Modern convention on this cello passage
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John Ruggero
- Posts: 2746
- Joined: 05 Oct 2015, 14:25
- Location: Raleigh, NC USA
Re: Modern convention on this cello passage
Thanks for the great explanation, Neera!
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Re: Modern convention on this cello passage
You are most welcome!
Here are two possible options:
(1)
(2)
The first one is hyper-clear, with complete string indicators and harmonic circles.
The second one—which I would expect coming from a non-string-player composer—only states the minimum necessary to avoid any misunderstanding. 0+circle = open string + harmonic, with one and only one option to play that correctly. 'III' under the D-A is unmistakable: 4th position, G-D strings.
'0' above D-C may appear misleading but it is again super-clear because there is no middle-C open string on cello so it must be the D.
In this last case, a 'II' under D-C may have not been enough because the middle-C is available in the D string in the previous position.
Here are two possible options:
(1)
- Screenshot 2025-07-19 alle 10.28.08.png (51.55 KiB) Viewed 6 times
- Screenshot 2025-07-19 alle 10.29.15.png (51.31 KiB) Viewed 6 times
The second one—which I would expect coming from a non-string-player composer—only states the minimum necessary to avoid any misunderstanding. 0+circle = open string + harmonic, with one and only one option to play that correctly. 'III' under the D-A is unmistakable: 4th position, G-D strings.
'0' above D-C may appear misleading but it is again super-clear because there is no middle-C open string on cello so it must be the D.
In this last case, a 'II' under D-C may have not been enough because the middle-C is available in the D string in the previous position.