Instrumental idiom
Encyclopedia
In music
, an instrumental idiom refers to writing, parts
, and performance
, those being idiom
atic or non-idiomatic depending on how well each is suited to the specific instrument intended, in terms of both ease of playing and quality of music.
For example, the trombone
is played with a slide, making it one of the few wind instruments capable of glissando
or sliding. However, pitches are different harmonics
from the harmonic series
on different slide positions. Thus, in the lower range, significant movement of the slide is required between positions, but for higher notes the player need only use the first four positions of the slide since the partials are closer together, allowing higher notes to be played in alternate positions. As an example, F4 (at the bottom of the treble clef) may be played in first, fourth or sixth position on a standard B trombone.
There are cross-instrument guidelines. For example, it is difficult to begin playing very quietly in the upper or lower range
of an instrument, (it taking more energy to produce sound) with tone quality and/or intonation often suffering. Use of extended technique
s and writing in or beyond the highest or lowest range is not recommended, especially for student ensembles, unless writing for a specific performer.
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
, an instrumental idiom refers to writing, parts
Part (music)
1) A part is a strand or melody of music played by an individual instrument or voice within a larger work. Parts may be referred to as an outer part or an inner part . Part-writing is the composition of parts in consideration of harmony and counterpoint...
, and performance
Musical performance
Musical performance may refer to:* Concert* Performance* Recital* Audition: a performance in front of a panel of judges* Concerto: a virtuoso solo work * Musical technique...
, those being idiom
Idiom
Idiom is an expression, word, or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is comprehended in regard to a common use of that expression that is separate from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made...
atic or non-idiomatic depending on how well each is suited to the specific instrument intended, in terms of both ease of playing and quality of music.
For example, the trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
is played with a slide, making it one of the few wind instruments capable of glissando
Glissando
In music, a glissando is a glide from one pitch to another. It is an Italianized musical term derived from the French glisser, to glide. In some contexts it is distinguished from the continuous portamento...
or sliding. However, pitches are different harmonics
Harmonic
A harmonic of a wave is a component frequency of the signal that is an integer multiple of the fundamental frequency, i.e. if the fundamental frequency is f, the harmonics have frequencies 2f, 3f, 4f, . . . etc. The harmonics have the property that they are all periodic at the fundamental...
from the harmonic series
Harmonic series
Harmonic series may refer to either of two related concepts:*Harmonic series *Harmonic series...
on different slide positions. Thus, in the lower range, significant movement of the slide is required between positions, but for higher notes the player need only use the first four positions of the slide since the partials are closer together, allowing higher notes to be played in alternate positions. As an example, F4 (at the bottom of the treble clef) may be played in first, fourth or sixth position on a standard B trombone.
There are cross-instrument guidelines. For example, it is difficult to begin playing very quietly in the upper or lower range
Range (music)
In music, the range of a musical instrument is the distance from the lowest to the highest pitch it can play. For a singing voice, the equivalent is vocal range...
of an instrument, (it taking more energy to produce sound) with tone quality and/or intonation often suffering. Use of extended technique
Extended technique
Extended techniques are performance techniques used in music to describe unconventional, unorthodox, or non-traditional techniques of singing, or of playing musical instruments to obtain unusual sounds or instrumental timbres....
s and writing in or beyond the highest or lowest range is not recommended, especially for student ensembles, unless writing for a specific performer.