Is this forum also for composing and orchestration help?
Hello,
I'm transcribing music that has a glissando in the first flute that I want to write out note by note. However, while I know as a violist that string players read sharps easily, I don't know a thing about the keywork on wind instruments. Do you write sharps, for example, in a flat key on wind instruments, and if so, which ones? Just for fun, let's assume a non-professional orchestra that can't easily read anything a composer throws at them.
Comments
Consider not writing it out note by note. Indicate a glissando and the player will know what they have to do that is easiest for them.
In reply to Consider not writing it out… by bobjp
You're right, but I want it to feel less like a glissando and more like a measured cadenza. Does that make more sense?
In reply to You're right, but I want it… by SkinIrritant
I think it may depend on what you write. Notes close together pitch-wise may only be able to use sharps OR flats, depending also on the key.
It may be a sharps or flats preference may be more of an individual thing than an instrument class thing.
Is it easier to think of a G sharp as raising the G or think of it as an A flat. Never mind I'm done. This gives me a headache.
"Do you write sharps, for example, in a flat key on wind instruments".
Yes, of course. Simple example: Scale of D Harmonic minor (D min key signature = 1 flat) D E F G A Bb C# D. The seventh note has to be raised by a semitone. Db would make no sense in that context.
For your glissando, if you just write gliss. and no other specification a player would probably either play a scale according to the key signature or a chromatic scale. If you want specific notes, write specific notes. You could use grace notes perhaps.