 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Late_returner
Date: 2013-08-03 11:04
I was taught that the staccato dot was basically for printing convenience: it saved printing a half value and a rest. This is what I hear in most/all ( ?) staccato passages.
But I remember there is another definition where it is defined as “detached” or “separated”.
I take it that under the “detached” definition you would play a ¼ note as : 1/16 rest, 1/8 sound, 1/16 rest to detach the sound from the earlier as well as the later phrase, and it follows under this definition a staccato note can never be sounded on the beat (?)
Do we still recognise the “detached” definition ? If it is intended, would it be shown in a different way on a score ?
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2013-08-03 12:55
I'm not sure where you got the second example.
A note designated to be played "on a beat" or on "an up beat" will ALWAYS be played there. The separation would come from taking away some sound from the previous note.
That said, I would respectfully say that the first definition of yours is a very, VERY loose guideline and should NOT be taken literally. The sound you make out of "shorter notes" should ALWAYS be taken in context (some will be longer, some shorter).
And with that in mind, I can't tell you how many godawful examples I've heard where the staccato notes are executed like peckish little jackhammers. Always look for a reason to make each note beautiful, no matter how short you may think they should be played.
...................Paul Aviles
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Author: kdk
Date: 2013-08-03 13:20
As I've always understood it, staccato in Italian means "detached." It is generally used by string players to mean notes that are separated by changing the bow direction but not lifting the bow off the string ("spiccato" involves lifting). Length for string players becomes a separate (pun intended) issue - do you stop the bow at the direction change and, if so, for how long? Staccato is an antonym for legato which means "connected" or, in musical terms for string players, slurred. String players adopted all these terms - they were assimilated by wind players as they joined the predominantly string-populated ensembles.
That said, the length of staccato notes (or the silent space between the sounding notes) and the sound of their "attack" and "release" are mostly a matter of appropriate style. Depends on the composer, the musical context and, often the ensemble (band/orchestra/chamber).
Karl
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Author: Late_returner
Date: 2013-08-03 14:36
Paul,Karl
Thanks for input.
I agree, and I didn't mean to imply a shortening has to be 50/50.
Paul asks where the second definition comes from. I do remember a warning not to forget "detached" means at both ends, but can't recall where it is. David Pinto says "the word staccato does not mean short, what it really means is separated" (as Karl) But I agree Pinto doesn't go on to suggest he's using " separate" to include an initial rest, mentions" short " and the usual warning against insensitivity.
I will conclude that if I am ever required to do initial rests there will be some way to know ! and in this context "separate" may not mean " short" except that it does !
Regards
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Author: Grabnerwg
Date: 2013-08-03 14:37
Karl is right.
Staccato (for clarinet players) means START and STOP the note with the tongue. The actual length of the note is determined by the style of the music.
You would be amazed by the number of students I see who do not understand this.
Walter Grabner
www.clarinetxpress.com
New CXZ_G11* mouthpiece
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Author: beejay
Date: 2013-08-05 21:10
I believe it was the violinist Joachim who described detached notes as coming in three varieties: snow, rain and hail.
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