[String music playing]
[Clapping]
That sounded beautiful!
Hi I'm Karen, I'm at the Sydney Opera House
on set with some of the members of the Australian Chamber Orchestra.
We're here to learn more about how music can tell this story
There's a Sea in my Bedroom.
Hi everyone! Hang on, you're an orchestra but there's only five of you?
Ah you might be thinking of a full-size Symphony Orchestra, which has four instrument families in it.
So strings, just like us and then also woodwind, brass and percussion.
So that's a really large group. But we normally play in a smaller Chamber Orchestra
and there are five of us so we're a String Quintet
What's a String Quintet?
It's a special combination of these five instruments
Violin [Violin Music Playing]
Viola [Viola Music Playing]
Cello [Cello Music Playing]
Double Bass [Double Bass Music Playing]
That's only four instruments, where's the fifth?
I also play the violin, there are always two violins in a String Quintet.
I connect the high sounds with the low sounds.
So the bigger instruments have a lower sound and the smaller instruments are higher?
Yes, so the violins are the smallest so we play the highest pitch. Peter?
[Violin Music Playing]
The viola is a little bit bigger than the violin so the sound is a little lower
[Viola Music Playing]
So the next biggest must be you, the cello.
[Cello Music Playing]
[Cello is interrupted by Double Bass]
Whoa, That is low!
The double bass has the longest and thickest strings of any
instrument in the string family which makes it the lowest sounding in pitch
So can I hear you play all together again?
[String Music Playing]
[Clapping]
So how are you going to use music to tell this story?
This story is about a little boy who's afraid of the sea.
At the start of the story his parents are keen
for him to go to the beach but he's a bit reluctant.
Have a listen to this music
and see if you can tell how he's feeling
[String Music Playing]
Hmm it's a bit slow and sad.
Yes you're right, it is sad.
In this music the cello has the theme
and it's in the minor key which makes it seem sad.
But at the end of the story
the boy isn't scared of the beach anymore.
Have a listen to how the music changes.
[String Music Playing]
Hmm it's the same melody but played only by the violin and it's brighter and happier.
Karen why don't you close your eyes and tell us what you
think is happening in this music.
[String Music Playing]
Oh that sounds a bit scary like something rising and falling.
We were playing tremolo.
We just moved the bow backwards and forwards really fast
and by adding dynamics playing louder and softer,
we were able to create the sound of waves.
Huh!
Close your eyes again.
[String Music Playing]
Oh! That's a very different sound it's like it's short and plucky.
Instead of using our bows, I can pluck the strings with my finger
[String Music Playing]
It's called Pizzicato.
In that part of the story the boy was collecting seashells.
Oh I can hear that! Pluck pluck pluck. [Laughing]
What do you think this is?
[String Music Playing]
Oh I know - Birds! Seagulls on the beach.
Yes, I put my finger lightly on the strings and slide.
And what's it called it's called?
It's called harmonics.
Wow it's amazing how sound and music can tell story without words.
I can't wait to listen to some music and find these things again.
I learnt lots about the string family and musical terms today
Well thanks everyone!
Can you just play a little bit more for me?
[String Music Playing]