Music Transcription Timbre and Instrumentation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When transcribing a muted trumpet part, which notation symbol indicates cup mute?
- con sord.
- cup (Correct answer)
- +
- o
Correct answer: cup
The word 'cup' written above the staff indicates a cup mute on brass instruments.
Question 2: Which instrument family produces sound primarily through a vibrating air column in a tube?
- Chordophones
- Idiophones
- Aerophones (Correct answer)
- Membranophones
Correct answer: Aerophones
Aerophones produce sound through vibrating air, which includes all wind instruments.
Question 3: In a transcription, the marking 'sul ponticello' tells a string player to bow:
- Near the fingerboard
- Near the bridge (Correct answer)
- At the middle of the string
- Behind the nut
Correct answer: Near the bridge
Sul ponticello means 'on the bridge,' producing a glassy, nasal timbre rich in upper harmonics.
Question 4: A transcriber notices a woodwind line with a breathy, unfocused tone in the low register. Which instrument is most likely?
- Oboe
- Piccolo
- Flute (Correct answer)
- Bassoon
Correct answer: Flute
The flute's low register (below C4) is characteristically breathy and weaker than its upper octaves.
Question 5: Which technique, when used on a guitar, produces harmonics by lightly touching the string at a nodal point?
- Tremolo picking
- Tapping
- Flageolet (natural harmonics) (Correct answer)
- Sweep picking
Correct answer: Flageolet (natural harmonics)
Flageolet or natural harmonics are produced by lightly touching the string at exact fractional divisions without fully stopping it.
Question 6: When a transcriber hears the term 'col legno,' what string technique should be notated?
- Bowing with the wood of the bow (Correct answer)
- Playing with a mute
- Plucking the string
- Bowing near the tailpiece
Correct answer: Bowing with the wood of the bow
Col legno means 'with the wood,' directing players to strike or bow using the wooden stick of the bow rather than the hair.
Question 7: In orchestration, which instrument is often transcribed to double the bass line and add 'weight' in the extreme low register?
- Tuba
- Contrabassoon
- Bass trombone
- All of the above (Correct answer)
Correct answer: All of the above
All three instruments—tuba, contrabassoon, and bass trombone—are commonly used to reinforce and add weight to the bass line in the extreme low register.
