybrid Physical Modeling Soft Synths
Hybrid and Abstract Synths
Emulator is one common type. There used to be quite a variety but manufacturers have stopped making them in a lot. Purchasing old and second hand stuff is a viable option as the unused first hand products can be expensive and unpredictable. The emulation or the copy exact types offer having graphics that model the exact user interface of controls. Popular synthesizers, for example, the Minimoog and Yamaha DX 7 have emulators.
Some software synthesizers are more of sample based. Computers, generally, have fewer restrictions on its memory or RAM than dedicated hardware synthesizers. Some of these sample based synthesizers come with sample libraries, which can weight up to GBs or giga bytes. Some of these are exclusively drafted to imitate real world instruments such as pianos. Many sample libraries are available in a Windows, IBM common format like WAV or Waveform audio format files, and can be worked with almost any sampler based softsynth.
The newer and recent versions of softsynths are designed to be compatible with technology such as Virtual Studio Technology (VST), which allow other music programs to interface with the softsynth. Plug in technologies include DXi, VST, Motu Audio System (MAS), Real Time AudioSuite (RTAS), Audio Units (AU).
Common Types of Synthesizers Designs
Most of the professional software synthesizers come with a high price tag, but given the works they can put up in real time or 1.5x real time with good hardware. These prices can be termed justified. Reality(TM) Professional Music Synthesis Software, VirSyn Software Synthesizer, Reaktor, Generator are to name a few mid range Software Synthesizers. However some free to try and freeware are out there also. Adder, Crusher X Live 3.42, Drums, Digitonix Element, Ethereal, FlexiMusic Composer, FlexiMusic Generator, SequBeat, Space Station Pro are also there. There are a number of Demos or Demonstration programs available in the market. The manufacturers give the users chance to get acquainted with the programs before they try.
Victor Epand is an expert consultant for guitars, drums, and synthesizers.
In order to correctly play the violin you will need to know what all the parts are. In this article I will teach you the names of the major ones from the top of the violin to the bottom (not in the order of the picture).
Scroll - This is the decorative part located at the very top of the violin they are mostly hand carved.
Tuning pegs - These are used to tune the violin, by adjusting them up or down you can tune your violin.
The Nut - This supports the strings and keeps them away from the fret board.
Fingerboard - This is the strip of wood on the neck of the violin where the strings are this is also the area where you play or finger the notes.
The Strings - The violin has four strings tuned a fifth apart from thickest to thinnest they are G, D, A and E.
The Bridge - This holds the strings in place it is essential as its placement affect the quality of the sound produced by the violin.
F Holes - These are on either side of the bridge and allow the sound of the vibrating strings to resonate. They are called f holes because they are shaped like an f in italics. Altering the F hole can affect the sound of the violin.
Tail piece - This is the part that anchors the strings to the violin.
Chin Rest - This helps the violinist hold the instrument in place while playing the violinist can use their chin to hold the violin freeing up their hands.
Eric B. Hill is an professional violin player and teacher with over 20 years experience.
It is widely accepted that the flugelhorn was derived from the bugle design by Michael Saurle in the early 1800's. Flugelhorns were named from the German word Flügel which means wing or flank in English. In the beginning, flugelhorn was primarily used on the battlefield to organize the flanks in an army.
Flugelhorns are a member of the horn family and a brass instrument that resemble trumpets but with a wider bore. The appearance of the flugelhorn has also been compared to a cornet, although the trumpet is probably a closer comparison. The flugelhorn traditionally has three valves and uses the same piston valve system of other brass instruments. Four valve and rotary valve version exist but they are not the norm. Some modern flugelhorns include a fourth valve as this is becoming more popular. Today the flugelhorn is used in jazz, brass band, and popular music applications. The tone is considered to be fat and mellow compared to a trumpet. The actual sound probably falls somewhere in between a trumpet and a horn.
Choosing a Flugelhorn
Resources about the flugel horn are hard to find as this is a truly unique brass instrument. If you have a local music instrument store that happens to sell flugelhorns you are lucky and probably want to try one out there. For most people, the best option for locating a flugelhorn will be on the internet. Flugel horns are expensive compared to other brass instruments but you will find that they are worth the price for the true brass instrument player due to the unique sound and playing qualities. It is possible to find good deals on the flugelhorn if you use the proper resources on the Web.
Music has always been an inevitable part of human life and many of you may love to hear good music or play music for your own satisfaction and contentment. There are different types of music instruments such as saxophones, trumpets, guitar, piano that are used by people to fulfill their music love. Of these saxophones is still the most rare and appreciable music instrument by the people.
Saxophone was invented by Adolph Sax in the 1840's and is not really an instrument but a group of instruments. Sax has invented about fourteen saxophones out of which eight still exists. However, only four of them are commonly available - the soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones. Out of these, the alto saxophone is most commonly found which most people think of.
Other saxophone that still exists include E-flat soprano, B-flat soprano, E-flat alto, true tone alto, B-flat tenor, E-flat baritone, B-flat Bass and contrabass. The early saxophones were made in F and C and not E-flat and B-flat whereas others were invented but were possibly too radical to remain in the creation.
The soprano saxophone is one of the straight saxophones in the whole family because it looks like a clarinet but it is made up of brass. It can be classified as a woodwind as it is a single reed instrument. The alto saxophone is curved around and has one bend in its neck whereas the tenor has a more curved neck and is larger. The baritone's neck is a full circle and is the largest of all the saxophones. Its case is around four feet long and when it is played, it doubles the brass section.
The soprano saxophone is not a common in most of the band but it is used sometimes and when it is played, it plays a part similar to a clarinet or even as another clarinet. It has a higher sound and often doubles the higher woodwind parts.
Olivia Andrews, writer of music-future.com is a freelance journalist and has written many reviews on subjects such as finance, education, health, entertainment, music, gifts, crafts, travel, apparels and mobile phones.
Here are some tips for the solo wind musician. If you play, woodwinds, brass, strings, or any single line instrument. You can make a substantial amount of money using your play-a-long library.That's right!...Your play-a-long library can be a goldmind of income.
I know it works because I've done it. If I can do it, anybody should be able to do it. Here's the plan.
First: You have all of these wonderful play-a-longs that you use to practice with. You have spent many, many hours learning these songs, and perfecting your talent. A lot of these play-a-longs are really great accompaniment, and some are recorded by professional musicians.
Well!...Why not put together a nice sounding PA, or sound system, (what ever you can afford)use all of those wonderful play-a-longs you've had for years, put some song sets together, go out and target all the venues in your area that would be great for a solo musician as yourself to perform in, and make some easy money. Sound crazy?...think again, you will be surprised to find out just how many places want live entertainment, but dont have the room, or the budget to hire a full band.
Here's an example from my real experiences. I have played a restaurant in early afternoon, a coffee shop after work hours, and played with my regular band that night. The result,...Three times the income that I would have normally made that day.
I charge $50-$100 for small venues, $100-$200 for larger establishments, and parties, $200 and up for high dollar fundtions. You have to be the judge as to how much you need to charge per gig. Also keep in mind your expenses.
Oh!...I forgot to mention the tips. That's extra bravy , or icing on the cake.
So go ahead!...Make that money! Put those old dusty play-a-longs to work.
Since I play mostly jazz, I use this source for my play-a-longs:
http://www.jajazz.com
THE SOLO MUSICIANS TOOLBOX
If you are a solo musician, there are tools that you should know about, and have in your tool box. It is best to be prepared for whatever comes your way in the form of gigs, and musical opportunities. In this article I will go over some of the general things in the form of gear, hardware, and software, that will give you an edge in this competetive, and demanding world. Keep in mind that these are all suggestions, and it depends on your personal circumstances as to what you are, and are not able to obtain.
I will asume that you already have the musical instrument of your choice, and that you have already spent the thousands of hours that it takes to perfect your talent. There is no way around it!...You get out of it what you put into it. If you spend the time to perfect your talent, you will definatly reap the benefits.
So,...Lets get started. I will list all of the items that I have in mind for this article, and where to obtain them. In some cases, a brief discription on what to do with them.
1. PA equipment: You will need some kind of PA equipment, preferably something small and compact, but of efficient sound quality
2. Microphone: You will need a microphone for the times when you are showing off that great voice of yours. You will also need a microphone stand.
3. Speaker Stands: I recommend speaker stands for your speakers, to raise your speakers up above peoples heads when playing in restaurants, and coffee shops, ect... You dont want to drive people away, or blow anybodys ear drum.
4. Promo Stand: You will need a promo stand that you can use to place your promo material, your CD's, and any of your contact material for people to see, purchase, and take as they come, and go. This can be something that is portable, small and compact, but looks presentable.
5. Tip Jar: I recommend a tip jar, something that, again, looks presentable.
6. Play-a-Long Library: I recommend a play-a-long library for all musicians, especially for solo musicians. As I have stated in my previous article, "Tips for the solo musician", you can make a living just playing solo gigs, and targeting small establishments.
7. CD, or, Cassette player: You should have a CD, or cassette player with a pitch control to play your play-a-longs through your PA.
8. Computer: If at all possible, you should have a powerful enough computer to record your own CD's. You can also make your own Play-a-longs with your own style of music.
9. Recording Software: You will need some kind of recording software for your computer. I recommend, Cakewalk.
10. Soundcard: You will need, in some cases, a sound card for your computer. I recommend, Sound Blaster Live.
11. Keyboard: I think all musicians should have some kind of keyboard. There are hundreds to choose from, according to your budget.
12. CD Burning Software: You should have some kind of CD burning software. Again, there are hundreds of choices. Microsoft Media Player is free.
13. Business Card Software: I recommend some kind of business card software for your computer. "Parabim Business Card Builder", is a very efficient one.
14. Musicians Website: Every musician should have a website. I recommend, "Host Baby", everything you need in a musicians website is here.
15. Internet Promotion Program: A program to help promote your music, and yourself on the internet. I recommend, "Musicians Power Promotion System".
These are just some of the things that will help you on your quest to be a successful solo musician. One thing to remember is,...Always Act...Look...and Dress proffessionally. That first impression can make, or break you.
Just click on the links provided in this article where indicated, and you will be taken to the particular website, were you can find the item.
