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Re: string orchestra vibrato
- From: Sam Weiss <SamWeiss...>
- Subject: Re: string orchestra vibrato
- Date: Tue 02 Sep 2003 15.37 (GMT)
Thanks for that summation of string vibrato protocol. As a trumpet player
in a community concert wind band, I'm always aware of the need to
practically eliminate my vibrato, even for the occasional solo -- unless
for a special effect, which tends to prove the rule. But strings seem to
be immune from that restriction. Any thoughts from players of other
orchestral instruments?
At 12:19 AM 9/2/03, suzuki (at) cwnet(dot)com wrote:
>Wow. Thanks for the well-expressed insights, very interesting.
>
>In my past life as an orchestra violinist, vibrato was never discouraged
>as something that would keep the string section from playing in tune. In
>fact, passages where the composer specifically asks for non-vibrato are
>the most challenging to play in tune and with feeling. Orchestra string
>vibrato, once mastered, is a very effective way to "hide abd blend"
>intonation as well as bow distribution problems. In amateur orchestras,
>string sections are sometimes asked to practice without vibrato i/o to
>improve intonation, as a beginner's vibrato can be wobbly and throw the
>left hand out of balance. For concerts and recordings, the nice fat even
>buzz of a string section vibrato is something American audiences have come
>to expect and love for classical and romantic music. For the same reason
>, string players are encouraged to avoid the open strings (they can't be
>vibrated and will show mercylessly if the instrument goes out of tune).
>
>Vibrato tends to get thrown out completely for Baroque
>performances. Since it's a challenge to make the sound come alive without
>a Baroque bow, gut strings, and fundamentals of Baroque ornamentation
>(most ornamentation is not printed in the sheet music), non-vibrato makes
>for many well-intentioned but terribly boring Baroque orchestra
>performances that could benefit from an occasional tamed vibrato.
>
>String soloists use various speeds and widths of vibrato to alter the
>timbre of a note or passage. Orchestra string vibrato tends to be more
>uniform (narrow width, medium speed). Interestingly enough, the vibrato
>sound of old orchestra recordings from the 1920s and 30s is much less
>conformist and does not blend as much as today's typical orchestra. The
>old-time vibrato makes for a somewhat chaotic, exciting (everybody is
>talking at the same time but saying something different) sound.
>
>
>-Annette Brodovsky
Cantor Sam Weiss === Jewish Community Center of Paramus, NJ
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