Instrumentation (music)
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| - | '''Pop music''', often called simply '''pop''', is a common type of [[popular music]] (distinguished from [[classical music|classical]] or [[art music]] and from [[folk music]]. The term, which was coined as a genre in [[1954]], does not refer specifically to a single [[genre (music)|genre]] or sound, and its meaning is different depending on the time and place. Within popular music, "pop music" is often distinguished from other subgenres by stylistic traits such as a [[dance]]able [[rhythm]] or [[beat (music)|beat]], simple [[melody|melodies]] and a repeating [[song structure (popular music)|structure]]. Pop [[song]] [[lyrics]] are often emotional, [[love song|relating to love]]. | + | In [[music]], '''instrumentation''' refers to the particular combination of [[musical instrument]]s employed in a composition, and to the properties of those instruments individually. Instrumentation is sometimes used as a synonym for [[orchestration]], which more properly refers to an [[orchestrator]]'s, [[composer]]'s or [[arrangement|arranger]]'s craft of employing instruments in varying combinations. |
| - | ==Style== | + | ==Instrumental properties== |
| - | The standard format of pop music is the [[song]], customarily less than five minutes in duration, with [[Instrumentation (music)|instrumentation]] that can range from an orchestra to a lone singer. Pop songs are generally marked by a consistent and noticeable [[Rhythm|rhythmic element]], a [[Mainstream (terminology)|mainstream]] style and traditional [[Song structure (popular music)|structure]]. Rare variants are the [[verse-chorus form]] and the [[thirty-two-bar form]], with a focus on [[Melody|melodies]] and catchy [[Hook (music)|hooks]], and a [[Refrain|chorus]] that contrasts melodically, rhythmically and [[Harmony|harmonically]] with the [[Verse (popular music)#Verse|verse]]. | + | Writing for any instrument requires a composer or arranger to know the instrument's properties, such as: |
| + | * the instrument's particular [[timbre]], or range of timbres; | ||
| + | * the range of [[pitch (music)|pitches]] available on the instrument, as well as its [[dynamics (music)|dynamic]] range; | ||
| + | * the constraints of playing technique, such as length of breath, possible fingerings, or the average player's stamina; | ||
| + | * the relative difficulty of particular music on that instrument (for example, repeated notes are much easier to play on the [[violin]] than on the [[piano]]; while [[trill]]s are relatively easy on the [[flute]], but extremely difficult on the [[trombone]]); | ||
| + | * the availability of special effects or extended techniques, such as [[col legno]] playing, [[fluttertongue]], or [[glissando]]; | ||
| + | * the [[musical notation|notation]] conventions for the instrument. | ||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| - | *[[List of popular music genres]] | + | *[[Orchestra]] |
| - | *[[Traditional pop music]] | + | *[[String section]] |
| + | *[[Orchestration]] | ||
| + | *[[Arrangement]] | ||
| + | *[[Hornbostel-Sachs]] instrument classification system | ||
| + | |||
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In music, instrumentation refers to the particular combination of musical instruments employed in a composition, and to the properties of those instruments individually. Instrumentation is sometimes used as a synonym for orchestration, which more properly refers to an orchestrator's, composer's or arranger's craft of employing instruments in varying combinations.
[edit]
Instrumental properties
Writing for any instrument requires a composer or arranger to know the instrument's properties, such as:
- the instrument's particular timbre, or range of timbres;
- the range of pitches available on the instrument, as well as its dynamic range;
- the constraints of playing technique, such as length of breath, possible fingerings, or the average player's stamina;
- the relative difficulty of particular music on that instrument (for example, repeated notes are much easier to play on the violin than on the piano; while trills are relatively easy on the flute, but extremely difficult on the trombone);
- the availability of special effects or extended techniques, such as col legno playing, fluttertongue, or glissando;
- the notation conventions for the instrument.
[edit]
See also
- Orchestra
- String section
- Orchestration
- Arrangement
- Hornbostel-Sachs instrument classification system
Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Instrumentation (music)" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.
