As a violinist, my
initial instinct was that there is little difference between muted and non-muted
pizzicato. After seeing several replies to the contrary, I pulled out the
old fiddle and did a real world test. Knowing enough not to trust the
sound right under my ear, I asked my wife (a violist) to listen and assess how
much difference she heard between muted and non-muted pizz. The result:
little to no difference in sound, whether low or up high on a string.
There was even less difference for short string length pizz. than for long
string length pizz., maybe because there's less resonance and the actual length
of the sound is shorter as you move up a string.
I wouldn't hesitate
at all keeping the mute on for pizz. if it helps the logistics of a
passage. I don't recall any passages in orchestral literature that
specifically ask for mutes during a pizz. passage. Does anyone have a
counterexample?
Lee Actor
Composer-in-Residence and Assistant Conductor, Palo Alto Philharmonic
http://www.leeactor.com
Composer-in-Residence and Assistant Conductor, Palo Alto Philharmonic
http://www.leeactor.com
Hi Darcy,
If the pizz. passage in question is short, I'd go ahead and risk it. I don't really agree that the mutes will dampen the sound so much that the passage will be compromised, unless really high notes (short string lengths) will be involved. What is the register in the various string sections?
Chuck
On Apr 25, 2005, at 1:01 PM, Darcy James Argue wrote:
Hey all,
I have a question about muted pizzicato in an orchestral string section. I'm curious how much the mutes actually dampen the pizz. sound, and how much impact they have on the actual timbre. Do any examples from the literature leap to mind?
- Darcy
-----
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Brooklyn, NY
_______________________________________________ Finale mailing list [email protected] http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
