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A Practical Guide for Composers and Performers
(2013 version)
Carla Rees
Royal College Of Music, London
PERCUSSIVE EFFECTS Slurs, leaps & flexibility
& ARTICULATION
RESPONSE OF
Flexibility on the bass flute is somewhat reduced from that of the C or alto flute,
ARTICULATIONS due to the greater distance that the air has to travel. The response of the
instrument is slow, particularly when moving between low and high registers, and
STANDARD ARTICULATIONS
composers are advised to avoid rapid changes of register, in any articulation.
EXTENDED ARTICULATIONS
FLUTTER TONGUING
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SLURS, LEAPS & FLEXIBILITY
KEY CLICKS
Wide interval slurs
Slurs are practical across the full range of the instrument, but it should be noted
that glissandos may occur when slurring to notes which require the fingers to
slide off the open holes (for example, if slurring up a quartertone from f' or e').
These will be more or less exaggerated depending on the speed of finger
movement, but slurs should be avoided in these situations if clarity is important.
Equally, smooth slurs are impractical from b to c#' and from g1/4#' to g#' and
g1/4#'' to g#''.
When slurring between g1/4#, g# and g3/4# in any octave extra notes can be
heard within the upwards slur due to the configuration of the keys. Slurring
downwards is smoother.
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Slurring from g1/4#' to g#'
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Copyright © 2013 Carla Rees