Vocal Range Classification and Musical Instrument Families

Classification of Voices

Sorting a voice involves designating the category to which it belongs, its size, timbre, and power, in order to determine the appropriate roles and song types.

Sexual Classification

• Female voice: The larynx and vocal cords are smaller, so the sound is about an octave higher than that of men.
• Male voice: The larynx and vocal cords are larger than women's, resulting in a deeper sound.
• Child's voice: The larynx is smaller; the voice moves or changes during puberty.
• Asexual voice: A male voice with a feminine timbre.

Classification According to Tessitura

Tessitura refers to the set of tones in which a person sings with ease:

• High voice: Soprano, tenor, childish voice.
• Middle voice: Mezzo-soprano, baritone.
• Deep voice: Alto, bass.

Classification by Voice Type

• Countertenor
• Soprano: Red, light, lyric, dramatic.
• Tenor: Igualmenos red.
• Mezzo-soprano: Light, lyric.
• Baritone: Light, lyrical, Verdi.
• Contralto: Russian voices.
• Bass: Buffo singer, deep.

Timbre and Vocal Qualities

Timbre is the quality that distinguishes two sounds of equal height and intensity but produced by different sources. In the singing voice, Husson established five timbral qualities:

• Color: Light or dark voices.
• Volume: Small or voluminous voices.
• Thickness: Thick or thin voices.
• Mordant and Bright: Stamped, bright, or flat voices.
• Vibrato: More or less vibrato.

General categories include Women: mezzo-soprano, soprano, and contralto; and Men: tenor, baritone, and bass.

Musical Instruments and Groups

Basic instruments: Voice, body, and instruments.
Means for making music: Performance and creation.

Classification of Instruments

1. Idiophones: The whole instrument vibrates.
   • Percussed (Clashed): Castanets, cymbals, seed bracelet.
   • Percussed (With stick or hammer): Sherds, gong, bell, Trinidad steel drums, txalaparta, anise bottle.
   • Semisacudidos: Bells, rattles, maracas.
   • Dotted (No casings): Kalimba, guimbarda (mouth harp).
   • Rubbed or Scratched: Glass harmonica, carraca, güiro.
2. Membranophones: The sound is caused by a membrane. This group includes drums and kazoos.
3. Chordophones: The sound is produced by the vibration of one or more strings. This includes the piano and keyboard.
   • String instruments (Bowed): Violin, viola, cello, and bass.
   • Plucked instruments: Harp, guitar, bass, lute.
   • Hammered or Beaten (Indian hammered dulcimer): Piano, psaltery, dulcimer, and harpsichord with hammers.
4. Aerophones: The sound is produced by the vibration of air. Examples include the flute, recorder, horn, and clarinet. These are categorized as woodwind or brass.
5. Electrophones: These produce sound via electronic oscillators and synthesizers.

Musical Ensembles

• Symphony or philharmonic orchestra.
• Chamber orchestra (fewer people, not all instruments).
• String orchestra.
• School orchestra (Orff).
• Band.
• Duos, trios, quartets, and quintets.

Acoustic Principles

• Is a thicker string deeper? True
• Is a shorter string deeper? False
• Does greater tension result in a sharper pitch? True
• Does a longer tube produce a sharper sound? False