Black key glissandi

The piano composition I'm currently working on contains quite a few black-key glissandi, so

firstly, is there a proper musical term for a black key only glissando, and

secondly, is it possible to input this into Sibelius 4 so that I don't need to hear horrible white note glissandi that just don't...fit? :thumbsup:

The term you're using, I believe is fine.

Notating it, you would probably notate the first 5-6 notes (C#,D#,F#,G#,A#,C#) and then a line to the ending note, with a gliss. sign above

On hearing it, just input the notes with 1/64ths and you're done. Or if you want it more... random, go with 1/64 tuplets, or 5:4 ratio or whatever to screw the timing over...

Thank you so much! :thumbsup:

just be aware that pianists will absolutely HATE you for writing those.. they're much harder on the fingers than a regular white note glissando.

you're right, they are harder on the fingers, but we're not that moany. as long as the piece isn't only black-key-glissandos, we're all right :)

Hehe is there a way I can specify the way they're played? I don't want it to be done with the back of the thumb/hand - instead with the palm facing downwards.

I can play the piece (generally >_>), and I can't do normal glissandi well XD;;

Thanks for the advice though :)

I would say do it just like Nikolas described and put in text (maybe italicized) that reads "palm under" or something to that effect. The opposite would of course be "palm up".

As for making it sound right in Sibelius, can't help you. I could get around that issue in a jiffy for Finale, but I don't know much about Sibelius. What I do in Finale is insert an invisible dynamic or controller that changes the volume to 0, than input the notes of the glissando manually on a seperate, hidden staff on a different channel.

Hehe is there a way I can specify the way they're played? I don't want it to be done with the back of the thumb/hand - instead with the palm facing downwards.

I can play the piece (generally >_>), and I can't do normal glissandi well XD;;

Thanks for the advice though :thumbsup:

is there any particular reason you want it done with the palm of the hand?

just so you know, this is the opposite of how anyone would play a gliss.

the palm is VERY sensitive to being run up and down a keyboard like that... it actually hurts MORE than with the top of the fingers (the "normal" way to do a gliss.).

not only is it the opposite of normal technique, it will make absolutely no difference to the sound.

Huh you can do it with the palm of your hand downwards? I have to try it out right now...