Instrumental Music

Instrumental MusicNational 5 MusicEnsemblesAn ensemble is a group of two or more instruments or voices playing together.Common ensembles include choirs, bands and orchestras.

Orchestra strings, woodwind, brass and percussion.Wind/military band woodwind, brass and percussion.Brass band brass and percussion.

Orchestral musicA symphony is a piece of music written for orchestra.A concerto is a piece of music written for orchestra and soloist. It features a cadenza: a show-off passage for the soloist, usually very technically demanding with fast scale passages and ornamentation.An overture is the musical introduction to an opera or musical. It usually features the main melodies from the opera or musical woven together.

Symphony or concerto?For the following examples, decide if it is a symphony or a concerto. (Symphonies may still have short solos but a concerto has ONE solo instrument throughout.) If its a concerto, write down what the solo instrument is.

1.2.3.4.5.

Other instrumental conceptsFanfare a piece for brass instruments, usually written for important/royal events.Chamber music music for a small group of instruments such as a trio or quartet.Pedal a long held/repeated note in the bass part.Inverted pedal a long held/repeated note in an upper part.Alberti bass a bass line made up of broken chords. Used in Classical piano music.

Ground bass a bass line which is repeated as the music changes above it.

Feel sorry for the people who play the ground basshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdxkVQy7QLM Instrumental musicEnsembles orchestra, wind/military band, brass band.Orchestral symphony, concerto, cadenza, overture.Fanfare, pedal, inverted pedal, alberti bass, ground bass, chamber music.Other54725.6736624.0eng - Freecorder - WVAT28056.0Freecorder 4 - WVAT75048.0eng - Freecorder - WVAT20688.0eng - Freecorder - WVAT90648.0Freecorder 4 - WVAT