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Published by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra Printed by Ngai Heng Pte. Ltd. Discovering Music!: The World’s a Stage: The Drama of Opera Sat, 5 Nov 2016, 4pm Victoria Concert Hall Jason Lai conductor & presenter Pre-Concert Talk: Yo-Yo Ma & the Silk Road Ensemble Speaker: Dr Tony Makarome Fri & Sat, 11 & 12 Nov 2016, 6.30pm library@esplanade SSO Babies’ Proms 2016 Sat, 19 Nov 2016, 2pm & 4pm Sun, 20 Nov 2016, 11am, 2pm & 4pm Victoria Concert Hall Peter Moore conductor & presenter Each concert lasts one hour. Suitable for ages 0-4. Concerts for Children: Carnival of the Animals Fri, 25 Nov 2016, 6pm Sat, 26 Nov 2016, 11am, 2pm & 4pm Victoria Concert Hall Joshua Tan conductor L’Arsenal à Musique artistes Low Shao Suan & Low Shao Ying pianos Each concert lasts one hour. Suitable for ages 4 to 14. Dec ........................................ Pre-Concert Talk: Mahler 5 Speaker: Dr Margaret Chen Fri, 2 Dec 2016, 6.30pm Esplanade Concert Hall Circle 3 Foyer Information correct at time of print and is subject to change. ........................................ All pre-concert talks are open to the public. For more information, please visit us at www.sso.org.sg or email: [email protected] All SSO events are endorsed by the National Arts Council and local schools are eligible for up to 50% claim/subsidy from Totalisator Board Arts Grant. Singapore Symphonia Co Ltd 11 Empress Place, #01-02 Victoria Concert Hall Singapore 179558 Tel: 6602 4200 Fax: 6602 4222 Email: [email protected] Oct ........................................ Pre-Concert Talk: Pictures at an Exhibition Speaker: Andrew Lim Thu, 6 Oct 2016, 6.30pm library@esplanade Open Rehearsal: Bruckner Mass No. 3 Fri, 14 Oct 2016, 7.30pm Esplanade Concert Hall Open to SSO Subscribers, Friends of the SSO and ticketholders Pre-Concert Talk: Bruckner Mass No. 3 Speaker: Dr Joel Navarro Sat, 15 Oct 2016, 6.30pm library@esplanade Pre-Concert Talk: Eight Seasons: Vivaldi & Piazzolla Speaker: Loh Jun Hong Fri & Sat, 21 & 22 Oct 2016, 6.30pm Victoria Concert Hall Music Studio Pre-Concert Talk: Rouse and Rachmaninov Speaker: Darren Sim Sat, 29 Oct 2016, 6.30pm Esplanade Concert Hall Circle 3 Foyer Nov ........................................ Pre-Concert Talk: Ray Chen Plays Bruch Speaker: Andrew Lim Thu, 3 Nov 2016, 6.30pm library@esplanade UPCOMING EVENTS Pre-Concert Talk: Bertrand Chamayou Plays Liszt Speaker: Robert Markow Fri & Sat, 9 & 10 Dec 2016, 6.30pm Victoria Concert Hall Music Studio Jan ........................................ Pre-Concert Talk: Gustavo Dudamel & Renaud Capuçon Speaker: Abigail Sin Thu & Fri, 5 & 6 Jan 2017, 6.30pm library@esplanade Open Rehearsal: West Side Story Sat, 21 Jan 2017, 9.30am Open to the public Pre-Concert Talk: West Side Story Speaker: Dr Tony Makarome Sat, 21 Jan 2017, 6.30pm library@esplanade Carnival of the Animals p.6 Getting To Know You – Lau Wen Rong p.8 THE EVOLUTION OF inStrUMentS: Wind INSTRUMENTS EDITION MCI (P) No. 001/09/2016 Newsletter of the SSO Community Outreach Department Sep - Dec 2016 www.sso.org.sg

uPCoMIng EvEnTS - Singapore Symphony Orchestra · uPCoMIng EvEnTS pre-Concert Talk: Bertrand Chamayou plays Liszt Speaker: Robert Markow Fri & Sat, 9 & 10 Dec 2016, 6.30pm Victoria

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Published by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra Printed by Ngai Heng Pte. Ltd.

Discovering Music!: The World’s a Stage: The Drama of OperaSat, 5 Nov 2016, 4pmVictoria Concert Hall

Jason Lai conductor & presenter

pre-Concert Talk:yo-yo Ma & the Silk Road EnsembleSpeaker: Dr Tony MakaromeFri & Sat, 11 & 12 Nov 2016, 6.30pm library@esplanade

SSO Babies’ proms 2016Sat, 19 Nov 2016, 2pm & 4pmSun, 20 Nov 2016, 11am, 2pm & 4pm Victoria Concert Hall

peter Moore conductor & presenter

Each concert lasts one hour.Suitable for ages 0-4.

Concerts for Children: Carnival of the AnimalsFri, 25 Nov 2016, 6pmSat, 26 Nov 2016, 11am, 2pm & 4pmVictoria Concert Hall

Joshua Tan conductorL’Arsenal à Musique artistesLow Shao Suan & Low Shao ying pianos

Each concert lasts one hour.Suitable for ages 4 to 14.

Dec........................................pre-Concert Talk:Mahler 5Speaker: Dr Margaret ChenFri, 2 Dec 2016, 6.30pmEsplanade Concert Hall Circle 3 Foyer

Information correct at time of print and is subject to change.

........................................All pre-concert talks are open to the public.

For more information, please visit us at www.sso.org.sg or email: [email protected]

All SSO events are endorsed by the National Arts Council and local schools are eligible for up to 50% claim/subsidy from Totalisator Board Arts Grant.

Singapore Symphonia Co Ltd 11 Empress place, #01-02Victoria Concert HallSingapore 179558Tel: 6602 4200Fax: 6602 4222Email: [email protected]

oct........................................pre-Concert Talk:pictures at an ExhibitionSpeaker: Andrew LimThu, 6 Oct 2016, 6.30pm library@esplanade

Open Rehearsal:Bruckner Mass No. 3Fri, 14 Oct 2016, 7.30pmEsplanade Concert HallOpen to SSO Subscribers, Friends of the SSO and ticketholders

pre-Concert Talk:Bruckner Mass No. 3Speaker: Dr Joel NavarroSat, 15 Oct 2016, 6.30pm library@esplanade

pre-Concert Talk:Eight Seasons: Vivaldi & piazzollaSpeaker: Loh Jun HongFri & Sat, 21 & 22 Oct 2016, 6.30pm Victoria Concert Hall Music Studio

pre-Concert Talk:Rouse and RachmaninovSpeaker: Darren SimSat, 29 Oct 2016, 6.30pm Esplanade Concert Hall Circle 3 Foyer

nov........................................pre-Concert Talk:Ray Chen plays BruchSpeaker: Andrew Lim Thu, 3 Nov 2016, 6.30pmlibrary@esplanade

uPCoMIng EvEnTS

pre-Concert Talk:Bertrand Chamayou plays LisztSpeaker: Robert MarkowFri & Sat, 9 & 10 Dec 2016, 6.30pmVictoria Concert Hall Music Studio

Jan........................................pre-Concert Talk:gustavo Dudamel & Renaud CapuçonSpeaker: Abigail SinThu & Fri, 5 & 6 Jan 2017, 6.30pmlibrary@esplanade

Open Rehearsal:West Side StorySat, 21 Jan 2017, 9.30amOpen to the public

pre-Concert Talk:West Side StorySpeaker: Dr Tony Makarome Sat, 21 Jan 2017, 6.30pmlibrary@esplanade

Carnival of the Animals p.6

Getting To Know You – Lau Wen Rong p.8

ThE EvOlUTiOn Of inStrUMentS: Wind inSTRUMEnTS EDiTiOn

MCI (P) No. 001/09/2016Newsletter of the SSO Community Outreach Department

Sep - Dec 2016

www.sso.org.sg

Music Inspired by ShakespeareSun, 11 Sep 16, 4pm

The World’s a Stage: The Drama of OperaSat, 5 Nov 16, 4pm

Colourful TalesSat, 18 Feb 17, 4pm

Victoria Concert HallJason Lai, conductor & presenter

Tickets available via SISTIC. For more information, please visit www.sso.org.sg

ContentsCover Story 3Classipedia 6Getting To Know You 8Fun & Games 10

Recent Happenings 12Ask Auntie Melody 14Fun Facts 15Upcoming Events 16

Editorial TeamEditor & Coordinator:Vanessa Lee, Kathleen TanSenior Manager, Programmes:Kua Li Leng

Join us to see and hear firsthand the inner workings of the orchestra and the preparation that goes into creating the musical experience on stage for the performance.

Sat, 21 Jan 2017, 9.30amVictoria Concert Hall

Joshua Tan, conductorKam Ning, violin

Join SSO Associate Conductor Jason Lai for a trio of Discovering Music concerts exploring how composers use stories, plays and poems as an inspiration to write great music. From Shakespeare’s plays to Wagner’s music dramas, and Tchaikovsky’s ballets to Stravinsky’s colourful ballets based on folk tales, feast your ears on some incredible music!

Discovering Music!

Open Rehearsal:West Side Story

Written by Dr Ruth Rodrigues

WOODWinD anD BRaSS inSTRUMEnTS

CovEr STory

Have you ever blown across the top of a water bottle and heard the sound it makes? Here is another activity: Try pressing your lips together and making a buzzing sound through them. This ‘buzzing’ sound is the basic sound for all brass instruments. While the wind and brass instruments seem similar in that both require air to make a sound, there are many different instruments within the families, each having their own unique characteristics. Let us now explore some of the instruments in the Woodwind and Brass families!

THE WOODWINDINSTRUMENTS

This orchestral group consists chiefly of the flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons, and the English horn (which is related to the oboe). Here, too, belongs the saxophone. The flute is one of the very oldest musical devices. In simple forms, it arose as soon as human beings began to produce sounds by blowing on hollow objects, such as shells, or tubes made of reed, bark, animal horn or bone. By puffing air against the object’s edge or into the tube’s end, sound could be generated. Flute instruments are known to have existed as early as 20,000 years ago!

In Western countries, both side-blown and end-blown flutes have been in

general use for at least a thousand years. While their principles of sound production remain unaltered, their design has varied. So, too, have the sounds which are expected of them, often due to practical considerations. A medieval fife’s sharp and piercing tone was desirable for playing outdoors – it often served as a military march instrument in combination with drums. The soft sound ideal that we are familiar with, as in a symphony orchestra, is of a later date. This began to appear in the late seventeenth century, becoming widely accepted since the Romantic period in the early nineteenth century. The idea of mathematically dividing the column of air to create different sounds can be used in a variety of instruments, even in modern day. These instruments include the bagpipes, dizi and bawu.

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Zurna

Wooden Fife

Shawm

Lur

On all woodwinds except the flutes, sound is produced by blowing against the edge of a thin membrane, known as a reed. Try to blow across a blade of grass – the shrill noise that results was a sound that the earliest double-reeds instruments produced. They were used by shepherds to scare away bears from their flock! Over the centuries, reed instruments evolved through different countries, such as the Zurna which had Turkish roots. The Zurna could be seen as the grandfather of the oboe, and it gave rise to the shawm which resembles our modern day oboe.

CovEr STory

There are other modern variants of the original double reeds, many of which can be found in Asian cultures. The Suona is a perfect example of a Chinese double-reed instrument.

The bassoon, on the other hand, might have gotten its start as a hollow log that someone decided to blow into, while the modern clarinet traces its origins back to the hornpipes of the Middle East and

Europe. While all these instruments used the principle of dividing air columns equally to produce sound, pads were another necessary development in these instruments. This feature was added by Iwan Mueller, who first used fish bladders to prevent the air from leaking out of the key holes!

THE BRASSINSTRUMENTS

Brass instruments can be divided into three main groups: those with a long tube that broadens conically (as in the French horn), or has a constant cylindrical width (as in trumpets and trombones), and those with a short tube that often broadens conically (as in cornets and tubas).

The brasses in an orchestra have the same origin – signaling instruments of the Middle Ages. Their evolution began, however, thousands of years earlier with simple devices made of hollow bone, tusk and horn, or pipes of wood, bamboo and bark. When the player blew into the tube’s opening, his lips vibrated and the movement was transmitted to, then amplified by, the air inside the object.

As for the craft of using metal to make instruments, it arose at an early date. Such inventions existed, for example, in ancient Egypt, and Bronze Age Scandinavians blew on imposing, S-shaped lur horns. The latter were built in oppositely turned pairs, and had a mouthpiece of the type that was to occur long afterward on trombones.

In Roman times, at ceremonial and especially military events, signals were sounded on long instruments, either straight or curved like a G. Their names – tuba, cornu, buccina – descended to some of our modern instruments: the tuba, horn and trombone.

Soon in the early 15th century, the brass instruments were shaped like an S and it was during this time that the S shaped trumpet was recognized. One type is the slide trumpet, which can also be called the sackbut or the trombonus. The slide trombone was created by inserting the ends of an extra U-shaped slide into the sound tube of the trumpet. When this slide was pushed in or out, the air column’s length was changed, so that the overtones of different tones could be played. The name ‘trombone’ means simply a big trumpet. Thus, although trombones and trumpets do not look much alike, they are closely related.

As the years passed, many things happened to help the creation of brass instruments. Different forms of the instruments were invented and valves were put onto more instruments to create larger instruments such as the euphonium and tuba. However, instruments also became smaller to help musicians play higher notes, such as the piccolo trumpet which was invented in 1905.

The next time you attend a concert by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, try to spot the different woodwind and brass instruments and perhaps speak to the musicians about the history of their instruments!

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WhaT iS CaRnival Of ThE aniMalS?

Carnival of the Animals is a musical parade of animals. This piece is a humorous musical depiction of each animal.

The piece is written for a symphony orchestra and has fourteen different movements that cleverly use sounds created by instruments to mimic the sounds of different animals.

WhO CREaTED iT?

It was composed in February 1886 by a French composer called Camille Saint-Saëns. He wrote it while on holiday in a

small Austrian village.

Why WaS iT CREaTED? fOR WhOM? Saint-Saëns wrote the piece for fun and enjoyment. He wrote to his publishers Durand in Paris that he was composing a work for the coming Shrove Tuesday, and confessing that he knew he should be working on his Third Symphony, but that this work was “such fun” (“... mais c’est si amusant!”).

CLASSIPEDIA

CaRnival OfThE aniMalS

The SSo will be performing the two different programmes for

Carnival of the Animals –

• VCH Organ SerieS: Carnival of the animals –

26 Sep 2016, 12.30pm Free Admission

• COnCertS fOr CHildren: Carnival of the animals -

25 nov, 6pm | 26 nov, 11am, 2pm, 4pm

Catch all the animals then!

However, he thought that the music was too frivolous and might harm his reputation as a serious composer. So, he did not allow the music to be published or performed in public, apart from one movement, The Swan (Le cygne), which is a graceful movement performed by the cello. The entire Carnival of the Animals was only published after his death, and has become one of his most well-known works ever since.

I. INTRODUCTION AN ROyAL MARCH OF THE LION The strings play a stately and majestic theme, while the pianos play low octaves to mimic a lion’s roar.

II. HENS AND ROOSTERS Strings, piano and clarinet play quick and detached notes to imitate the pecking of birds. The piano even plays a bright and lively theme to imitate the rooster’s Cockadoodle Doo!

III. WILD MULES: SWIFT ANIMALS The pianos play rapid ascending and descending scales to imitate the swift galloping of mules.

IV. TORTOISES The strings play a slow version of the famous ‘Can-Can’ tune, as a humorous twist to depict the slow movements of a tortoise.

V. THE ELEpHANT The deepest string instrument, the double bass, plays a steady and mischievous tune that represents the slow plodding and heaviness of el-ephants at play.

VI. KANgAROOS The pianos perform a pattern of ‘hopping’ chords up and down the keyboard that imitate the hopping movement of kangaroos.

VII. AqUARIUM The smooth gliding of the melody,

and the occasional riff from the glass harmonica – often played on celesta or glockenspiel – are evocative of a fishes swimming peacefully in a quiet aquarium.

VIII. pEOpLE WITH LONg EARS (DONKEyS) Listen out for the ‘hee-haw’ of a donkey as a conversation goes on between two violins in this movement!

IX. THE CUCKOO IN THE DEpTHS OF THE WOODS

The clarinet plays a minor thirds here, imitating the haunting cuckoo call in a serene forest. Saint-Saëns states in the original score that the clarinetist should be offstage.

X. AVIARy The strings take providing a

background buzz, like the sounds of insects in a jungle. The flute plays quick, short and fluttery notes to mimic bird calls.

XI. pIANISTS This movement shows a side that few audiences ever see onstage – pianists practicing their scales!

XII. FOSSILS The xylophone and piano come in here

with a humorous and lively theme. Listen out for “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” and other familiar nursery rhymes tinkling away – almost as if the bones in the fossils are being used as a giant xylophone!

XIII. THE SWAN The swan elegantly gliding over a still pond is evoked by a beautiful, slow and smooth melody in the cello, with rolled chords in the piano to evoke ripples in the water.

XIV. FINALE Finally the end of the concert! The

entire work wraps up with a lively tune that has become popular in advertisements and movies. It was also featured in Disney’s film Fantasia 2000.

WhO’S in ThE CaRnival?WhaT DOES iT SOUnD likE?

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gETTIng To know you

Hi Wen Rong! Could you tell us how you got interested in playing the trumpet?My Chinese language teacher when I was in Primary 1 was also the teacher in charge of my school’s brass band. She asked if I was interested to join, and a close friend of mine wanted to because he thought there were many pretty girls in the band. That was it, I decided to join the band as well. I had no idea what a brass band was, and I even practiced the recorder the night before the first band practice, thinking that I would be playing the recorder.

As I was rather small in size, I was assigned the smallest instrument, the cornet, which is rather similar to the trumpet. I had absolutely no interest in playing the cornet at that time, but after watching Star Wars and Jurassic Park, I was totally blown away by the powerful and amazing sound of the trumpet. Right then, I knew the trumpet was the instrument that I wanted to use to express myself. At the age of twelve, I auditioned for the Singapore National Youth Orchestra with a cornet. I was extremely fortunate to be accepted and it was then that I officially switched to playing the trumpet.

When did you decide to pursue a career as a professional trumpet player? I decided to pursue a career as a professional

trumpet player at the age of seven after attending a performance by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra at the Victoria Concert Hall, where Benjamin Britten’s The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra was being performed. I was really captivated by the music and musicians and told myself that one day, I would be just like them.

Do you remember your very first performance with an orchestra? How was that experience?My very first orchestra performance was with the Singapore National Youth Training Orchestra in 2002 as part of an outreach program in a primary school. It was a nerve-wrecking experience for me. We performed Jean Sibelius’s Finlandia and I couldn’t play my notes fast enough since it was my first time playing in an orchestra. But I remembered feeling a great sense of joy after the performance.

How is it like studying at the Juilliard School in New York?I feel extremely fortunate to be given the opportunity to study at the Juilliard School. It was intimidating at first, however after I had settled in, it felt great to be part of this community where everyone is so willing to help each other to achieve greater heights in

their artistic endeavour. There is a great sense of healthy competition, which inspires me to practice more. The environment is extremely conducive for me to improve as a musician and the art scene in New York is incredibly vibrant as well.

Apart from practicing and performing, do you have any other hobbies you enjoy doing in your free time? I love sleeping and can sleep for 13 hours non-stop on a regular basis!

I love teaching music and the trumpet too, especially seeing my students grow and improve. Lastly, I love spending time with my loved ones especiallymy girlfriend.

FUN FACTS:Favourite Music: Sibelius’ Symphony No. 5

Favourite Composer: Gustav Mahler

Favourite Food: Japanese Sushi

Favourite Hangout: Trying out trumpets at Yamaha, Plaza Singapura

lau Wen RongTrumpet

For young aspiring musicians out there, do you have any tips or advice about how to make good music? I would encourage young aspiring musicians to listen to great musicians and try to learn from them. One of my all-time trumpet heroes is Mr. Adolph Herseth, past principal trumpet of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.I would often listen to his recordings andtry to imitate his sound.

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Music SudokuEnjoy doing Sudoku? Here’s our version of Sudoku with a musical twist using instruments instead of numbers!

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Answers to be revealed in the next issue! Answers to previous issue:

1. CELLO

2. VIOLIN

3. VIOLA

4. DOUBLE BASS

5. HARP

6. MANDOLIN

7. LYRE

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fun & gAMES

Up close and personal – Yvonne Lim and

Goh Ek Jun on the guzheng and percussion.

There were 3 free atrium performances held

throughout the day.

There were hands-on workshops for students to

try making music on musical tubes. The students

broke into groups and learnt to create their own

little music pieces with their friends.

The VCH Openhouse welcomed over 1,800 people over the entire day, and also saw students from 8 different schools, who all got a special goodie bag to bring home with them!

Tan Chin Tuan Music-for-All: SSO Classics in the Park – Mother’s Day Concert

VCH Open House

8 May 2016

25 May 2016

Recent happenings

Friends having a laugh and enjoying drinks together while listening to the SSO.

Celebrating Mother’s Day in style with the SSO and

an ice cream cake, and a well stocked picnic basket!

There’s something for everyone at our Mother’s Day concert – especially sticker tattoos for all kids!

Conductor Joshua Tan is deep in concentration

as he conducts the exciting and iconic Throne

Room & End Title from the Star Wars: Suite

for Orchestra by John Williams.Here is Dr Margaret Chen explaining on how

the pipe organ works and audiences got a

glimpse of how the insides of the pipe organ

moved through a live video feed!

Singapore National Youth Sinfonia conductor Lin Juan introducing the brass section and explaining how each instrument sounds.

Special fans were given out to all the

concert goers to help beat the heat!

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5 InterestIng BrassInstruments facts

Dear Joshua, Musicians sway their bodies while playing a musical piece as a form of expression, similar to how people move their hands when they speak – it helps them to communicate an idea apart from just using words. A certain amount of body movement can help them to keep in time with the music and to make clearly defined phrases. There is no standard set of body movements that a musician acquires through music lessons, they are accumulated through their musical experiences and emotions.

Dear Shi Lun, The conductor plays an essential role in an orchestra as he interprets the music and helps to bring a written score to life on stage. Not only does he provide a speed for the musicians, he also helps to shape and develop the music, or guide them through changes of speed, mood or intensity. Look out for him during the next performance you attend – take note of how he cues various sections of the orchestra!

Dear auntie Melody,Why does a music performer sway their body when playing a musical piece? are these torso movements trained during music lessons? – Joshua

Dear auntie Melody, When a conductor stands in front of the stage, what is he doing? – Shi lun

Email your questions to [email protected] or snail mail them to:

SSO Community Outreach Department, 11 Empress Place #01-02,

victoria Concert hall, Singapore 179558

Don’t forget to include your name, birth date, identification number, address

and contact number!

Winners will be notified by phone or post

*All questions are subject to

editing for clarity.

Do you have any burning questions about music? Auntie Melody

is here to help! If your question is featured, you will win a surprise gift!

Playing a brass instrument requires

constant changes to the embouchure

(the arrangement of the mouth, lips

and tongue) to reach certain notes.

Before technological advances, early tubas

were altered to possess forward-facing bells

in order to make recording the sounds of the

instrument easier. These tubas were named

recording tubas and those that remained

unaltered were known as concert tubas.

5

4

3

1

2 The curved tubes of brass instruments make them

easier to hold and play. If you straightened out

all the tubing in a small trumpet, it would be

approximately 4 to 5 feet long! In some

tubas, the amount of tubing can be

up to almost 26 feet!

The French Horn is a brass

instrument, however they are

commonly found in a woodwind

quintet! Composers wrote parts for

the Horn in woodwind quintets as

its warm mellow sound blends well

with woodwind instruments.

In the Peanuts animated series, the

sound effects of Charlie Brown’s

teacher speaking was acutally played

by a trombone with a mute! The

trombonist achieved the effect of a

human voice by imitating real speech

with the rising and fall of tones.

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