Musical articulations denote the way in which you can play a musical instrument, such as keyboard, percussion, string, brass, and woodwind ones. Articulations are musical parameters that determine how a specific note sounds. They determine the configuration and altering of both the beginning and the end of a specific event. This includes the pitch, the length and shape of attack and decay, the dynamics, and the timbre. Whenever anyone plays music, the listener perceives changes in rhythm, tempo, and character. Musicians and composers know exactly when and where to make modifications because of articulation.
Articulation Bagatelles
Articulations are related to the way the artist uses a musical instrument. The same instrument with a different articulation can sound different. Similarly, it can also have a different purpose within an orchestra setting. Many articulations are only possible for specific instruments, whereas others are common to many. Some are written for individual notes, while others are designated for longer musical passages.
Musical Articulations: Types
There are several types of articulation and each has a different impact on particular notes. The most typical ones are legato, staccato, and trillo. Firstly, you achieve legato when you play notes without detaching them from each other. Secondly, you obtain staccato when you play notes with a wide separation from each other. Thirdly, you get trillo by quickly alternating between two different notes. In all of these, dynamics are a crucial part of articulations.
Musical Articulations: Conclusions
Alternating articulations and modifying the dynamics create an interesting and realistic feeling within a mix. Switching between articulations produces interesting sounds for the human ear. For instance, when switching between articulations, the human ear decreases in the background the sounds that remain the same. As a result, the listener can pay more attention to the newly created material. Using several different samples from the same instruments allows the user to enhance the tracks because a more realistic performance arises.
