Listening to instruments
Col legno brings the wood of the bow into the sound
Col legno uses the wood of a string player’s bow. Hear the difference between its struck and drawn forms, then follow what that change does to the music.
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Listening Details
Hocket: listen for a melody shared one fragment at a time
Hocket breaks a musical line into interlocking fragments. Try a simple two-person rhythm exercise, then listen for the spaces between the notes.
Instruments and Listening
The serpent is a wooden wind instrument with a brass-like beginning
The serpent’s wooden body and finger holes can be misleading. Its lip-vibrated mouthpiece explains why instrument families are not simply material labels.
Rehearsal Notes
Tacet is an instruction to listen while others play
Tacet tells a player to remain silent for a movement or extended section. Learn how the instruction changes rehearsal preparation and attentive listening.
Instruments and Listening
Listen to the bellows: the compact world of the portative organ
A portative organ combines keys, pipes and a hand-operated air supply. Learn what to watch in a performance and how it differs from a large church organ.
Instruments and Listening
A celesta looks like a small piano but strikes metal plates
The celesta combines a keyboard with struck metal plates. Learn how its sound differs from a piano and what to listen for in a recording.