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proportional to the density of the object. This is due to damping effects, which increase as the object becomes softer.

Inciting vibration in a component of the cello body requires very particular conditions for bow speed and pressure (in general, relatively low bow speeds and high pressure). The bridge and the tailpiece are relatively easily excited in such a way. The components vibrate at their main body resonances or at an overtone of this frequency,244 in which case much less pressure is required. In both cases a very steady bow speed is required for a consistent sound. Since the conditions for producing these tones are so inflexible (bow speed, pressure and point of contact are within a narrow band), variation in loudness and overtone content is very limited.

In the third case, where bowing/stroking incites vibration of the bowing/stroking implement as it rubs against a surface, excitation conditions are also very particular. Such sounds are produced under very high bowing/stroking pressures. The objects vibrate at their own frequencies. Several pitches are producible, all high frequency, with pitch being proportional to bow speed. The tones are very sensitive to changes in bow speed; very steady bow speeds are required to maintain sound. The sound is more easily produced if the frictional forces are increased, i.e. if the bowing/stroking object is slightly sticky, for example a rubber ball or a damp finger.

D3 Using body/bridge as amplifier


The body and the bridge can be used to amplify sounds other than string vibration. If the bow hairs are pressed to the body of the cello and the bow is rotated slightly on the surface of the body, the bow hairs rub against one another. This is particularly effective on the cello back because the large surface allows good contact and freedom of movement. The hairs make a snapping sound which, amplified by the cello body, can be quite loud. The loudness increases with pressure against the cello body. If the motion is sped
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The pitches of the overtones of the fundamental of such components may be inharmonic, unlike the case of the string.

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