From Notes 3B
Strings are THE most important single ensemble in the orchestra and you will want to know all the "on the string" and "off the string" bowings in Adler well enough to be able to identify and correctly notate the technique upon seeing it performed live or in video. If I show you a passage in a score with a given marking, you will want to know what that marking means. As well you will want to make sure you understand all technical aspects such as open strings, how to execute harmonics, identify impossible double or triple stops etc. I may write an unmarked passage on the board and then articulate it by playing a synth sound. I may then ask you to put in the correct phrase and articulation markings. Remember we have slurs, accents, staccatos, wedges, hats. If I explain verbally that the first half of the passage is to be played in a single bow you should know what making indicates that fact. Dont forget the material from the first week with the orchestra seating chart and the construction parts of the string instruments. You will want to identify every player in the orchestra and give me relative balances. If I say we have 16 1st violins you should be able to tell me how many 2nds, violas, celli and basses would be standard. If I tell you we have 3 flutes, you should be able to tell me how many of all brass and winds we have. Any specific questions about the solo string instruments will be derived from the video links on the HMU397_notes_03a.html webpage as well as the ranges of each instrument. Remember my general rule... the top note of each string instrument is 15ma (2 octaves) higher than the highest open string on that instrument. You will also need to know the correct clef for each string instrument including the Alto Clef for Viola and you will need to explain which of the string instruments is a "transposing" instrument and what that means. Today we covered the harp. Again you need to know the construction and parts. I will give you pedal diagrams without the letter representations and you will need to tell me which notes are sharp, flat or natural. Or I may give you the letter names and ask you to write the pedal chart. We may have lots of fun with examples that technically can not be played as written because of enharmonic problems and you may be asked to solve the problems with the fewest amount of pedal changes. Same video rules will apply. If I show you a video of a bisbigliando or a pres de la table or any other technique, you should be able to tell me what you are seeing and hearing and give me the appropriate notation. You will not be asked to identify any technique via audio alone. Until Orchestration II next semester, you will have the visual aid. There will also be a more creative section where I might ask you to give me appropriate adjectives for the sound of certian playing techniques. You need to start associating these sounds and colors and textures with things you already know in your mind so that you can call upon them in the future. This is a great way to do that. I may ask something like "describe the sound of Col Legno Battuto" I hope you tell me something closer to wooden raindrops than to a hazy twilight. There may also be a creative section of the quiz where you orchestrate a simple piano passage for strings and/or harp. As long as its technically possible to play your orchestration, you will get 100% in this section. However, I will be much more critical of your creative work in the quiz than in the homework as I try to open up your creativity.
Topics for review:
Seating Chart of entire orchestra including number of players and principal players
Staff layout for strings and harp
Any historical information presented in the book or webnotes
Visual identification of all string instruments and their parts
Open strings on all string instruments and their qualities.
Transcriptions from Treble to Bass or Treble to Alto or Alto to Bass and visa versa.
Plausability of double, triple and quadruple stops
Table of relative Accents Hats, Wedges,
All Phrase Markings and how and when to phrase a string line.
All Bow Markings both by name and notation of and graphic symbol for both legato and detache bowings both on and off the strings (including but not limited to Loure, Staccato, Slurred Staccato, Martele, Spiccato, Saltando, Slurred Spiccato, Jete, Arpeggiando, Trills, Tremolos- Bowed-Fingered-Measured-Undulating, Sul Tasto, Sul Ponticello, Col Legno Tratto, Col Legno Battuto, Pizzicato with right hand vs. Left hand. Snap Pizzicato, Sordino, Scordatura, Natural Harmonics, Artificial Harmonics, Contemporary String Techniques. Up Bows, Down Bows, Tip of Bow, Frog of bow,
Divisi vs. Non-Divisi
Glissandi and Portamento
Identification of playing techniques from any video on either the Adler CDs or on the Webnotes.
Harp Construction and parts and Pedal arrangment
Harp Pedal
markings: Create based on the music and identify
Harp Chords, harmonics, and all special effects including all trills temolos and Bisbigliando
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