Developed in collaboration with There are three string instruments played by the four members of the Quapaw Quartet: Two violins, one viola, and one cello. [See short examples of all five instruments on YouTube played by college students at the University of Texas: String instruments of the orchestra www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxFNHeXKmrY May 22, 2011.] The violin, sometimes called the fiddle, is the smallest of the instruments in the string quartet. It is played by resting the back of the instrument on the left shoulder, placing one’s chin on the chinrest, and holding the neck, or the skinnier part, of the violin in the left hand. Violins play the highest notes because its strings are the shortest and thinnest of all string instruments. The viola is the medium-sized instrument in the string quartet and plays lower notes than the violin. This is because its strings are longer and thicker than those on the violin. It is held the same way as a violin and looks exactly like a violin except for that fact that it is slightly larger. The cello (also called the violincello) is the largest instrument in the string quartet and plays the lowest notes. Cellos have a pin at the bottom so they may be played by standing them up on their ends without damaging them. This pin is called an endpin. A player holds a cello by placing it between his or her legs while holding the neck in the left hand. Articulations (ways of playing the same note, but making different sounds) There are many different ways (or techniques) to play a string instrument. These techniques have Italian names because Italian composers were first to experiment and create these sounds. You can play the instrument with a bow or you can pluck the strings (like a guitar), called pizzicato. Other articulation styles are legato and staccato. Legato means “connected” in Italian or like a smooth melody. It tells a musician to play the music without space between the notes and several notes are played in one draw of the bow. Staccato in Italian means “separated” so there is a tiny break in sound between the notes. Quapaw Quartet Presents Meet the String Family TUNING PEGS TUNING PEGS VIOLIN: EADG VIOLA: ADGC CELLO: ADGC octave
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Quapaw Quartet Presents Meet the String Family · 2019. 8. 27. · Harm Meet the String Family Student Journal Listening for Melody and Harmony Melody and harmony are the two of the
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Developed in collaboration with
There are three string instruments played by the four members of the Quapaw Quartet: Two
violins, one viola, and one cello. [See short examples of all five instruments on YouTube played by
college students at the University of Texas: String instruments of the orchestra
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxFNHeXKmrY May 22, 2011.]
The violin, sometimes called
the fiddle, is the smallest of
the instruments in the string
quartet. It is played by resting
the back of the instrument on
the left shoulder, placing one’s
chin on the chinrest, and
holding the neck, or the
skinnier part, of the violin in
the left hand. Violins play the
highest notes because its
strings are the shortest and
thinnest of all string
instruments.
The viola is the medium-sized instrument in the string quartet and plays lower notes than the
violin. This is because its strings are longer and thicker than those on the violin. It is held the
same way as a violin and looks exactly like a violin except for that fact that it is slightly larger.
The cello (also called the violincello) is the largest instrument in the string quartet and plays
the lowest notes. Cellos have a pin at the bottom so they may be played by standing them up on
their ends without damaging them. This pin is called an endpin. A player holds a cello by placing
it between his or her legs while holding the neck in the left hand.
Articulations (ways of playing the same note, but making different sounds) There are many
different ways (or techniques) to play a string instrument. These techniques have Italian names
because Italian composers were first to experiment and create these sounds. You can play the
instrument with a bow or you can pluck the strings (like a guitar), called pizzicato.
Other articulation styles are legato and staccato. Legato means “connected” in Italian or like a
smooth melody. It tells a musician to play the music without space between the notes and
several notes are played in one draw of the bow. Staccato in Italian means “separated” so there
Melody and harmony are the two of the most important elements in any music
composition. During this performance, you will hear the members of the Quapaw String
Quartet take turns playing the melody and harmony. Much of the time the melody will be
played by the musician playing the first violin part which is usually contains the highest
notes.
Melody
A melody is what we hear as the most important part of a composition and is often
referred to as the tune. When a melody played is by all performers at the same time,
that is called playing in unison.
Harmony
Harmony is the combination of musical notes played along with
the melody to support it. Sometimes the harmony can be a
second melody or the same melody starting later such as in a
round like “Row Row Row Your Boat.”
Harmony can also be chords played along with the melody,
such as when a guitar plays chords while a singer sings the
melody.
Vocabulary
child prodigy – a person who is able to perform at a
very advanced level at a young age
classical style – a set of common practices for writing
music that became popular in Europe in the 1700’s
and have been used as guidelines by many
composers since.
composer – a person who writes music
dynamics (in music) – how loud or soft the music is
harmony - a musical term for notes used in a musical
piece that provide background for the melody
dynamics (in music) – how loud or soft the music is
harmony - a musical term for notes used in a
musical piece that provide background for the
melody melody – a long passage of music
forming a theme that you can recognize as in a
song
nobility – members of royal families
texture (in music) - the way the melody, rhythm
and harmony combine in a composition
These materials have been prepared by Arkansas Learning Through The Arts in partnership with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. These materials are copyrighted but may be used and copied for non-commercial and educational purposes.