Horn: Difference between revisions
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I<span style="font-size: 80%; vertical-align: super;">[[microtonal_horn#note1|(1)]]</span> mean a conical-bore brass instrument buzzed with the lips. But not a tuba. | I<span style="font-size: 80%; vertical-align: super;">[[microtonal_horn#note1|(1)]]</span> mean a conical-bore brass instrument buzzed with the lips. But not a tuba. | ||
We can speak of ''natural horns'' and ''valved horns''. Natural horns have no valves, and are naturally near the harmonic series in their series of tones: | We can speak of ''natural horns'' and ''valved horns''. Natural horns have no valves, and are naturally near the [[harmonic series]] in their series of tones: | ||
(fancypants graphic 1) | (fancypants graphic 1) | ||
In 19th century technique, notes near the 7th and 11th | In [[Historical temperaments|19th century]] technique, notes near the 7th and 11th [[harmonic]]s were often written and could be finagled with different hand placements; even a [[Diatonic scale|C major scale]] in the lower octave could be negotiated. There was no avoiding an certain unevenness of tone, however. | ||
To satiate the modulatory desires of classical composers, horns were soon made with a system of interchangeable ''crooks'' which, when inserted, would give a variety of keys. But this only encouraged the composers, and soon they were writing parts for two pairs of horns in different keys. Instrument builders tried in many ways to combine multiple keys into a single horn, settling finally on the rotary valve system prevalent in horns today. | To satiate the modulatory desires of classical composers, horns were soon made with a system of interchangeable ''crooks'' which, when inserted, would give a variety of keys. But this only encouraged the composers, and soon they were writing parts for two pairs of horns in different keys. Instrument builders tried in many ways to combine multiple keys into a single horn, settling finally on the rotary valve system prevalent in horns today. | ||
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==So how does it work?== | ==So how does it work?== | ||
Well, there are three valves which the fingers of the left hand operates. The first valve causes the effective tube length to lengthen enough to lower the fundamental by a whole step (200¢). The second valve does the same, only by a half step (100¢), and the third, a minor third (300¢). In combinations these valves can lower the fundamental by up to a tritone. | Well, there are three valves which the fingers of the left hand operates. The first valve causes the effective tube length to lengthen enough to lower the [[fundamental]] by a whole step (200¢). The second valve does the same, only by a half step (100¢), and the third, a minor third (300¢). In combinations these valves can lower the fundamental by up to a [[tritone]]. | ||
So, the situation for a ''single F horn'' is something like this: | So, the situation for a ''single F horn'' is something like this: | ||
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==How can a horn play microtonal?== | ==How can a horn play microtonal?== | ||
Hah! How can a horn ''not'' play microtonal? Horn players do a lot of hand adjusting to get their harmonic-series notes closer to equal temperament. If they were convinced to stop doing this, and also to play the harmonics that they usually don't (namely 7, 11, and 13), the horn might theoretically be capable of such a scale (notated in 72-edo): | Hah! How can a horn ''not'' play microtonal? Horn players do a lot of hand adjusting to get their harmonic-series notes closer to equal temperament. If they were convinced to stop doing this, and also to play the harmonics that they usually don't (namely 7, 11, and 13), the horn might theoretically be capable of such a scale (notated in [[72-edo]]): | ||
(fancypants graphic 3) | (fancypants graphic 3) | ||
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So-called double horns (F horns with a Bb valve), go extremely sharp in the higher non-Bb-valve partials; the valve is used to get the upper register in tune. This means that these kinds of horns actually have a huge variety of intonation in the upper register through various combinations of valves. More than other brass instruments which are typically designed to have in-tune partials, and thus don't need that extra valve for tuning their high ranges. | So-called double horns (F horns with a Bb valve), go extremely sharp in the higher non-Bb-valve partials; the valve is used to get the upper register in tune. This means that these kinds of horns actually have a huge variety of intonation in the upper register through various combinations of valves. More than other brass instruments which are typically designed to have in-tune partials, and thus don't need that extra valve for tuning their high ranges. | ||
Do you like | Do you like [[quartertone]]s? [[John Eaton]] has this useful tip from [http://www.newmusicbox.org/page.nmbx?id=17fp02 an interview in NewMusicBox]: tune the F side a quartertone lower than the Bb side! | ||
==That's not good enough! We need new instruments!== | ==That's not good enough! We need new instruments!== | ||
You're right! George Secor especially has done some thinking about valve systems extended to alternate EDOs. See the bottom of [http://sonic-arts.org/monzo/trumpet/trumpet-intonation.htm this page.] No cases of actual horns built...yet. | You're right! [[George Secor]] especially has done some thinking about valve systems extended to alternate EDOs. See the bottom of [http://sonic-arts.org/monzo/trumpet/trumpet-intonation.htm this page.] No cases of actual horns built...yet. | ||
==What existing music features the horn in a particularly microtonal way?== | ==What existing music features the horn in a particularly microtonal way?== | ||
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== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
<ol><li>Jacob Barton, I<span style="font-size: 80%; vertical-align: super;">[[microtonal_horn#note2|(2)]]</span><span style="line-height: 1.5;"> think</span></li><li><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Mike Battaglia</span></li></ol> | <ol><li>[[Jacob Barton]], I<span style="font-size: 80%; vertical-align: super;">[[microtonal_horn#note2|(2)]]</span><span style="line-height: 1.5;"> think</span></li><li><span style="line-height: 1.5;">[[Mike Battaglia]]</span></li></ol> | ||
== Further reading == | == Further reading == | ||