Bowed string instrument extended technique: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 04:06, 8 May 2008

Revision as of 01:08, 15 June 2008

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[[String instruments]] are capable of producing a variety of [[extended technique]] sounds. These alternative playing techniques have been used extensively in the [[20th century]]. Particularly famous examples of string instrument extended technique can be found in the music of [[Krzysztof Penderecki]] (particularly his ''[[Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima]]''), [[Witold Lutosławski]], [[George Crumb]], and [[Helmut Lachenmann]].

==Bowing techniques==

===Bowing the body of the instrument===

Bowing the body of a string instrument (which can include bowing the [[sound box]], [[neck (music)|neck]], [[tuning pegs]], or [[scroll (music)|scroll]]) produces almost no sound. At most the sound is a whisper of the [[horsehair|bow hair]] moving over the wood. For this reason bowing the body of an instrument is more of a visual effect than an auditory one. A good example of this technique in a musical work is [[Helmut Lachenmann|Helmut Lachenmann’s]] [[Toccatina (Lachenmann)|Toccatina]], a piece written in 1986 for solo violin which uses many extended techniques.

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===Bowing behind the bridge===

This fairly common extended technique involves bowing the instrument on the short length of string behind the bridge. The tone is very high and squeaky. Depending on the instrument the pitch of the tones may or may not be perceived ([[cello|cellos]]s and [[double bass|double basses]]es are more likely to produce recognizable pitches because of the longer length of their strings). This technique is used extensively in [[Krzysztof Penderecki|Krzysztof Penderecki’s]] ''[[Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima]]''. Another interesting example is found in [[Ferde Grofé|Ferde Grofé’s]] [[Grand Canyon Suite]] where bowing behind the bridge in a [[violin]] [[cadenza]] represents a donkey’s braying.

==Plucking techniques==

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==Tapping techniques==

==="Silent" fingering===

A performer can stop the strings with his left hand in an unusually forceful manure and thereby produce a percussive effect. Although quiet, the name “silent” is a misnomer and refers to the fact that the bow is often not applied when performing this effect.

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==Miscellaneous effects==

===“Chewing”===

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[[Image:Violin bow parts.jpg|150px|right|The screw of the bow]]

The bow can be held vertically and the screw of the bow placed firmly against a string either at the ___location of a fingered note or at some other point. The string can then be plucked with the right hand and the screw of the bow can be simultaneously dragged up or down the string. The effect of this is to produce a quiet rising or falling ping. This effect is used in [[Helmut Lachenmann|Helmut Lachenmann’s]] Toccatina.

==See also==