Extended technique
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Extended technique is a term used in music to describe unconventional, unorthodox or "improper" techniques of singing, or of playing musical instruments.
Although the use of extended technique was uncommon in the common practice period (c. 1600 - 1900), extended techniques are more common in modern classical music since about 1900. Extended techniques have also flourished in popular musics, which are typically less constrained by notions of "proper" technique than are traditional orchestral music. It should be noted that nearly all jazz performers make significant use of extended techniques of one sort or another, particularly in more recent styles like free jazz or avant-garde jazz. Musicians in free improvisation have also made heavy use of extended techniques.
Most contemporary composers strive to explore the possibility of different instruments, cooperating with musicians in order to expand the "vocabulary" of given instruments. This undoubtedly increases the diversity of instrumental colors for contemporary pieces. However, some extended techniques are exceedingly difficult to master, or require instruments in uncommonly good condition; instruments are sometimes custom made to explore extended techniques.
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[edit] Examples
[edit] Vocal
- Sprechstimme (speech-singing)
- overtone singing (harmonic singing)
- multiphonics
- ululation
- beatboxing (vocal percussionists)
[edit] String instruments
- unusual bowing technique: double stops and multiple stops, sul ponticello, sul tasto, col legno
- prepared piano
- string piano
- prepared guitar
- third bridge guitar
- moodswinger
- sliding with a screwdriver, zippo lighter, slide or any other metal piece.
- string microtones (vertical and linear)
- exaggerated tremolo
- tapping or rubbing the soundboard of stringed instruments
- alternate fingerings
- altered tunings (scordatura)
- tapping
[edit] Electronic
- added electronics or MIDI control
- Turntablism
- Circuit bending
[edit] Woodwind or brass instruments
- overblowing
- exaggerated brass head-shakes
- activating keys or valves without blowing
- combination of a mouthpiece of one instrument with the main body of another, for example, using an alto saxophone mouthpiece on a standard trombone.
- turning the mouthpiece of a woodwind instrument upside-down and playing as normal.
- breath technique or articulation: multiphonics, tonguing or flutter tonguing, continuous breathing or circular breathing, trumpet half-valve playing, humming while blowing, double buzz, blowing a disengaged mouthpiece or reed, unusual mutes
[edit] Other instruments
- keyboard technique involving the fist, flat of hand, arm, or external device to create tone clusters
- unusual harmonics, including multiphonics
- glissandi, tuner glissando
- rudimental or "dynamic" double bass on the drum set, using hand rudiments such as double stroke rolls and flam taps and playing them with the feet
[edit] Notable performers and composers who use extended techniques
- composer Henry Cowell
- composer George Crumb
- composer John Cage
- composer Sofia Gubaidulina
- composer Helmut Lachenmann
- composer Brian Transeau
- composer Salvatore Sciarrino
- vocalist Joan La Barbara
- vocalist yvette marie
- vocalist Shelley Hirsch
- vocalist and composer Meredith Monk
- vocalist and composer Maja Ratkje
- vocalist/drummer Brian Chippendale
- composer Krzysztof Penderecki
- composer and multireedist Joseph Celli
- pianist and composer David Tudor in his own work and in the prepared piano techniques of Cage and the New York School
- cellist and improviser Frances-Marie Uitti, two bows and curved bows
- violinist, violist and improviser Ernesto Rodrigues, curved bow
- flautist Ian Anderson
- composer Robert Erickson
- trombonist John Kenny
- trombonist Stuart Dempster
- bassist Bertram Turetzky
- composer Ben Gaunt
- composer/guitarist Glenn Branca
- composer/guitarist Rhys Chatham
- vocalist Tanya Tagaq Gillis
- rock guitarist Tom Morello
- rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix
- rock guitarists Syd Barrett and David Gilmour of Pink Floyd
- rock guitarist Eddie Van Halen
- rock guitarist Thurston Moore
- rock guitarist Lee Ranaldo
- rock guitarist Agata of Melt Banana
- rock guitarist/drummer Aaron Hemphill of the Liars
- rock guitarist/builder Yuri Landman of Avec-A
- rock guitarist Terry of The Ex
- rock guitarist Adam Jones
- rock guitarist Aaron Colbourne of 83 Floating Cubes
- rock guitarist/bassist/drummer Stephen Bernhard of Point 19
- noise rock band Neptune with their custom-made instruments
- builder Bradford Reed on his pencilina
- guitarist Steve Vai
- guitarist Derek Bailey
- guitarist Fred Frith
- classical guitarist Štěpán Rak
- guitarist Enver İzmaylov
- guitarist and pianist Matthew Bellamy (Muse)
- jazz saxophonist Rahsaan Roland Kirk
- jazz saxophonist Peter Brötzmann
- jazz saxophonist Mats Gustafsson
- bassist Michael Manring
- drummer Virgil Donati
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Stuart Dempster's The Modern Trombone: A Definition of Its Idioms, ISBN 0-520-03252-7.
- Patricia and Allen Strange's The Contemporary Violin, ISBN 0-520-22409-4, and other books in The New Instrumentation series.
- Bertram Turetzky's The Contemporary Contrabass ISBN 0-520-06381-3.
- Michael Edward Edgerton's The 21st Century Voice, ISBN 0-8108-5354-X, and other books in The New Instrumentation series. Scarecrow Press, 2005.
[edit] External links
- Woodwind Fingering charts
- New Sounds for Flute by Mats Möller
- The Orchestra: A User's Manual by Andrew Hugill with The Philharmonia Orchestra. Includes definitions, descriptions and video interviews of extended techniques for most all common orchestral instruments.
- oddmusic A website dedicated to unique, odd, ethnic, experimental and unusual musical instruments and resources.
