Piccolo/Flute Technique Question

Hi All,

I've just started to compose a new piece of music and on the first note I've ran into trouble. I want to use flutter tonguing on a piccolo (I think) but I can't find any examples or samples of it anywhere, so does anybody know any pieces or wav files that feature a predominant piccolo with flutter tonguing.

Also, I know that woodwind instruments tongue each note but is it possible to stipulate that you don't want them to tongue any note so the duration and attack of each note is dictated by controlling breath (like whistling)? I know it would lose a degree of seperation and sharpness but that's my aim.

Thanks in advance,

Chris

woodwind instruments will tongue each note if you specify absolutely no phrasing.

if you phrase notes together, they will generally not be individually tongued, or only very lightly tongued to create as smooth a transition from note to note as possible.

Thanks for the reply it was helpful but, would it be possible for them to control rapid notes through breathing technique alone?

I don't quite understand what it is you want.

can you post an example and detailed instructions of what you want to hear when they eprform it?

piccolos and flutes can certainly flutter tongue.

you CAN start new notes by just blowing. it would be starting off the notes with your throat, and it does make an unclear attack. but make sure you don't ask the players to play like this for too long, it can start to hurt.

i know.

i've done it. :)

Hi there,

I am a flute player and I would love to help you solve you problem. But, I don't know what you exactly mean by "to control rapid notes through breathing technique"? Please give me an example, thanks.

P.S. It is very possible to do flutter tongue on the flute and the piccolo. I play it everyday to show off in band :P , and not everyone can do it. But it's a cool technique to grasp. :)

Stravinsky has a few passages in his very famous piece Fire Bird, though I believe flutter tongue has alot to deal with effect, capability of the player, range etc.

I'm not sure what you mean by "control", because trying to have all the tones rhythimically in place at a very fast tempi, well can be quite difficult and maybe easier for the player to just use flutter tongue with the same effect, unless you want something very sleak and no mess... then I wish you luck!

?:thumbsup:

As a flautist and piccolo player, flutter tounging is possible (just imagine your toungue as a dead fish, flapping about), but by physically stopping and starting exhailing on rapid notes is just going to give you a headache. If you want a phrase to be played leggato, use ligature marks; if not, the notes will be toungued to give them a difinitive beginning and end.

TimSmith

Flute, Piccolo and Organ

What TimSmith said. Fluttertonguing is certainly possible and not incredibly difficult. Starting notes without an articulation is tiring and certainly not enjoyable to perform.