Strings

Question 1

Usual number of first and second violjns

Answer 1

1st: 16-18
2nd: 14-16

Question 2

Purpose of vibrato effect

Answer 2

Increase intensity of sustained note/pitch without disturbing original pitch excessively

Question 3

Difference between gliss and port on string instruments

Answer 3

1. Gliss: The slide between notes is purposefully loud and audible
2. Port: usually to connect between two notes separated by a great distance. More natural

Question 4

What is fingered gliss?

Answer 4

Gliss with pitches notated in between two notes. The general sound will be a blurred gliss

Question 5

The usual bowing when starting an anacrusis (up-bow or down-bow?)

Answer 5

Up bow, unless specified

Question 6

A slur between two identical pitching notes is notated with the same bowing (e.g. up-bow), but a dash is placed at the second note. How will the performer play this?

Answer 6

Play both pitches with up-bow but with a brief pause between notes (the dash indicates brief separation between the two notes, not a tenuto)

Question 7

Which bowing, the up-bow or down-bow, is it easier to execute a crescendo?

Answer 7

Up-bow, because the bowing pressure at the frog is greater (hand is closer)

Question 8

If many notes are to be played by one bow, what are two solutions?

Answer 8

1. Split the bowing
2. Split players to stagger their bowing (this can produce a seamless long legato)

Question 9

What is détaché?

Answer 9

Changing the direction of bowing for each note:
- Fast passages: usually upper-third of the bow is used
- mf/f passages: bowed closer to the frog

Question 10

Bowing to achieve strong and vigorous effects?

Answer 10

Down-bow on consecutive notes at the frog

Question 11

What is Louré (french) or portato (italian)

Answer 11

Separating each note slightly while maintaining a bowing (e.g down-bow all the way on four same notes)

Question 12

Staccato vs Loure/Portato

Answer 12

Staccato: Shorter notes, usually with different bowing with longer pauses between each notes (can also be same bowing indicated by slurs, but notes are way shorter)
Loure/portato: Notes only separated by a brief pause, played using the same bowing and noted with a dash underneath with slur indicating bow-changes

Question 13

How are semiquavers with staccato notation played by strings?

Answer 13

If a long note precedes that note, down-bow the long note and use a up-bow to play the note lightly
- Note: usually such notes are played at the tip of the bow using up-bow

Question 14

What is Martelé and bow is it notated?

Answer 14

Well-articulate separate heavy bow strokes resembling sfz. The bow DOES NOT LEAVE THE STRING, although there is a short pause between each note. Each new stroke is initiated with a heavy accent
- Notation: accent, staccatissimo, or symbol that indicates choked triangle

Question 15

What are the three types of spiccato?

Answer 15

1. Conscious spiccato: purposefully bouncing the bow in the middle during passages at slow/moderate tempo
2. Saltando (aka spontaneous spiccato): Short quick motion of the wrist while playing makes the bow auto-bounce off the string in fast passages
3. Slurred spiccato: Group of notes played using spiccato in a single bow. Notated by staccato with slurs indicating which notes to spicc