CSET Practice Test the Orchestra

9. This is a simple steel rod bent. This instrument is among the smallest of orchestra instruments, it has a very clear and shimmering sound that cuts through even the loudest music. Its pitch is not distinct, and its tone varies according to how hard, you strike it. It is either held in one hand suspended on a cord, or hung on a stand. Its beater is made of gently tapered steel.

A. Cymbals

B. Snare Drum

C. Bass Drum

D. Triangle

10. This is a set of wooden bars, mounted on a frame. The bars, each tuned to a different pitch, are beaten with sticks. The biggest have almost 50 wooden bars. The wooden bars are arranged like a piano keyboard. Striking the bar makes the air inside the tube vibrate. Below each wooden bar is a resonator, a metal tube which helps to project and sustain the sound. Players strike the bars with hard beaters to give a bright and sharp sound; soft beaters make the sound more gentle.

A. The Woodwind Section

B. Bass Drum

C. Xylophone

D. Trombone

11. These are often made of copper. They have a piece of calfskin or thin plastic stretched over their opening. These are very important in the orchestra because they “underline” important chords. They are usually played in pairs – sometimes in threes or fours – because each is tuned to a different pitch. Players strike the calfskin with beaters about 3 inches from the rim. Players carry many different pairs of beaters to produce different tone qualities. There are several tension screws, tightening them causes the pitch to rise, loosening them causes the pitch to lower.

A. Timpani

B. Snare Drum

C. Bass Drum

D. Tuba