Playing Ranges of Instruments

Formant Frequencies

These formant frequencies in Hertz for orchestral instruments are suggested by Backus, Ch 6, Table I.

A formant is a favored frequency range of a musical instrument, demonstrated by a peak in the harmonic spectrum of the sound of the instrument. This favored frequency may stay essentially the same even if the fundamental is continually changing. The relative stability of the favored frequency with changing fundamental pitch may be associated with some sort of resonance. But as Wolfe has pointed out, the resultant favored frequency is not in general equal to a specific resonant frequency of the structure, though resonances are part of the determining causes. Since the confluence of several factors may influence the actual peaks of the harmonic spectrum, perhaps the best use of the word formant is just as a term to reference the observed peaks.

The concept of formants is particularly important in understanding speech, since the vocal formants provide much of the distinction between sustained vowel sounds. Formants also occur with musical instruments, and are of particular note with woodwinds. For example, the bassoon shows formant behavior over much of its playing range.

Power Output, Musical Instruments

Measured greatest power output

Composition of the Orchestra

The standard orchestra consists of four major families of instruments: woodwinds, brass, percussion, and strings. The woodwind section usually consists of two to four flutes, two to four oboes, two to three clarinets, and two to four bassoons. The brass section consists of four to seven French horns, three to four trumpets, three to four trombones, and one tuba. The orchestral strings are usually divided into twenty-two to thirty five violins, eight to fourteen violas, six to twelve violincellos, and five to ten doublebasses.