February 20, 201214 yr I am working on a cello piece. I wanted to check which of the 3 options in the pic would be the most playable. The options differ only on how to play the high Eb 1st beat 2nd ms. My vote goes to the 2nd. hoping the false harmonic is easy to make, the 5th in the high range isn't that huge an interval, with one of the fingers allready near that Eb spot.
February 20, 201214 yr You're probably right about the second one, but it depends how fast this is going to be. It won't be possible to play this accurately at more than a moderate tempo. Luckily the fingering would allow the player to reach the high Eb on a 2nd finger, then get the thumb ready to stop the Ab. It's not very common to have false harmonics at the fifth, they are not as easy to 'speak' on stringed instruments. Normally they are at the fourth, so the lower note here would be a Bb. The player is also going to need to change bow on the barline. The first one would be possible as long as the instrument and strings were good enough. The interval of an octave is not very far for the hand to reach at such a high range.
February 20, 201214 yr Author You're probably right about the second one, but it depends how fast this is going to be. It won't be possible to play this accurately at more than a moderate tempo. Luckily the fingering would allow the player to reach the high Eb on a 2nd finger, then get the thumb ready to stop the Ab. It's not very common to have false harmonics at the fifth, they are not as easy to 'speak' on stringed instruments. Normally they are at the fourth, so the lower note here would be a Bb. The player is also going to need to change bow on the barline. The first one would be possible as long as the instrument and strings were good enough. The interval of an octave is not very far for the hand to reach at such a high range. I was hoping I would get a response from you :) so thanks The problem is not if the octave jump is doable, but if the fingerboard extends long enough. Compare for example the untrustworthy wikipedia giving a range up to A, which is a tritone lower than the desired Eb... (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Range_cello.png) If possible I prefer the first one, because of the slightly more homogeneous sound of all the non harmonics. But if there is no other way, the highest has to be replaced by a false harmonic. I know harmonics at the 5th are less common. But to get the desired Eb at a 4th (3 option) there is an awkward leap. But with option 2, as I hoped and you confirmed, the Ab can be prepared. The piece is a cello concertino so I am counting on the fact that if it were to be played, the players will be good enough to do so, and have fine instruments.
February 20, 201214 yr The Wikipedia article probably has a normalish kinda range in mind. Samples can go even higher than that A, and some sources only gives you as high as the G just below that.
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