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  4. 16th Notes Melody. Best Combination of Articulations?

  • 16th Notes Melody. Best Combination of Articulations?

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    Hi,

    I am using the Dimension Strings Violins to create a melody primarily consisting of 16th notes, and the piece runs at 100 bpm.

    Since I am not a violin player, I am wondering, what is the best way to combine the different fast articulations to a achieve a natural sound? At my disposal I have: Staccato, Portato, Spiccato, Fast Detache, Sforzato, Sforzatissimo, and Marcato.

    This is not a simple arpeggio, but a long evolving melody. Right now, I am using just Portato and it sounds decent, but I am not sure on combining other articulations as maybe it won't be natural. For example, do I have to start with a short detache on the first note followed by a Portato? I tried combining Spiccato, but wasn't fully convinced.

    I would love the opinion of violin players of the dos and dont's in combining fast articulations!

    Thank you!

    -Nektarios
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    W

    That will be nearly impossible for anyone to answer since there are probably dozens of ways to articulate a passage each having its own character.  My advice would be to listen to lots of music, get study scores and see how composers articulate similar passages and try different articulations for yourself to see what you like.  There's no one right answer, but I do suspect there are wrong answers if that makes sense. 
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    @winknotes_282 said:

    That will be nearly impossible for anyone to answer since there are probably dozens of ways to articulate a passage each having its own character.  My advice would be to listen to lots of music, get study scores and see how composers articulate similar passages and try different articulations for yourself to see what you like.  There's no one right answer, but I do suspect there are wrong answers if that makes sense. 

    Thank you! I am aware of the "sound" of each articulation and was wondering was is good to combine. For example, can I combine Portato with Spicatto? Does it make sense for a violin player? Don't forget, the passage is always 16th notes at 100bpm. My issue really is not knowing if a specific combination is bad. I will do as you advised. 
  • Beat KaufmannB
    Beat KaufmannB
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    Hi Nektarios

    Nice to meet you here 😉

    Because I do not know anything about your piece of music - Here are some general tips:

    A) Try to build in a groove into the 16th with accents (an accent on every 1/4 note) Example with accents (you can build accents with increasing the velocity for the 1/4 note or for changing to sfz or what ever)

    B) Vary the velocity between every note. Even if a violinist plays the same velocity it varies.

    C) The downstroke note tends to be a bit louder then the upstroke one (every second note) - specialy with fast played notes. An Example which shows B) an C) (choose No33)

    D) Within the micro variations between the notes itself (velocity) do not forget to enhance the melody over all with "velocity bows".

    E) Vary the tempo even if you have 16th. Example for E) (choose No 34, Example B)

    This folowing example shows most of A)-E) in one short piece. Example here No21 (See the notes and listen to the sound). You see there are a lot of possibilities to play fast 16th:

    All the best

    Beat

    - Tips & Tricks while using Samples of VSL.. see at: https://www.beat-kaufmann.com/vitutorials/ - Tutorial "Mixing an Orchestra": https://www.beat-kaufmann.com/mixing-an-orchestra/
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    Hi Beat,

    Nice to hear from you again! Wow, *thank you* so much for such a thorough answer! Really Love the examples.

    I will apply your suggestions for sure and start with accents first, which I haven't been using. I have also been varying the velocities, but I am possibly doing it in an unnatural way (I typically vary them as a sine wave).

    What are velocity bows?

    Thanks again!

    Cheers,

    -Nektarios
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    Do velocity bows mean how fast you are bowing? So would involve time stretching the samples?

    If I adust velocities, as notes go up, I would have a lower velocity than notes going down (if I understand correctly)?

    Thanks again!

    Cheers,

    -Nektarios
  • Beat KaufmannB
    Beat KaufmannB
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    @nektarios said:

    Do velocity bows mean how fast you are bowing?

    Sorry my English. Each melody has its certain "bows" in the volume...

    Watch this video please:


     

    Have fun

    Beat

    - Tips & Tricks while using Samples of VSL.. see at: https://www.beat-kaufmann.com/vitutorials/ - Tutorial "Mixing an Orchestra": https://www.beat-kaufmann.com/mixing-an-orchestra/
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    WOW!!! This video NAILED it fot me! Awesome!!! THANKS BEAT!!! What library were you using? Solo Strings? Question, if I start with a sfz then use legato, does this trigger faster legato samples? Btw the piece sounds VERY CLEAN. Thanks again!!! Cheers, Nektarios PS: Can't believe it's one year since my wedding! :-) :-)
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    Below is the piece done with Dimension Strings (Violins).

    First one is my original version with just portato and varying velocities. Second one is the same piece with sfz accents.

    a. Original - 16th Notes - Portato

    b. Revision with Sfz Accents

    I am not sure with the sfz one. Maybe I need a different accent.
  • Beat KaufmannB
    Beat KaufmannB
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    @Another User said:

    PS: Can't believe it's one year since my wedding! 😊 :-)

    Congratulation, my dear. You managed the first year! 😉 Time is running very fast. Therefore I am "working on" number 34 and it still seems to me that my marriage was only a little bit before yesterday... 😉

    Beat

    - Tips & Tricks while using Samples of VSL.. see at: https://www.beat-kaufmann.com/vitutorials/ - Tutorial "Mixing an Orchestra": https://www.beat-kaufmann.com/mixing-an-orchestra/
  • Beat KaufmannB
    Beat KaufmannB
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    @nektarios said:

    Below is the piece done with Dimension Strings (Violins).

    First one is my original version with just portato and varying velocities. Second one is the same piece with sfz accents.

    a. Original - 16th Notes - Portato

    b. Revision with Sfz Accents

    I am not sure with the sfz one. Maybe I need a different accent.

    My opinion: You need a bit more different velocities. It sounds very mechanical at the moment. If you have quarter bars you could try to take just one sfz on beat 1 or on beat 1 and 3. The rest of the accents you solve with different velocities. Keep in mind that there are other (weaker) articulations (fp for example). You also can have an accent by choosing long and short: "long, short, short, short" (portatos) ...combined with different velocities... 

    Beat

    - Tips & Tricks while using Samples of VSL.. see at: https://www.beat-kaufmann.com/vitutorials/ - Tutorial "Mixing an Orchestra": https://www.beat-kaufmann.com/mixing-an-orchestra/
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    Thank you Beat. I did another revision changing just the velocities on beats 1 & 3.

    Btw, the piece has different velocities for the other notes, but the differences between them is small.

    Revision: Portato: Higher Velocities on 1 and 3.

    One I am noticing, sometimes on beats 1 and 3, the melody has low notes so the accent sounds a bit low. Maybe I need to restructure the melody?
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    @nektarios said:

    PS: Can't believe it's one year since my wedding! 😊 :-)

    Congratulation, my dear. You managed the first year! 😉 Time is running very fast. Therefore I am "working on" number 34 and it still seems to me that my marriage was only a little bit before yesterday... 😉

    Beat

    [/quote]

    Thank you Beat! 😊 Wow, CONGRATULATIONS! 😊😊😊