 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: johng ★2017
Date: 2006-06-05 01:56
Are there composers whose music the list members find harder than other as far as intonation is concerned? For example, I find Beethoven's symphonies generally more difficult for intonation than Mozart's symphonies. I am just curious if others feel the same way.
I also wonder why that would be, and my quick conclusion is the style of orchestration of chords. Beethoven seemed to favor more open 5ths and 6ths and octaves in the upper woodwinds. Is that it, or am I just imagining this?
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Author: clarinetist04
Date: 2006-06-05 02:02
Hmm...a couple of operas I've read through had quarter tones...pretty tough to get right really. But in the end, if you play it in tune or not, the audience doesn't know the difference because of the clusters that were used. The piano part had a section where two pianos played, one tuned a quarter tone higher than the other, and they would take boards and press whole sections of the piano down at the same time. Wierd stuff.
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Author: johng ★2017
Date: 2006-06-05 02:55
Quarter tones would certainly be hard for our western ears. Did you do anything special to be able to hear those accurately?
Mostly I am interested in hearing about more mainstream music, though.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2006-06-05 15:27
The western ears comment is as interesting as the original one. I share your interest in the analysis thing but am of no help.
Bob Draznik
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Author: diz
Date: 2006-06-06 06:05
Beethoven is often seen as being difficult because "some" of the woodwind writting is in thirds and then paired at the octave (up or down depending on who's playing what). The intonation problems result from trying to blend, for example, the oboes with the flutes an octave higher ... oboes have VERY strong overtones and sometimes these are almost as obvious as their primary notes. Ask any flute or oboe play playing Es and Fs (top of treble staff and an octave higher for the flute).
I'm not sure if this is the intonation you're referring to.
Without music, the world would be grey, very grey.
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Author: johng ★2017
Date: 2006-06-06 13:49
Perhaps diz is right about what I find to be difficult with Beethoven's orchestration. It seems like many composers write the woodwinds in thirds, but maybe Beethoven often left that top octave open with the flutes in thirds an octave higher than the oboes and the clarinets filling in below. I'm not complaining, since that special sound is what sets Beethoven apart. It just seems harder to tune as a section. I just want to understand it.
johng
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