Harp: Notation

Hey there,

I just discovered this awesome harp technique:

How would you write it down in a large orchestral score to make it comprehensible for the harpist?

- Keman

haha, simple, what you need is someone else to play it because the harpist will never do that :P

what about a makwingka's sfffffz ?

haha, simple, what you need is someone else to play it because the harpist will never do that :P

what about a makwingka's sfffffz ?

Ow... :-( Why?

Uhm, and just all the notes in a chord with an arpeggio sign? Or maybe a link to that youtube video?

You can't put a link to YouTube in a professional score...

She plays a sort of C,D,E,F arpeggio in (I think you can right this) sfffz even sffffz but no more f

hahahah. Thunder effect? That's a standard harp technique...

*looks in standard harp notation book*

According to my book, you just write it the SAME way you write a piano cluster, and you write "Thunder Effect". If you want the sound to be dampened right after, you write the "coda"-dampen sign on the stem. If you need a picture, I can upload one.

But, apparently it is used a lot in contemporary literature.

hahahah. Thunder effect? That's a standard harp technique...

*looks in standard harp notation book*

According to my book, you just write it the SAME way you write a piano cluster, and you write "Thunder Effect". If you want the sound to be dampened right after, you write the "coda"-dampen sign on the stem. If you need a picture, I can upload one.

But, apparently it is used a lot in contemporary literature.

Thank you! Uhm, I didn't know it, my orchestration books don't mention that, I guess it's because they're rather old. I'd love to see a picture.

I have to agree with SYS65 on this one. I do not advise writing that. The pitch-bending may even be too much also. You can ask for whatever you want; however, that isn't wise.

Eh. I disagree... I've heard it many times this year. And, while I DO agree that in a large orchestral format, this is not a wise decision as it won't sound...

in a chamber or VERY not dense texture, it should work beautifully. And, my notation suggestions are above. All the harpists here at Jacobs would know exactly what you meant, even if you just wrote "low thunder rumble" and a durational value on the score.

hehehe. Precisely... Maybe someday, people will actually tell percussionists to PLAY SOLO MUSIC.

I should quit being a composer now, before it's too late!

I agree, enough with all of these extended techniques! Nobody, especially performers, actually want to hear non-traditional sounds!

If people start writing for this, then what? Maybe someday people will actually tell pianists to stick screws inbetween the strings of their concert steinways!

Why not just write a nice Mm7 chord instead?

It's for a movie score, in a sequence where the mood is very insecure and the whole orchestra is playing pp. I want something that people haven't heard yet. No extended techniques for the rest of the piece. :P

I agree, enough with all of these extended techniques! Nobody, especially performers, actually want to hear non-traditional sounds!

If people start writing for this, then what? Maybe someday people will actually tell pianists to stick screws inbetween the strings of their concert steinways!

Why not just write a nice Mm7 chord instead?

I think extended techniques are fine as long as they don't feel gimmicky, and they very often do for me.

If people start writing for this, then what? Maybe someday people will actually tell pianists to stick screws inbetween the strings of their concert steinways!

You're not supposed to do that? :hmmm:

Patrick... woah...

Don't get any bright ideas!

Hahahahaha

I agree, enough with all of these extended techniques! Nobody, especially performers, actually want to hear non-traditional sounds!

If people start writing for this, then what? Maybe someday people will actually tell pianists to stick screws inbetween the strings of their concert steinways!

Why not just write a nice Mm7 chord instead?

yeah, haha, next thing you know some crazy dude is gonna put a bunch of useless garbage in a piano and write a ton of sona...oh, wait

yeah, haha, next thing you know some crazy dude is gonna put a bunch of useless garbage in a piano and write a ton of sona...oh, wait

Too late.

Sciarrino didn't but useless stuff in his pianos, silly.