Piccolo

Piccolo

The piccolo is a small flute. Like the flute, the piccolo is normally pitched in the key of C, one octave above the concert flute. Music for the piccolo is written one octave lower than concert pitch. Fingerings on the piccolo correspond to those of the flute, but sound an octave higher as the piccolo is considerably less than half the size of the flute. Also, many alternate fingerings may be used to tune the individual pitches, as many are consistently out of tune. In addition to the standard C piccolo, there is a piccolo pitched in D♭ that is sometimes used in bands, and one in A♭, rarely used outside Italian marching bands.

It is mainly used in orchestral pieces but there are a few pieces specifically for it. Often in orchestras, the piccolo player doubles up as a second or third flute because not all orchestral pieces include piccolo parts.

Because the piccolo's sound is in a very high register, it has a potential to be strident or shrill. Thus, it is often used only as an ornamental, "flavor" or "garnish" instrument, or not at all. Nonetheless, there have been many concertos and solo pieces written for the piccolo, written by notable composers such as Persichetti, Vivaldi, and Todd Goodman. (Vivaldi’s concertos, however, were originally for the sopranino recorder). Triple-woodwind orchestral works typically include two flutes and one piccolo or three flutes with a piccolo double. Not all flute players play piccolo, although most professional players do. Though the fingerings are the same, the embouchure and other differences do require a separate effort to learn. Also, flute players with large fingers may find it difficult to press the smaller piccolo keys accurately.

The piccolo can be quite noticeable in concert marches. For example, John Philip Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever" carries a piccolo solo.

It is increasingly difficult to sustain notes in the third octave, especially softly.

The piccolo is somewhat notorious for being difficult to play in tune, as evidenced by the jokes circulating among musicians that defines a minor second as “two piccolos playing in unison,” or that the only way to get two piccolos to play in tune is to "shoot one of them". Its small size makes it difficult to construct completely in tune and causes what would be small pitch variances in larger instruments to become rather significant. The fact that it is so high does not help as it is rather conspicuous when out of tune.

Piccolos may be constructed out of wood, metal, gold, plastic, or a combination of all of them. Many piccolo players find that wooden piccolos offer a more mellow timbre than metal ones. A popular compromise combines a metal head joint with a body made from wood. In more recent years the piccolo has also been made out of a plastic composite material. The composite piccolo is durable enough for marching and produces a fair quality sound. Most professionals agree that a piccolo should be made out of only one material, as two separate materials with different coefficients of thermal expansion lead to tuning inconsistencies.

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Vegeta

Vegeta

Vegeta is a fictional character in the Dragon Ball franchise created by manga artist Akira Toriyama. Vegeta first appeared in the manga series in volume 17, or Dragon Ball Z, episode 6 of the anime adaptation as the series' primary antagonist. In the series, Vegeta was born on the fictional planet also called Vegeta, and is the prince to a nearly extinct extraterrestrial warrior race called the Saiyans. Being evil at his introduction, Vegeta soon finds refuge on Earth and reluctantly assists the series' protagonists in saving the Earth from threats. Vegeta's role for most of the series is primarily to be a rival of the series' main protagonist Son Goku, however he slowly progresses into one of Goku's allies and friends.

Not intending Vegeta to be a major character, Toriyama introduced Vegeta in the series as very short and slightly stocky, with upright standing hair and a defined widow's peak. Upon his introduction, Vegeta is seen to be arrogant and sadistic, which was intended to contrast Goku's selflessness and kindness. Due to the manga's success after introducing Vegeta, Toriyama continued with Vegeta as a primary character, and changed his appearance; gradually making him more lean like a hero as opposed to a villain.

Following a common name trend that Toriyama developed in Dragon Ball, Vegeta's name is derived from the word for vegetable, being that he is the prince of the Saiyans, who are all named after vegetables. When he first appears in the series, Vegeta was acting arrogant and selfish; having a fierce desire for immortality and galactic rule. He is also vicious and cares for none other than himself, shown when he dispatched of his comrade Nappa when he failed to defeat Goku. Vegeta's plans are thwarted by Goku. Because of Vegeta's overwhelming pride and ego, being defeated by someone who he considered inferior, transforms his character into a jealous and vengeful anti-hero. By the end of the series, Vegeta's bitter rivalry with Goku softens when he comes to respect Goku as an ally and even a friend.

One of Vegeta's distinguishable characteristics was the fact that he was the only living Saiyan who still wore the traditional Saiyan armor on a regular basis. Over the course of the Dragon Ball Z series, he's worn different incarnations of the suit, though later on in the series (and subsequently the Dragon Ball GT series) he abandons the Saiyan armor completely for "Earth-like" clothing. He once memorably wore a pink shirt after he took a shower at Bulma's house, much to his dismay.

Vegeta's priorities can be seen to gradually change as the series progresses, and his rivalry with Goku is fueled by Goku's ability to stay ahead of Vegeta in power. Because of this, Vegeta is seen to pursue an insane desire to surpass Goku in strength, but whenever he seems to train harder than Goku ever does, he can never close the difference between him and Goku. As the series continues, Vegeta develops into a hero instead of a villain.

When Vegeta finds a home on Earth, he is pursued romantically by the character Bulma, where they are suggested to be married later at some time[1]. They have two children together, a son Trunks and a daughter Bra. Vegeta prioritizes his rivalry with Goku over any relationships with his family, at least until the end of the series.

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Trunks

Trunks

Trunks is a character who first appeared in the Dragon Ball manga created by Akira Toriyama, more popularly followed by Dragon Ball Z. Trunks is introduced to be a half-Saiyan boy from the future, his father is Vegeta,the prince of the extinct race of fictional aliens called the Saiyans, and his mother is Bulma,the heiress of a massive company called Capsule Corporation. "Mirai" is the Japanese kanji for 'future'. Trunks' seiyū is provided by Takeshi Kusao. In the English language dub, he is voiced by Eric Vale. In the Ocean Group dub, Alistair Abell voiced him.

In Dragon Ball GT: Final Bout, he is voiced by Skip Stellrecht.

This is the first Trunks that the readers and/or viewers ever see in the Dragon Ball manga and the Dragon Ball Z anime. Trained by Future Gohan in an alternate time line, Trunks travels through time to seek help from Goku to prevent the Androids; No. 17 and No. 18 from ravaging Earth. Trunks is a determined and loyal warrior. His name is a play on "trunks", a type of male clothing.

Trunks appears tall and slender although still muscular. He favors his maternal side by having light blue eyes and light purple hair, however his face is almost identical to his father's. From the time he first appears to the time he enters the Room of Spirit and Time, and after the Cell Games, his hair is cut short in bowlcut style. From the time he exits to the end of the Cell Games, his hair is long. His hair grows unlike full blooded Saiyan hair.

Early on, Trunks wears a black sleeveless shirt and black pants along with his blue Capsule Corporation jacket and yellow boots, as well as a sword in the sash worn round his back. After he exits the Room of Spirit and Time, he starts to wear attire similar to his father's, white gloves, white boots with tan tips, a skin-tight blue jumpsuit, and Saiyan battle armor, which was given to him by his mother Bulma (present time line). Trunks could only transform up to Super Saiyan before entering the Room of Spirit and Time. But afterwards, his training gave him the ability to reach further levels of Super Saiyan i.e. Ultimate super saiyan which are located between Super Saiyan and Super Saiyan 2. While powering up to full strengh, Trunks muscles expanded and became too heavy and bulky to work effectivly. Because of this, Trunks was unable to fight Cell without slow awkward movements.(Cell even acknowledged the fact that he could be stronger than him in this form, although he demonstrated a similar transformation to Trunks' implying otherwise). After the shocking truth about his new powers were revealed, and the fact he couldn't see them he admited defeat. While he was ready to allow Cell to strike him down, Cell curiosity on how he and Vegeta became so strong so fast saved him. Cell wished to test the his new form and asked Trunks to reveal their secret. Trunks told Cell what he wished to know, and Cell spared him after relaying a message that he will give him and the Z warriors the time they need. After being spared, Trunks no longer made the mistake of powering up to such a bulky awkward form again.

Trunks' personality is distinguishable from the other characters because he originally was seen to be cautious and calculating. He often thinks through things and plans, advising against random action because of the horrific events in his own time line. (although he does recklessly blow up most of Dr. Gero's Lab in a fit of emotion to stop more Androids from being activated.) Originally, this is shown when he told Kuririn to take the blueprints of the androids first before destroying Dr. Gero's laboratory and also in his reluctance to take action unless Goku is present. As the series continues, Trunks becomes more confident and less cautious, but rarely loses his rational thinking, he is also seen learning from his mistakes and poor judgment, such as his Mistake in Fully powering up the Ascended Super Saiyan Form, where his own powered up muscles was his weakness (see Appearance section). Despite Vegeta's arrogance and pride, Trunks still cares for his father and even though it was due to Vegeta's pride that he let Cell absorb #18 and attain his perfect form, he still goes to desperate measures to distract Cell so Kuririn can take Vegeta to safety.

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