Considering timbre, articulation and dynamics

Key learning points

1. Composers often use timbre, articulation and dynamics precisely to create interesting musical effects.
2. The way this is done varies between styles, but there are some common strategies to consider.
3. These include creating contrast between, or within sections, and exploiting the timbres of instruments and registers.
4. You can consider using different types of articulation (e.g. accents, tenuto) and sudden (subito) dynamic changes.
5. Sometimes it is effective to use contrasting dynamics or articulation between different parts playing at the same time.

Keywords

• Register - a particular section of an instrument's range (for example, a specific octave)

• Accent - a symbol (>) indicating that a note should be emphasised

• Tenuto - a type of accent in which a note is given more 'weight' and its full duration

• Subito - an Italian term meaning 'suddenly', usually used to indicate sudden dynamic changes

• Flutter tonguing - a brass and woodwind technique that creates a fluttery 'rrr' effect during a note; it is indicated in a score by the tremolo symbol and 'fl.'

Common misconception