Bowed string instrument extended technique: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 19:14, 5 November 2018

Revision as of 22:15, 7 July 2019

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==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 peg]]s, or [[scroll (music)|scroll]]) produces a quiet sound whose amplitude differs according to the place bowed, bow pressure and bow speed. At most the sound is a whisper of the [[horsehair|bow hair]] moving over the wood. A good example of this technique in a musical work is [[Helmut Lachenmann|Helmut Lachenmann’sLachenmann's]] [[Toccatina (Lachenmann)|Toccatina]], a piece written in 1986 for solo violin which uses many extended techniques.

===Bowing on the bridge===

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bridge) is a similar, more common technique.

The other method involves the performer holding the instrument in their lap, placing the bow parallel to the instrument and firmly dragging it across the side of the bridge. In this case the sound is loud, high pitched and squeaky. An example of this playing technique can be found in [[Gérard Grisey|Gérard Grisey’sGrisey's]] [[Vortex Temporum]] (1995). [[Helmut Lachenmann]] often uses a soft version of this technique, creating a quiet, white-noise-like sound.

===Bowing the tailpiece===

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===Bowing behind the bridge===

{{main|3rd 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. [[3rd bridge]] is a term more used on [[electric guitar]]s or [[prepared guitar]]s, but is the same technique. Playing the instrument at a string part behind the bridge causes the opposed part of the string to resonate. The tone is louder at harmonic relations of the bridge string length. On violins the tone can be very high, even above human hearing range. Depending on the instrument the pitch of the tones may or may not be perceived ([[cello]]s and [[double bass]]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’sPenderecki's]] ''[[Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima]]''. Another interesting example is found in [[Ferde Grofé|Ferde Grofé’sGrofé's]] [[Grand Canyon Suite]] where bowing behind the bridge on a [[violin]] [[cadenza]] is used in the representation of a donkey’sdonkey's braying.

===Col Legno===

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===Buzz pizzicato===

Buzz pizzicato is created by placing a left hand finger parallel to the string and plucking the string forcefully so that the plucked string buzzes against the [[fingerboard]]. An excellent example of this can be found at the beginning of [[Zhou Long|Zhou Long’sLong's]] [[Song of the Ch’in]] (1982).

===Snap pizzicato===

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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’sLachenmann's]] Toccatina.

==See also==