Best notation for 'out of tune' natural harmonics?
Posted: 19 Nov 2016, 12:26
I'm writing a piece for a virtuoso cellist that includes passages of very high natural harmonics. Some of these are between the notes of equal temperament, but attempting to notate them as 1/4 tones (which they aren't) would miss the point.
Might using the most usual text book notation for the harmonic series with an asterisk * placed over the severely 'out of tune' notes be a sensible approach? Actually, even the 3rd (perfect 12th) harmonic is very marginally out from equal temperament, but harmonics 7, 11, 13 & 14 are way different from the notes in any of our usual diatonic/chromatic scales.
I will need to confirm with the cellist just how high he can go while playing natural harmonics. Experimenting with a friend on a cello with gut strings we managed the 16th harmonic, which on the C string was a week, 'breathy', but atmospheric sound, while it was strong and clear on the A string. The cellist for whom I'm writing uses metal strings and has a super-secure technique, so …
Might using the most usual text book notation for the harmonic series with an asterisk * placed over the severely 'out of tune' notes be a sensible approach? Actually, even the 3rd (perfect 12th) harmonic is very marginally out from equal temperament, but harmonics 7, 11, 13 & 14 are way different from the notes in any of our usual diatonic/chromatic scales.
I will need to confirm with the cellist just how high he can go while playing natural harmonics. Experimenting with a friend on a cello with gut strings we managed the 16th harmonic, which on the C string was a week, 'breathy', but atmospheric sound, while it was strong and clear on the A string. The cellist for whom I'm writing uses metal strings and has a super-secure technique, so …