Thinking if This Was to be Performed Live
So I’m currently working on an orchestration of “U.N. Owen was Her?” and near the end of the piece, I want to have a sort of shaking or earthquake effect as the tension continues to rise in the last minute or so of the song. The only way I can think of that is to have the cellos and basses tremolo as fast as possible, but continuously for almost a minute straight. If this was to be performed live, would that be unreasonable for me to notate and should I find another way that doesn’t risk overusing the cello and bass players’ limbs?
Comments
Have a look for a soundfont which emulates a thunder sheet:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunder_sheet
The amazing percussionist Evelyn Glennie has made a few videos about the use of the thunder sheet:
https://youtu.be/3ioEReM50pU
https://youtu.be/KFbTz5qAaFs
In reply to Have a look for a soundfont… by DanielR
It is certainly interesting to experiment with special sound fonts in Musescore to find out which real instruments are best able to reproduce this.
But my understanding of the question is whether a cello and bass player with a fast tremolo can cope with it for a minute or so in a live performance.
My recommendation: ask the musicians who are supposed to play it .... :-)
In reply to It is certainly interesting… by HildeK
I think good string players could do it (there are techniques), but a long roll on a large bass drum would perhaps be more effective if no thunder sheet is available.