At 3:54 PM +0100 7/27/09, Colin Broom wrote:
I figure there's a lot of epxerienced strong players and
orchestrators out there, and I've read some very good advice here
before, so here goes:
Can anyone tell me (as much as it is possible to describe something
like this) on an orchestral string instrument what effect applying
the mute has on harmonics, artificial or natural?
Absolutely none! The tone will, of course, be slightly softer and
have fewer overtones, which is what a mute does, but playing the
harmonics themselves will not change an iota.
The confusion here may be semantics, since "harmonic" and "overtone"
are synonymous in some situations, but in this situation they are
not. "Harmonic" refers to a special effect usually associated with
stringed instruments, and while it uses the nodal points representing
the natural harmonic series it refers to a technique and the sound
produced by that technique. "Overtones" refers to the specific
makeup of any tone more complex than a simple sine wave, and in this
context refers to the resultant tonal quality as modified by using a
mute, playing string harmonics, or playing sul ponticello. Two
different animals hiding behind non-interchangeable meanings (in this
particular context).
Does it even have much of an effect? Or does it even cause problems
in the playing of them?
In no way at all.
Similarly, what effect does the mute have on sul pont.?
None, unless the mute used is so bulky that it prevents the bow from
getting close enough to the bridge. You'll again lose some of the
higher overtones, so the effect will in fact be less pronounced.
If anyone can even point me in the direction of pieces that make use
of either or these (with mute) I'd be grateful.
They are three entirely different special effects, and as it happens
they do not affect one another in any very meaningful way. Mix and
match to your taste. Just don't ask for mutes when what you really
want is soft playing. Con sordino is a tone quality, not just a
volume level. (Of course string players instinctively hate sul
ponticello, since the effect it one of fingernails on a slate
blackboard, but we humor composers who think it's a neat effect!)
John
--
John R. Howell, Assoc. Prof. of Music
Virginia Tech Department of Music
College of Liberal Arts & Human Sciences
Blacksburg, Virginia, U.S.A. 24061-0240
Vox (540) 231-8411 Fax (540) 231-5034
(mailto:john.how...@vt.edu)
http://www.music.vt.edu/faculty/howell/howell.html
"We never play anything the same way once." Shelly Manne's
definition
of jazz musicians.
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