AM6 arrangement

Weeks 4 and 5

Expanding a short score (a song with piano accompaniment) into larger

forces
Expanding the material into a string quartet.
Expanding the material into a small chamber ensemble.

Writing for strings and string quartet

A string quartet is formed of 2 violin

players, a viola player and a cellist.
You can easily find the look and shape of the instrument and and also
listen to many quartet recordings.
*Visit the Musition link in the section above and look at the
Instrument category.
String tuning
The strings for all the instruments are tuned at a 5th apart
except for the Double Bass (contrabasse) where the
strings are tuned a 4th apart.

There are a few different ways of the playing the string

instruments.
Bowing: this is by far the most often used method of
playing.
This permits: a) smooth legato playing b) rapid note
movement c) tremolando d) glissando e) harmonics
Pizzicato: plucking the string with the finger/s,
This permits: a) short notes, like a staccato b) a crisp
effect.
Other effects are possible:
using a mute which dampens the sound and also
changes/softens its characteristic sound.
playing on the bridge - sul ponticello - which creates a
slightly ethereal quality
playing over the finger board – sul tasto - which creates a
more wistful and hollow sound

Double/triple stopping
All the string instruments can play two notes at the same
time. The bow crosses both strings and sets both in
vibration at the same time.
Triple stopping involves three strings. Often used in an
arpeggiated fashion.

Overall
The string instruments, having the same basic structure
and sound production, create a fairly homogenous sound
world and can be used as the basis for all ensemble
harmonic texture.