Instrument Guide for Composers

RCM Sparks Springboard Composition Course: Instrument guidance notes for composers This resource is made up of guidance notes provided for young composers participating in our composition courses. Although it is not fully formed, we hope it may be of some help to others who may be composing at home or school. RCM Sparks is the Royal College of Music’s learning and participation programme. To find out more and get involved visitwww.rcm.ac.uk/sparks Copyright © 2020 Fraser Trainer & Charlotte Bray Flute Range and Characteristics ( ( ( ( lowest note lowest note Highest with B-foot comfortable extension note The flute is a woodwind instrument with a range from B below middle C (or B3) to C three octaves above middle C (C7). The low register is dark and lush, although tends to be quite soft, especially when played simultaneously with other instruments. The high register speaks very brightly and clearly, but it is particularly difficult to play with a soft dynamic at the very top end (or to play high for extended periods of time). Playing Techniques • The flute can be very agile and flexible, so don’t be afraid to write passages that bounce around quickly (although don’t do it all the time or it might wear thin!). • Remember that, generally speaking, the higher you ask a flute to play, the more air will be required – so it’s difficult to hold higher notes for a long time. • Finally: remember that the flautist has to breathe!! If you write too long or continuous a passage, the player will have to interrupt it with quick breaths midway through, or else they will pass out. If you’re not sure about something you’ve written in this regard, try singing it out loud to yourself – if it feels like you’re running out of breath at the end chances are it will be similar on flute! Oboe Range and Characteristics B F The oboe can achieve smooth melodies across the range, but is also suits short and spiky writing. It can’t play very quietly in the low register. It can play multiphonics (many sounds heard at once). Bassoon Range and Characteristics Range: Bb1 to A A B Parts for the bassoon are normally written in the bass clef, except for the higher register when the treble clef becomes easier to read. It has a large register with an even sound throughout and produces a veiled, velvet and melancholy character. In the very lowest regions of the instrument it’s hard to play very quietly. Higher notes sound increasing unearthly and mysterious. The bassoon is an agile instrument and traditionally it has taken on the role of playing bass lines, been used to exploit a comedic character and has also been used to express a lyrical, lonely and melancholy mood. It’s not a loud instrument so take care not to obscure it when writing ensemble and orchestral music. The bassoon is not a transposing instrument, so write the notes you want to hear! Hear it in: Stravinsky’s Octet Tchaikovsky’s Symphony 4-6 Ravel’s Piano Concerto Beethoven’s Symphony 4-6 Bartok’s Concerto For Orchestra Trumpet Range and Characteristics C G The trumpet has a bright sound in the upper register and thicker sound in the very low register. The trumpet can be lyrical as well as being short, incisive and loud. The trumpet can play with a mute which makes the sound thinner and more metallic. Tenor Trombone A Range and Characteristics Range: A1 to E2 (written range). Range: E2 to F5. F Low Register: E2 to F3. Full, yet dark and somewhat ‘tubby’. Not as strong as the upper range. Middle Register: F#3 to F4. High Register: F#4 to F5. Very sonorous, rich and full, progressivel more brilliant in the upper register. The trombone and trumpet families are very similar in terms of sound except for the fact that the trombone operates in a lower register and uses a slide mechanism. The shape of the instrument gives it its brassy character. Its tone is powerful and resonant and it is capable of extreme dynamics, cutting through a full symphony orchestra easily in the higher register. Multiple mutes are available: straight mute, harmon mute and cup mute are most common. Be careful with demanding continuous playing in the high or extreme low registers and try to avoid fast big leaps. Very fast passages at the bottom of the register are almost impossible to play. It is not a transposing instrument and should be written at sounding pitch in either the bass clef, or treble clef when writing high on the instrument. Softer dynamic levels, tone quality is horn-like and full. Louder dynamic, timbre becomes bright, massive and strong. Rapid repeated notes and quick short musical figures are not problematic. Glissandos for the trombone are possible up to the interval of a tritone (diminished 5th ; E to Bb). (Check this video out for more info: https://youtu.be/FWuYLFTe3_8) Hear it in: Stravinsky’s A Soldiers Tale Bartok’s The Miraculous Mandarin Berio’s Sequenza Edgard Varèse’s Octandre Soprano Saxophone Range and Characteristics Soprano Written Sounds Range: Ab3 to Eb6. Low Register: Ab3 to F4. Reedy, full and somewhat rough sounding. Soft dynamics and attacks are difficult to achieve. Middle Register: F4 to Bb5. Smooth, sweet and clear tone. Control over both dynamics and tone colour is excellent. High Register: Bb5 to Eb6. Brilliant quality, although may become edgy, shrill and somewhat pinched. Extremely agile instrument, able to play embellished melodies, rapid skips, arpeggios. and scale-lie passages. Be careful! Rapid repeated notes are not well-suited to this instrument. Flutter tonguing are available to the performer (to make a “FrrrrFrrrr” sound, a raspy, growling effect). flz. French Horn Range and Characteristics Range: Bb1 to F2 (sounding pitch) (written pitch) C F F B The French horn is the most smooth and mellow of all the brass instruments. It can play gently and quietly as well as sounding noble and heroic. It’s easiest to play and sounds most characteristic in the upper two-thirds of its range. Parts are written in treble clef except for when writing in bass clef for the lowest register, where the sound is weaker and more flabby. The horn is a transposing instrument. Its sounds five notes lower than written. (Write a middle C and it will sound F below). The sound can be changed by using a mute and by “stopping”.This is where the player completely blocks the airway with the hand in the bell so that the sound becomes buzzy, nasal and distant. It’s a great effect! As with all brass instruments, payers need time to breathe and to rest from passages of sustained playing. Avoid fast passage with big leaps! Hear it in: Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring Any Symphony by Mahler Mozart’s Horn Concerto no. 4 Richard Strauss Horn Concerto no. 1 or 2 Violin Range and Characteristics 8 va The range of the violin is: 8 va A recommendation for the most appropriate playing range on each stringis: G D A E Playing Techniques Arco means to play with the bow But where can you play? - Sul pont. (on the bridge) creating a sharp, acidic sound - Sul tasto (on the fingerboard) creating a soft, sweet sound Pizzicato – plucking Con sord. – with the mute, creating a muffled, darker sound) Two strings can be played at once One string can be played as a drone (cello, double bass) Natural and artificial harmonics are possible The character of each string varies hugely. The G string is full, rich, dark, strong tone; the D string is softer and mellow; the A string is brighter, more penetrating yet rounded in sound; the E string is very bright and projects well Hear it in: Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending. This is a good example of the beautiful tone of the E string. The opening of Ravel’s Tzigane. This is a good example of the rich tone of the G string. Viola Range and Characteristics The Viola is a string instrument, whose open strings are tuned to C3, G3, D4, and A4. Viola players normally read the Alto Clef, with middle C on the middle line of the stave, but can also read Treble Clef when called upon. Tuning of open strings Tuning of open strings Highest Highest comfortable comfortable Lowest note note note Lowest note It is possible to play notes up to about an octave-and a-fifth above each open string, effectively giving the Viola a range from C below middle C (C3) to E two and-a-bit octaves above middle C (E6). You can sometimes ask the violist to play a given passage on a certain string, but bear in mind that it is generally harder/impractical to play in the highest range on the C and G strings. The low register is rich and vibrant, and very characteristic. The high register is ever so slightly thinner but still very present and beautiful. The Viola can play across the entire dynamic range, regardless of how low or high a given note is. Playing Techniques • The Viola doesn’t necessarily have to be treated as a melodic, single-line instrument – you can in fact, within reason, play two strings simultaneously or (‘double stops’). • The Viola doesn’t just have to be bowed. You can also pluck the strings (‘pizzicato’), almost like a guitar, to produce a completely different sonic texture. It’s a great way to provide some contrast within your piece, and works fantastically in combination with other instruments! (Although bear in mind that pizz.

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