Prepared
instruments are instruments that have had their timbre changed by having
various objects on or between the instruments vibrating strings. It is usually
found on piano’s but there are compositions for prepared violins.
Wrapping a
small piece of wire around a string causes the wire to create a buzzing effect.
The amount of buzz can be controlled by bow speed and bow pressure. The wire
buzz works on all strings, but I used it on the G, as it resonates the most the
buzz lasts for longer. As the wire is vibrated it travels along the string
touching harmonic nodes and these nodes can be heard. Care must be taken when
performing this technique as the strings could be damaged by the vibrating wire
and the bow hair could become damaged.
Another
technique is to place a hairpin over the strings of the violin and to pluck it.
This gives a plethora of different pitches. Stephen Montague introduces
thimbles to the strings in Silence: John
Yvar and Tim. He instructs on how to play the prepared violin.
1.
Violins and violas are held in the lap with the
scroll against the chest (similar to the cello position). The bow is not used.
The strings are played with 2 thimbles – one
thimble on each hand (probably easiest to play if it is on the middle
finger of each hand). In general each thimble (right hand and left hand) plays
across two strings. Each of the strokes of the thimble across the two strings
produces complex non-harmonic pitches due to the pins. The right-hand hits the
E and the A strings, producing a higher pitched timbre, while the left hand
strikes the A and D strings, producing a lower.
2.
A “hairpin pizzicato” is produced by plucking on
the end of the pin
3.
On occation the players “slap” the strings with
the flattened fingers to produce a very different sound from the thimbles.
However the thimbles simultaneously hitting the fingerboard help with the
intensity.
