Some Definitions
Timbre refers to tone color. Tone color can be a property of an individual instrument, or of an entire ensemble.
Texture is another one of our fuzzy terms. (“I know it when I see it.”) It generally refers to the relationship between individual parts at a given moment in a composition. The line between texture and timbre can sometimes be unclear.
Timbre as an Extension of Instrumental Resources
The expansion of timbral resources comes about from two main areas of usage: expanded use of percussion instruments and extended techniques for individual instruments. For percussion instruments, the use of non-pitched percussion is especially prevalent. For individual instruments, extended techniques generally refer to any form of playing an instrument that isn’t part of the standard classical/romantic performance technique. For wind instruments this can include flutter tonguing, multi-phonics, key slaps, and similar techniques. String instruments can use different bowing techniques, and expanded pizzicato methods.
Timbre and Texture as a Compositional Resource
Compositionally, timbre and texture can be used in a variety of ways. We studied two main ways: Klanfarben Melodie (Tone Color Melody), and sound mass composition. Tone color melody involves the change of timbre as a compositional focus. Sound mass composition involves the use of chords where the focus is on the totality of the chord itself, instead of the individual interval content. Ligeti used clusters of minor seconds with the belief that if you stacked enough seconds you stopped hearing the interval.
Leave a Reply