Cellists - feedback needed

Hi, would some of you cellists review this phrase and let me know if the third measure is clear enough?

Or, describe to me how and what you think I'm asking you to play?

Thanks much in advance!

-Flint

Well, it is understandable but I'd say put the Divisi in two layers. Other than that very aesthetic factor, it looks good to me!

It looks like you want the section to split at the second beat of bar 2 and then play tutti in bar three (on the second triplet). :P then you want them playing open D strings with an a harmonic then back to divisi. Quite straightforward.

Here's a revision:

done and done.

Separate issue: The first measure of this example is 3 solo celli, and the second measure is the full section, playing divisi. Clear?

another update, per discussion in the Chat Box:

The brackets are only really necessary at the 1st instance of the double stops. you can leave them out afterwards.

however, I would recommend using two layers for the eighth note double stops. it makes it much clearer if you have up-stems for the two top notes, and down-stems for the bottom notes.

Don't forget to specify the change to "divisi in 3" at the end of that posted sample.

Well, it is understandable but I'd say put the Divisi in two layers. Other than that very aesthetic factor, it looks good to me!

How prevalent is dividing the stems (placing the notes in different layers)? I could do it, but it adds another layer of complexity to producing a readable part.

How prevalent is dividing the stems (placing the notes in different layers)? I could do it, but it adds another layer of complexity to producing a readable part.

it helps to clarify the parts when the stems are distinct.

shared stems can imply that a part is non-divisi.

for double stops, in a divided part, it's best to keep the double stops for each instrument stemmed together. in other words, a 4-note chord, for divisi strings, will have 2 notes on one stem, and 2 notes on the other. makes it clear that you have a divisi a 2, but still double stops.

I was just looking at some old orchestral parts earlier today and I saw it either way. I would prefer two separate stems BUT as long as the divisi is clearly marked, it makes no difference.

Flint, would it be alright if I hitch a ride on your thread?

I just have a quick question for cellists and I didn't want to start a whole new thread to ask it.

I'm looking at a student cello for $278 from Kennedy Violins.

Kennedy Beginning Cellos

I realize this is just a 'toy' cello. But I'm not planning on becoming a cellist. I just want a cello to fool around on when I'm composing to try out different things. So I don't want to spend a lot of money on one. I bought a $90 violin from Kennedy Violins and it turned out to be real nice so I'm thinking this beginner's cello might not be too bad either.

In any case here's my question:

Is there any difference between a violin bow and a cello bow other than the length?

Could I get by using a violin bow (or a viola bow which I already have) to just try things out on the cello? The reason I ask is because to get it with a bow is an extra $78 that I'd rather not spend if I can get by without it.

Sorry for being so cheap, but I'm already going out on a limb to spend the $278 plus $50 shipping. I just want the cello to try things out on.

So is it feasible to play a 4/4 cello with a viola bow (that's what I'd actually use).

Is the only difference in the length of the bow? Or is a cello bow heftier in some other way, like wider or whatever?

My appologies to Flint if my "thread high-jack" is inappropreate.

Yeah you could... i mean... the differences in bows aren't going to matter that much if you aren't going to be able to do advanced bow techniques yourself.

Thank you. That's nice to know. I kind of thought that'd be the case, but I wasn't sure. I'm sure I'll be playing really simple stuff. I just wasn't sure if there might be some really major difference in the bows that I was unaware of.

This is cool. I love the cello and I'd like to write for it, but I just have this quirky thing that I don't like to write music for any instrument that I can't at least play scales on. ;)

Just a personal quirky thing. I like to improvise on an instrument when I'm writing music for it.

Beats the hell out of me dude...

I stick with Bachs suite in C major...

Only other place i've seen such scribbldygook is in the score of stravinskys "Feu d'arfice"!

(Obviously youre going for harmonics...but i dont think youre doing so correctly.)

Study the cello Parts in affore mentioned score!

=)

I just came here to say that the "a2" isn't necessary and I have never seen that in string parts before... I know what you are implying, but you don't need it here.

Also, I believe there is a word to use instead of non-divisi, but I can't remember what it is.

Sorry if I joined the party too late and my comments don't apply anymore.

I just came here to say that the "a2" isn't necessary and I have never seen that in string parts before... I know what you are implying, but you don't need it here.

Also, I believe there is a word to use instead of non-divisi, but I can't remember what it is.

Sorry if I joined the party too late and my comments don't apply anymore.

The word is unisoni, and it's usually abbreviated "unis." in string parts. And I haven't ever seen a2 in string parts either.