violin strumming
I would like to notate that a number of notes on the violin should be strummed. I understand first i put in the notes for a chord. Then in the palette for arpeggios I find there is a vertical arrow with straight lines and vertical arrow with wavy line. Is there a difference in meaning? is there a difference in the playback? Is either one appropriate? Is there a more standard or better way to indicate strumming? thanks again for your help.
Comments
No difference in playback
"Pizzicato" (plucked)
Here is an example from the Troika in Prokoviev's Lieutenant Kijé suite:
In reply to "Pizzicato" (plucked) Here… by Brer Fox
Not the same as strumming
In reply to Not the same as strumming by Jojo-Schmitz
thanks. how do i notate strumming?
In reply to thanks. how do i notate… by Philip Ellis Foster
Pizz for the sound straight arpeggios for the look maybe?
In reply to Pizz for the sound straight… by Jojo-Schmitz
it is strange because the text in the handbook refers to strumming but looks like there is no symbol for it. what is diff if any between straight and wavy arrow?
In reply to it is strange because the… by Philip Ellis Foster
The look, nothing else
In reply to Pizz for the sound straight… by Jojo-Schmitz
I am a violinist and I have played Lieutenant Kije several times. I assure you that 4-note chords like those are strummed - it's the only way to play them, backwards and forwards with the index finger - and there is no separate marking used. Single notes and 2-note chords marked pizz are plucked but more notes than that, if not marked divisi, have to be strummed as you are also holding the bow and don't have enough fingers free.
In reply to I am a violinist and I have… by Brer Fox
thanks very much. if i have a four note chord and beside it a straight or curvy arrow how would that be interpreted?
My piece is to be only strummed and plucked, imitating a lyre, and no bowing. would you do with this index finger or thumb?
In reply to Pizz for the sound straight… by Jojo-Schmitz
I am a violinist and I have played Lieutenant Kije several times. I assure you that 4-note chords like those are strummed - it's the only way to play them, backwards and forwards with the index finger. Single notes and 2-note chords marked pizz are plucked but more notes than that, if not marked divisi, have to be strummed as you are also holding the bow and don't have enough fingers free.
You could mark it Pizzicato strum, perhaps. I have never seen that in classical music as it is always clear from the context, but jazz and folk, etc. may be different.
In reply to "Pizzicato" (plucked) Here… by Brer Fox
thanks. not clear to me from your message. is this the way to notate strumming or plucking?
In reply to thanks. not clear to me from… by Philip Ellis Foster
"thanks very much. if i have a four note chord and beside it a straight or curvy arrow how would that be interpreted?"
If the piece were marked pizzicato throughout, I personally would wonder what you meant: to be strummed more slowly than a chord without the arrow? Marking the direction of the strum? Basically I'd want a footnote from you explaining what you are looking for!
"My piece is to be only strummed and plucked, imitating a lyre, and no bowing. would you do with this index finger or thumb?"
Again, my personal method would be to keep the violin on my shoulder as usual and use the index finger or perhaps index and middle fingers. Some players might hold the violin like a guitar and use the thumb and one or two fingers - I have tried this but not being used to it find it really hard to move the left hand up and down the fingerboard accurately.
HTH
In reply to "thanks very much. if i have… by Brer Fox
Sorry - I should have made it clear that I would not be holding the bow at all in a case like this.
In reply to "thanks very much. if i have… by Brer Fox
Hi Philip - I've just looked at your score Cortana. How many violins will be playing? It's not possible to play those 4-note chords on a single violin. And you don't need actually need a footnote about plucking and strumming - just mark it "Pizzicato throughout".
In reply to Hi Philip - I've just looked… by Brer Fox
thanks. its for solo violin. i think there are four strings so it should be possible to strum four notes. it may depend on which notes though.
In reply to thanks. its for solo violin… by Philip Ellis Foster
You can't play more than one note on one string! You could either play Db and F on the bottom two strings, or Eb and G, but not all four notes on one instrument. Close chords in the lower register like that are not possible unless you have two players.
In reply to You can't play more than one… by Brer Fox
thanks very much. i am using the ancient Greek Dorian mode for the piece, or the F minor/Ab Major scale. I had a short talk with the violinist about scordatura and we decided i would just send him what i posted and am waiting for his response. i totally agree with you but i don't know which chords are possible and which not and hope the violinist will explain
In reply to thanks very much. i am… by Philip Ellis Foster
All right - I hadn't thought of scordatura. Tune the higher strings down too far may leave them too slack to play properly, but your violinist will be able to advise you properly. All the best with it!
In reply to All right - I hadn't thought… by Brer Fox
i am wondering, if i had for each of the four strings with standard tuning the range of notes that could be played on that string then i could make four note chords by choosing one note from each string. Does this make sense?
In reply to i am wondering, if i had for… by Philip Ellis Foster
Yes, it would help a lot though you'd need to avoid impossible stretches. You really need to get together with your violinist to work out what is feasible.