Twiddly bits
Encyclopedia
Twiddly Bits is an English slang
term. From the word twiddly (sometimes spelled Twiddley); curly or decorative, esp. in an unnecessary way and bit; a small piece or amount of something , a twiddly bit is anything that is relatively small and trifling or elaborately decorative. Twiddly is a word commonly used in British English, as in Roald Dahl
’s The BFG
, where the giant’s large ears allow him to hear absolutely every single twiddly little thing. The term twiddly bit is applicable in almost any context and is commonly used to describe aspects of architecture, art, music, literature, fashion, etc.
though it is typically shorter and lacks the structure typical of a solo, that is to say a beginning, middle and end. Rather it is short and sweet and can serve to fill space, act as a turnaround between parts, or as a substitute for a solo where a musician wants to show off but time does not allow for a full solo.
There is also a Victorian era
parlour song
called "Twiddley Bits" recorded by Sheila Steafel
on the album Victoria Plums. It is about a woman taking music lessons.
samples developed in 1993 by Keyfax, a company co-founded by keyboardist
Julian Colbeck
and Dave Spiers; the name suggested by fellow British prog rock keyboardist, Dave Stewart.
Twiddly.Bits MIDI samples derive their name from the slang, as they are literally short, 1-to-2-measure, technically advanced performances from professional studio musicians recorded as MIDI . The Twiddly.Bits MIDI sample brand
was originally conceived to make available to musicians and composers musical MIDI loops that could not be played on a standard MIDI keyboard controller due to the limitations of keyboards in duplicating instrument-specific nuances and timbres, such as a trill from a saxophone or a dynamic drum roll. The parts were recorded using the appropriate MIDI controller so these nuances and characteristics specific to the particular instrument in question would come through, making them the most authentic and realistic-sounding MIDI samples available. They were the first of the MIDI sample brands and are offered in over 20 different volumes in different genre
s and musical styles . They are also a well recognised brand and have been used in thousands of commercial recordings and scores since their inception.
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
term. From the word twiddly (sometimes spelled Twiddley); curly or decorative, esp. in an unnecessary way and bit; a small piece or amount of something , a twiddly bit is anything that is relatively small and trifling or elaborately decorative. Twiddly is a word commonly used in British English, as in Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl was a British novelist, short story writer, fighter pilot and screenwriter.Born in Wales to Norwegian parents, he served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, in which he became a flying ace and intelligence agent, rising to the rank of Wing Commander...
’s The BFG
The BFG
The BFG is a children's book written by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake, first published in 1982. The book was an expansion of a story told in Danny, the Champion of the World, an earlier Dahl book...
, where the giant’s large ears allow him to hear absolutely every single twiddly little thing. The term twiddly bit is applicable in almost any context and is commonly used to describe aspects of architecture, art, music, literature, fashion, etc.
Music
The term "Twiddly Bits" is commonly used in the music industry to describe a short improvised part that is technically advanced and/or musically interesting.. In music, a Twiddly Bit is similar to a soloSolo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
though it is typically shorter and lacks the structure typical of a solo, that is to say a beginning, middle and end. Rather it is short and sweet and can serve to fill space, act as a turnaround between parts, or as a substitute for a solo where a musician wants to show off but time does not allow for a full solo.
There is also a Victorian era
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
parlour song
Parlour music
Parlour music is a type of popular music which, as the name suggests, is intended to be performed in the parlours of middle class homes by amateur singers and pianists...
called "Twiddley Bits" recorded by Sheila Steafel
Sheila Steafel
Sheila Steafel is a South African-born actress who has lived all her adult life in the United Kingdom.Steafel, who was born in Johannesburg, appeared in many classic television series, including: The Frost Report, Z-Cars, Sykes, The Kenny Everett Television Show, Minder, The Ghosts of Motley Hall,...
on the album Victoria Plums. It is about a woman taking music lessons.
MIDI Samples
Twiddly.Bits is a brand of MIDIMusical Instrument Digital Interface
MIDI is an industry-standard protocol, first defined in 1982 by Gordon Hall, that enables electronic musical instruments , computers and other electronic equipment to communicate and synchronize with each other...
samples developed in 1993 by Keyfax, a company co-founded by keyboardist
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
Julian Colbeck
Julian Colbeck
The current CEO of Keyfax NewMedia, Julian Colbeck is a former professional keyboard player of over 25 years, author of several music-related books and guides, the creator of Twiddly.Bits MIDI loops, the concept designer for the PhatBoy MIDI controller, and producer of several music technology DVDs...
and Dave Spiers; the name suggested by fellow British prog rock keyboardist, Dave Stewart.
Twiddly.Bits MIDI samples derive their name from the slang, as they are literally short, 1-to-2-measure, technically advanced performances from professional studio musicians recorded as MIDI . The Twiddly.Bits MIDI sample brand
Brand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
was originally conceived to make available to musicians and composers musical MIDI loops that could not be played on a standard MIDI keyboard controller due to the limitations of keyboards in duplicating instrument-specific nuances and timbres, such as a trill from a saxophone or a dynamic drum roll. The parts were recorded using the appropriate MIDI controller so these nuances and characteristics specific to the particular instrument in question would come through, making them the most authentic and realistic-sounding MIDI samples available. They were the first of the MIDI sample brands and are offered in over 20 different volumes in different genre
Genre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
s and musical styles . They are also a well recognised brand and have been used in thousands of commercial recordings and scores since their inception.