Orchestration Tip: Harp Glissando Shortcuts
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- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
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I don't do much orchestration, only as a hobby, and the first time I tried writing for harp, I realized this tip was a thing. Recently I've forgotten it and wondered why I couldn't get my glissandi sounding right, so this is a timely video.
Good to hear it! :)
Excellent video, as always!
Your long form content is always absolutely stellar, but I'd be lying if I said that I didn't miss the occasional quick tip on a small detail of orchestration. I know a lot of them have been consolidated into your books, but I just wanted to say that little treats like this video are always appreciated!
Cheers, Kyle! I'd add that sometimes it's good to hear things demonstrated, which I can't do in book form.
Amazingly useful video and so well explained!
Please do a video on Mahler symphony 9
I love harps
I am reminded of the harp glissando at the opening of the Star Wars titles. In the score it is written as Bb melodic minor even though the piece is in Bb major. I never understood why he did that. Do you have an opinion on what he might have been going for when making this orchestration choice?
That gliss is over an F major triad - the V of I (Bb). If you analyze the scale with F as the root, it's just a F mixo scale with a b13. It's a V7b13 chord scale with the scale starting on the 3rd of F (A) and ending on the root of the Bb chord on the downbeat of the next bar. The actual harp gliss starts on a F and makes it super obvious what is going on. It sounds more exotic and less cheesy than a straight F mixo, fits better with the ambiguous harmonic language in the piece and foreshadows the Db in the descending Bb Aeolian scale at the end of the B section.
Spend 10 minutes a day for week going over the parallel modes of melodic minor. John Williams uses those all the time.
Has anyone ever tried to make a harp with double sharps and double flats? Think of the possibilities.
What’s the music you use?
The Pierné KonzertStück for harp and orchestra.
Any tips on lever harps?
I usually just focus on concert instruments.
Why are you writing for lever harps?
Are pentatonics the best for glissandi? Are there other ways?
There is no one best way. There's only the best approach that fits the passage of your music you're scoring. And there are countless ways you can set the harp strings for different effects.
@@OrchestrationOnline Great point. What other types of scales or chords can you set up for glissandi on a harp? I'm not the most familiar with harp pedaling.
Did Columbus Bring Enough Food Going to America?
He didn't have to worry about it, because when he got there, he met the Fat Cats Going Down Alleyways Eating Bread. ;)
in other words, no...
Excellent video, but please remember not all harpists are female!
Of course, I would know this having worked with dozens of orchestra and many many harpists over several decades as a composer and orchestrator. If I acknowledge gender occasionally, it is not exclusionary to anyone else, but respect and acknowledgement of the very kind, excellent harpists who have spent the time with me to make sure that my compositions and advice were both right for future harpists.