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  • Harp downward arpeggios?

     Hello,

    I am writing a piece for 2 harps and soprano.

    I want to use some of the harp arpeggios but I can only see upwards versions of those.

    In the matrix-descriptions of all arpeggios (in the 'eye' of the Vienna Instrument) it says that there are up and down versions of all the 3 and 4 note arpeggios, and that these are operated with A/B switches.

    Moreover: in the control edit window it is possible to assign A/B to a controller (this is not possible when there is no A/B switch in the matrix).

    However, when loading a matrix and looking at the patch assign window I see with every patch: AB: no.

    So I cannot find any downward samples.

    Am I correct here or do I do something wrong?

    Gerard


  •  Hi Gerard,

    A/B switch is always done on patch level.

    If you load any Matrix and there are no A/B switches assigned in the patches, just make your setup with any controller or keyswitches, and save than the Matrix file to your custom matrices folder.

    best

    Herb


  •  Hello Herb,

    I understand, but this is just a technical answer on how to work with the A/B switches. 

    I just would like to know if there are any downward arpeggio samples available for the harp?

    Greetings,

    Gerard


  •  Are there?

    Greetings,

    Gerard


  • Hi Gerard

    Looks like there aren't any downward arpeggios to me either. Glissandi have A/B switching and are up and down but as you point out, there's no A/B with the arpeggios and no dedicated down patches.

    Colin


  •  Which is a rather strange omision in my opinion.

    Gerard


  •  Anybody from VSL can give me an answer?

    Greetings,

    Gerard


  •  Anybody from VSL can give me an answer?

    Thank you

    Gerard


  • Detailed informations about articulations are always available in our pdf manuals:

    http://vsl.co.at/en/68/375/379/241.htm 

    The informations for the harp arpeggio patches are on page 22.

    As far as I know downwards arpeggios are  not very common. (compared to glissandi, where up and down glissandi do have equal importance).

    Maybe they are used in contemporary music. But as there are only arpeggios for a very classical approach recorded (major, minior, diminished, augmented), it seems to us contractictory to offer a such an unusually playingstyle.

    When performing a chord (normal or arpeggio) the whole chord should sound. Performing downward arpeggios gives more the impression of performing individual notes and not a chord, because the lower strings are masking easely the previous played higher strings.

    best

    Herb

    best

    Herb


  •  From now on I will only compose upward music!

    Away with those downward negative individual notes that don't even sound like chords!

    I'll keep your answer above my desk to remind me of the fact that there is so much left to laugh about in the world.

    Greetings,

    Gerard

    P.S. Just talk about this with a harpist if you have the chance.


  • last edited
    last edited

    @g.beljon said:

    P.S. Just talk about this with a harpist if you have the chance.
     

    That's what we did.


  • To be honest it is rather a carricature of harp-playing to use only upward chords.

    If you look in any study book for harp you will find up and down chords of course.

    In the harp music of Faure and lots of other french composers there are up and down chords plenty.

    Or is that already too contemporary?

    The harp is the most rich and beautiful harmonic plucked instrument, it would be a shame to limit to only upward chords.

    I understand you cannot cover the whole spectrum of the harp at once, but it goes a bit too far to defend this by saying that it is not 'common'.

    Your harpist knows this too.

    Greetings,

    Gerard


  • VSL - designed to emulate the classical music you love!

    Contemporary music???
    What's that... sounds weird!!!
    Those composers are all nuts... they have strange requests like downward arpeggios!
    Lets ignore them?
    OKAY!!!

  •  Yeah!

    Like Strawinsky and Faure!

    Away with those idiots!


  • Arpeggios patches have a nicer sound, however the downside is you're always limited to the same notes, sort of like guitar chords, so doing them using single notes has also its advantages, but I'm sure you already know this.


  • Hello Guy,

    That is true. The sound of prefab patches is much better, realistic, than to make them with three of four single notes which gives more freedom of course. (however: in the next Melodyne-version it will be possible to change notes within a sample and change the overtone structure at the same time). That is the main reason to ask for them.

    Also: using these patches with two harps gives lots of possibilities in composing.

    But of course I can overcome this problem, it's also a form of lazyness!

    Greetings,

    Gerard