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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
Usage
Vibrato and Tremolo
Vibrato and Tremolo
These terms are not used consistently.
I am surprised that we have not tried to straighten them out here in a.u.e.
My understanding was that they both referred to
small variations that repeated a few times per second. Vibrato: small variations in pitch
Tremolo: small variations in amplitude
But it is not that simple. Some people use vibrato to mean variations in both pitch and amplitude, some and/or. Then tremolo might mean too much vibrato.
Perhaps it is consistent among the various specialty groups: String players
Operatic singers
Other singers
Other instrument players
Organ makers
Electronic instrument makers
Amplifier makers
In a background way, I had thought that vibrato on a violin meant only pitch variation, but now I wonder if amplitude variation is a necessary secondary effect, or if that might only be a symptom of poor technique.
Anyway, I am sure that there are some here better qualified to straighten this out knows which group uses which meaning.
Richard Maurer To reply, remove half
Sunnyvale, California of a homonym of a synonym for also.
These terms are not used consistently.
I am surprised that we have not tried to straighten them out here in a.u.e.
My understanding was that they both referred to
small variations that repeated a few times per second. Vibrato: small variations in pitch
Tremolo: small variations in amplitude
But it is not that simple. Some people use vibrato to mean variations in both pitch and amplitude, some and/or. Then tremolo might mean too much vibrato.
Perhaps it is consistent among the various specialty groups: String players
Operatic singers
Other singers
Other instrument players
Organ makers
Electronic instrument makers
Amplifier makers
In a background way, I had thought that vibrato on a violin meant only pitch variation, but now I wonder if amplitude variation is a necessary secondary effect, or if that might only be a symptom of poor technique.
Anyway, I am sure that there are some here better qualified to straighten this out knows which group uses which meaning.
Richard Maurer To reply, remove half
Sunnyvale, California of a homonym of a synonym for also.
Top answer
[nq:1]Vibrato and Tremolo These terms are not used consistently. I am surprised that we have not tried to straighten them ... [/nq] As one who has attempted to play the violin (under severe pressure from my father an accomplished violinist), I know it is impossible to induce a rapidly varying amplitude in a violin-produced tone.
- [nq:1]Vibrato and Tremolo These terms are not used consistently.
- I am surprised that we have not tried to straighten them ...
- [/nq] As one who has attempted to play the violin (under severe pressure from my father an accomplished violinist), I know it is impossible to induce a rapidly varying amplitude in a violin-produced tone.
- My father was often complimented for the exceptional tone quality in his violin playing, achieved by excellent vibrato and bow techniqes.
- My father played second violin for the San Jose Symphony Orchestra for many years.
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27 Answers
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[nq:1]Vibrato and Tremolo These terms are not used consistently. I am surprised that we have not tried to straighten them ... wonder if amplitude variation is a necessary secondary effect, or if that might only be a symptom of poor technique.[/nq]
As one who has attempted to play the violin (under severe pressure from my father an accomplished violinist), I know it is impossible to induce a ra
As one who has attempted to play the violin (under severe pressure from my father an accomplished violinist), I know it is impossible to induce a ra
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[nq:1]Vibrato and Tremolo[/nq]
As a side-note: the whammy-bar on a (some) electric guitars is sometimes labelled "tremolo bar" /(even by people who should know better), even though it does in fact produce a vibrato.
jouni maho
As a side-note: the whammy-bar on a (some) electric guitars is sometimes labelled "tremolo bar" /(even by people who should know better), even though it does in fact produce a vibrato.
jouni maho
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[nq:1]My understanding was that they both referred to small variations that repeated a few times per second. Vibrato: small variations ... am sure that there are some here better qualified to straighten this out knows which group uses which meaning.[/nq]
Well... here are their respective entries from the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians:
Vibrato
(It., from Lat. vibrare: ?to
Well... here are their respective entries from the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians:
Vibrato
(It., from Lat. vibrare: ?to
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[nq:1]Vibrato and Tremolo These terms are not used consistently. I am surprised that we have not tried to straighten them ... am sure that there are some here better qualified to straighten this out knows which group uses which meaning.[/nq]
On the violin, vibrato is done by the fingering hand, whereas tremolo is generated by the bow hand. Vibrato, a variation in pitch, is produced by rocking
On the violin, vibrato is done by the fingering hand, whereas tremolo is generated by the bow hand. Vibrato, a variation in pitch, is produced by rocking
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[nq:1]My father played second violin for the San Jose Symphony Orchestra for many years.[/nq]
Wasn't he good enough for the first string?
Bob Lieblich
Ba-da-bing
Wasn't he good enough for the first string?
Bob Lieblich
Ba-da-bing
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[nq:1]On the violin, vibrato is done by the fingering hand,[/nq]
Mamma mia! First Janet's ****, now "fingering hand." What is this place turning into?
Speaking of Janet, here's a witty photo (36K) by an unknown artist:
Reinhold (Rey) Aman
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[nq:2]My father played second violin for the San Jose Symphony Orchestra formany years.[/nq]
[nq:1]Wasn't he good enough for the first string?[/nq]
Received usage is:
for baseball (and some other sports?) string.
for orchestras desk.
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs (Ottawa, Canada)
[nq:1]Wasn't he good enough for the first string?[/nq]
Received usage is:
for baseball (and some other sports?) string.
for orchestras desk.
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs (Ottawa, Canada)
00
[nq:1]many[/nq]
[nq:2]Wasn't he good enough for the first string?[/nq]
[nq:1]Received usage is: for baseball (and some other sports?) string. for orchestras desk.[/nq]
Thank goodness. Otherwise my feeble pun would have been even feebler.
But it is necessary to note that the names of individual instruments can be used metonymically for the instrumentalist first (or principal) bassoo
[nq:2]Wasn't he good enough for the first string?[/nq]
[nq:1]Received usage is: for baseball (and some other sports?) string. for orchestras desk.[/nq]
Thank goodness. Otherwise my feeble pun would have been even feebler.
But it is necessary to note that the names of individual instruments can be used metonymically for the instrumentalist first (or principal) bassoo
00
[nq:1]many[/nq]
[nq:2]Received usage is: for baseball (and some other sports?) string. for orchestras desk.[/nq]
Not exactly. "Desk" (British) or "stand" (AmE) is a pair of musicians that share a music stand. "First desk", therefore, means the pair at the front of a section. "First violin" and "second violin" designate different parts. In an orchestra, they are called "sections."
[nq:2]Received usage is: for baseball (and some other sports?) string. for orchestras desk.[/nq]
Not exactly. "Desk" (British) or "stand" (AmE) is a pair of musicians that share a music stand. "First desk", therefore, means the pair at the front of a section. "First violin" and "second violin" designate different parts. In an orchestra, they are called "sections."
00
[nq:2]On the violin, vibrato is done by the fingering hand,[/nq]
[nq:1] Mamma mia! First Janet's ****, now "fingering hand." What is this place turning into?[/nq]
Shall I put a 5-second delay on my messages?
-skipka
(Pot, kettle, off-color.)
[nq:1] Mamma mia! First Janet's ****, now "fingering hand." What is this place turning into?[/nq]
Shall I put a 5-second delay on my messages?
-skipka
(Pot, kettle, off-color.)
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