Music instruments taxonomy/sorting based on sound richness
I was wondering if there is some kind of music instruments taxonomy or quantitative/qualitative sorting based on richness of sound or other comparable timbre characteristics. I realize that timbre quality of an instrument varies according to register, articulation, and other performing parameters (and as such it is quite complex to define or measure), however I was wondering whether a rough and generalized "tabular" arrangement still exists.
FYI: I am not interested in literature on MIR classification algorithms, only in a (pre-existing) arrangement of music instruments based on such characteristics.
Thank you in advance for any feedback you could provide! Best, Ilias
(2)2 Comments
Sorted by latest first Latest Oldest Best
Sounds like you might actually be looking for a reference on orchestration. This deals with how the sounds that an orchestra has at its disposal can be put to use to express any aspect of a composition. As an example of an orchestrational choice, if you want to express something more introspective, you might want to give the solo to a flute instead of a trombone.
What you're asking might also not really be worth doing, since "richness" is often achieved with instrument combinations. This video might be an interesting watch, as one of the goals the creator is going for is richness:
Researchers like Grey, Moorer, Strawn, Gordon, pioneered this kind of stuff. I forget the exact source but I recall an article where they placed all orchestral instruments on a 3-d graph, linked together by certain timbral features. This article is probably a good place to start... work backwards from the bibliography at the end.
cnmat.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/attachments/Timbre-Space.pdf
Terms of Use Privacy policy Contact About Cancellation policy © freshhoot.com2026 All Rights reserved.