01/16/06



HMU 397A Orchestration


Class Notes 3a

Individual Bowed String Instruments

Please note: All references to "Adler Movie" and "Adler Audio" can be found on
Six Enhanced Multimedia Compact Discs for The Study of Orchestration
A copy will of this CD set will be available for checkout at the multimedia lab.

All other items can be found in zip file on index page

Assignment: Scour internet for 1 video highlighting each instrument. Bring in Movie or URL (doesn't have to be "classical") & Worksheet 2 #s 2,3,5

General Rule: Highest pitch = 15ma above highest open string.

Violin

David Garrett- La Campanella  by Niccolo Paganini (pdf pg. 95)
 Jean-Luc Ponty - Wandering on the Milky Way

violin range violin fingerboard


1. Clef, Range G2-E6 (c3=mid) (note adler uses c4=mid)
2. warning above 7th position risky
3. Most agile. Virtually anything possible.

STRINGS

I. E String = Brilliant, Intense at FF, Luminous, mysterious at PP (Adler audio 1-54, 55)

II A String = Mellower, warm lyric not strong in lower register. Upper register good for stuff to mellow for E string. (Adler Audio 1-53)

III D String = Mellower warm lyric not strong. (Adler Audio 1-52)

IV G String = Bottom Thick Earthy, Resonant (Adler Audio 1-51)

MULTISTOPS

Dont try to memorize Adler Chart:  Instead look at fingerboard and consider physical plausibility.

General rules

1. any single note on a string different from and adjacent to open string
2. All 3rds, 6ths, octaves

HARMONICS
(Adler Audio 1-56)
1. In addition to touch 4ths violins can do
a. "touch 5ths" sound octave + P5
b. "touch M3" sound 15ma +M3
c. "touch M3" sound 15ma +M3

Note: Touch 5ths are possible with professional violinists but risky with amateurs. Touch 3rds are rare and risky and not as clear sounding.

Viola

Cecil Forsyth - Viola Concerto in G minor

Viola Range


Check out: http://www.mti.dmu.ac.uk/~ahugill/manual/viola/index.html

1. Clef, Range C2-A5 (c3=mid) (note adler uses c4=mid)
2. Fingering very similar to violin
3. Reads in Alto Clef

STRINGS

I. A String = Brilliant, Nasal Wirey (Adler audio 1-63)

II D String = Non descript good for accompanyment (Adler Audio 1-62)

III G String = Non descript good for accompanyment (Adler Audio 1-62)

IV C String = Characteristic, somber, austere (Adler Audio 1-61)



MULTISTOPS
1. Same rules as violin. Hand required to spread just a little more at any interval.

(Play Adler Audio: 1-64-70)

Cello


2CELLOS - Thunderstruck
cello range
 cello finger


1. Clef, Range C1-A4 (c3=mid) (note adler uses c4=mid)
2. Fingering getting smaller
3. Reads in Bass clef. Also can read Tenor and Treble

STRINGS
(Adler audio 1-73,74)

I. A String = Brilliant, Urgent

II D String = Lyrical, captivating

III G String = Non descript good for accompanyment

IV C String = Deep, Rich, Sonorous



Contrabass (doublebass)





bassrange
 bassfinger

1. Clef, Range (C0) E0-G3 (c3=mid) (note adler uses c4=mid)
2. Fingering requires bigger spread of hand than Violin or Viola 1st position = only M2nd
(Adler Movie: Finger Shifting on the Double Bass)
3. Reads in Bass clef ** SOUNDS OCTAVE LOWER** Transposing Instrument: Historically to keep them in the clef (and for some instruments to allow consistant fingering)
4. Slow to articulate. Fast passages are very muddy (Adler Audio: 1-77)
5. Because of large hand spread, harmonics are difficult. Best produced by the "touch 5th" and natural and require a skilled player
6. Because of large hand multi-stops require skilled player
NOTE: Adler overly diminishes the playability of harmonics, and stops on the bass.

STRINGS

I. G String = share the cello’s range, but on the double-bass the same notes sound fuller, more powerful and much darker.

II D String = share the cellos range, but on the double-bass the same notes sound fuller, more powerful and much darker.

III A String = Sonorous timbre, clearer and more precise than the bottom strings, suitable for the fundamental bass.

IV E String (C ext) = full and dark sound. Their great volume is capable of “carrying” the entire orchestra. It can be difficult to tell what the exact pitch of the lowest notes actually is. 



NOTE: Adler overly diminishes the playability of harmonics, and stops on the bass.