New instrumental options brought many new sounds, which combined to create new opportunities for entertainment and expression.

 

Each note played on a musical instrument for a given loudness has its own harmonic recipe, and the loudness profile for each component in a recipe varies considerably, depending upon the shape of the instrument and the way the performer plays a note. These facts show how complex is the subject of sound in relation to timbre. Timbre is in effect the stimulus for our musical taste buds and is the very essence of musical character. If a tone is simple in nature it will have little effect upon our musical sensibilities (unless used carefully by a composer in contrast to complex tones), while if the tone is complex and harmonically rich it can have a great effect. The mixture of various instrumental sounds all having differing timbres will again lead to myriads of composite timbre effects.

 

Technical innovations in the instruments other than the strings created demand for all of the features of music that had presented themselves through use of the voice, the stringed instruments, and keyboard instruments. All of the instruments could now hold the melody and contribute to fully harmonic effect. Along with interesting new effects from exotic percussion instruments and the power of size, the symphony orchestra was positioned to do something special--but not all of the elements of success were necessarily present. They needed a method of assuring that all parties in the process of making music would have the information, guidance, and support tools necessary to jointly create pleasing sounds.