Chaskan Posted January 28, 2002 Report Share Posted January 28, 2002 I have a question about where to locate harmonics. In orchestra we're playing Strauss' "Rosenkavalier" Suite, and there is a part with a few harmonics that I don't know how to play. If a note is written with a "0" above it, does that mean that the finger is held lightly above where that note is located on the fingerboard? Or does it mean that you play a harmonic with that pitch located somewhere on the instrument? Example: a "c" one octave above middle C with a "0" above it. How is this harmonic played (on a viola)? The next note is the "a" above middle C. How is this played? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vieuxtemps Posted January 28, 2002 Report Share Posted January 28, 2002 I'm not that familiar with any Strauss works, and I'm no violist, but here goes. I think the answer to both your questions is "yes." The C harmonic can also be played where the F natural in 1st position is. For the A, maybe it means open string, since to my knowledge it's not a natural harmonic at that pitch unless you've got a cello handy. If the noteheads are diamond shaped, lightly touch some place where that note is. Nice editors will specify which string. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Victor Posted January 28, 2002 Report Share Posted January 28, 2002 For these "diamond shaped" notes, it makes a difference what string you attempt to sound the harmonic on. So experiment during your practice time. There are many natural harmonics (that do not require that a finger also depress the string to the finger board) on all string instruments. These correspond to "cutting off" the string at 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6 (etc.) of its length. These lengths can be either the distance from the bridge or from the nut and correspond to specific notes on a natural scale (rather than tempered). (The same note will sound at 1/5, 2/5, 3/5, or 4/5, etc, because the lightly-touching finger tip just acts to create a vibrational node with the string vibrating on both sides of it.) For those of you with a "scientific bent" this is the form of "quantization" that underlies the original Niels Bohr "quantum theory" of electronic orbitals. The (allowed) quantum states of the (vibrating) orbitals would be analogous to the allowed natural harmonics of a vibrating string. Andy [This message has been edited by Andrew Victor (edited 01-28-2002).] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigger_1 Posted January 28, 2002 Report Share Posted January 28, 2002 quote: Originally posted by Andrew Victor: For those of you with a "scientific bent" this is the form of "quantization" that underlies the original Niels Bohr "quantum theory" of electronic orbitals. The (allowed) quantum states of the (vibrating) orbitals would be analogous to the allowed natural harmonics of a vibrating string. Andy [This message has been edited by Andrew Victor (edited 01-28-2002).][/b] So, to determine the wavefunction of these harmonics, one would have to solve the schrodinger equation for a harmonic oscillator and using a series expansion. However, is the spring constant, truly constant for a synthetic string? or is it close enough? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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