Universes of timbres: Exploring the instruments of the orchestra
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Universes of timbres: Exploring the instruments of the orchestra
Ana Sokolovic (Université de Montréal) [PI] with Kit Soden (McGill University), Jason Noble (Université de Montréal), Don Freund (Indiana University), and Andrew Hugill (University of Leicester).
Description:
Our project will document and explore the timbres of the instruments of the orchestra, and the instrumental techniques used to create vast ranges of timbres, by recording the orchestra (video and audio) and interviewing the artists who play these instruments, and will culminate in multiples series of short, bilingual, educational videos around each instrument. Our approach will build from the experience of our partners, all of whom have experience teaching and/or providing tools for instrumental technique education.
Orchestrational concepts of the instruments of the orchestra have been discussed in numerous orchestration treatises and are taught in conservatories and universities, but with the current advent and proliferation of multimedia platforms, there is a need for high quality educational materials in audio/video-based formats.
We propose to create an updated series of short videos that give new insights into instrumental techniques. The first phase of the proposed project will focus on extended techniques, or unusual or non-normal instrumental timbres, to address the existing gap in such information currently available in online content.
We plan to record at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology (CIRMMT), using high quality video cameras and audio equipment, following rigorous recording standards for consistency of microphone placement in the room and relative to the instrument. Part of the recording will be interview-based, illuminating facets of specific techniques as well as the performer's personal approach to finding the resulting timbres on their instrument.
A concurrent video-based instrument technique project will also take place. With the rise in quality home recording devices (i.e., smartphones, usb microphones) and video-based apps like TikTok, Stories on Facebook and Instagram, and YouTube, we propose to make a call to student performers to create their own instrumental technique videos. We will provide specific guidelines about recording technique and lighting, and establish standards for orchestrational terminology and example scores, but otherwise they will have creative freedom. We believe that the user-empowered approach will provide the opportunity for unique creations, as well as connection with a large audience familiar with this kind of approach.
The culmination of these short, curated, educational videos and user-created educational videos will be a valuable online resource, created by ACTOR and accessible on the Timbre and Orchestration Resource website.