Don't have enough Violin players? Or Viola players?
Your Community Orchestra has Trumpet players. Great! You have Flutes and Clarinets. Great! Maybe even multiple Percussion players. Great!
But the String section, unfortunately, is looking a little small, and is sounding thin, and quiet.
Perhaps even more difficult to deal with than low volume, is that when there are only 2 or 3 Violin players per part, the differences in intonation between certain notes start to really stand out!
2 or 3 Violins playing the same note may sound out of tune!
Here’s why..
When Orchestra’s have ‘Medium’ sized String sections, perhaps 8 or more Violin I, 6 Violin II, 4 Viola, 3 Cello, 2-3 Bass (8,6,4,3,3), the String players will naturally blend together in a really nice, rich, tone. Any minor differences in intonation between players within a given part (ie. Violin I part) will not be noticed in the overall timbre.
Interestingly enough, natural differences in intonation between players actually enhances the overall ‘lushness’ or ‘fullness’ of a larger Strings section sound, creating a colourful 'blend' of overtone frequencies.
Unfortunately, however, when only 2 or 3 Violin players are playing the same notes, minor differences in intonation can no longer hide or blend with a larger group, and become far more noticeable to the ear, creating an unpleasant, ‘pitchy’, sound. This can even happen if the players are fairly skilled.
The Solution?…
Find Orchestral arrangements where techniques are being used to create a ‘lush’ and ‘full’ sound in the Strings section. Here are a few examples:
- Violin I and Violin II parts playing in unison on prominent melodies – either on the same pitches, or an octave apart. More players on similar material means a fuller, louder, sound, with more overtone frequencies, helping the Violins sound sonorous, and more balanced with the Brass and Woodwinds, etc. (of course this technique can be expanded to include the Violas, Cellos, and even the Double Basses).
- Double-stops – when a String player plays multiple notes at one time – can add a pronounced and fuller impact to the Strings section, simply because more strings are being played.
- Divisi sections – where multiple notes per String part are being played simultaneously, often a 3rd, 6th, or an octave, apart. This widens the pitch differences between players, creating more overtone harmonics. This can add to the ‘lush’ Strings sound that many Orchestras want to create.
- Having other instruments (Woodwinds, French Horn, etc.) double String parts, providing subtle support, boosting and supporting the Strings melodic or harmonic material.
Look for these types of arrangements!...
Northern Jay Music has a couple of arrangements implementing some of these techniques that are specifically designed to get your smaller Strings section sounding as full and lush as reasonably possible.
You can find them in the Shop marked with a ‘Green Check-mark’ (top-left corner).
Check out these pieces now: