Triangle
From Young Composers
The triangle is a metal percussion instrument. It is a long thin metal cylinder bent into the shape of a triangle, leaving a hole in one corner.
Techniques
Muting
The triangle can be dampened by placing a hand on it. This allows more variation in the use of the triangle, and is common in popular music. To indicate muting, put a + over the note (open notes are indicated by an O).
Scoring for Triangle
The triangle is often used for adding brilliance to orchestral tuttis (particularly the triangle tremolo). The bright silvery nature of the triangle sound is also used to add sparkles to quieter passages.
Works for Further Listening/Study
- Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1
| Instruments and Voices | |
|---|---|
| Woodwinds | Flute (Piccolo/Alto/Bass) • Recorder • Oboe (Cor Anglais/Oboe D'amore/Heckelphone) • Clarinet (E♭/Bass/Contrabass) • |
| Brass | Horn • Cornet • Trumpet • Trombone • Euphonium • Tuba • Saxhorns |
| Keyboards | Piano • Organ • Harmonium • Harpsichord • Clavichord • Celesta • Accordion |
| Percussion | Tuned: Timpani • Glockenspiel • Chimes • Vibraphone • Xylophone • Marimba • Crotales • Musical saw • Hammered Dulcimer
Untuned: Snare drum • Bass drum • Triangle • Cymbals • Gongs • Tom-toms • Shakers • Drumset |
| Electronic | Theremin • Ondes Martenot • Synthesizer • Electronic Wind Instrument |
| Stringed | Bowed: Violin • Viola • Violoncello • Contrabass |
| Voices | Female: Soprano • Mezzo-soprano (often mistaken with Alto) • Contralto (often mistaken with Alto)
Male: Treble • Countertenor • Tenor • Baritone • Bass-baritone • Bass |
