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Timbre
Timbre (pronounced
"tamber"), also called tone color, is the element that
deals with the quality of sound produced by varying instruments
or voices. Each sound, each musical instrument, each voice, has
its own individual quality. Note that timbre is also one of the
basic properties of sound. Tone colors are almost impossible to
describe, although we try with descriptive adjectives such as bright,
warm, brassy, harsh or delicate. Nevertheless, timbre is one of
the most easily recognized musical elements. Even though a listener
might not be able to identify the sound of instruments by name,
everyone can hear the difference between the smooth, vibrant sound
of the violins, the bright sound of trumpets and the thump of drums.
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Examples
of timbre
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