Scordatura facts for kids
Scordatura is a special way that musicians tune their string instruments. Instead of using the usual notes, they change the tuning of some or all of the strings. The word "scordatura" comes from Italian and means "mistuning." This technique has been used for instruments like lutes, guitars, viols, and instruments from the violin family.
Changing the tuning makes the instrument sound different. For example, if a string is tuned a bit higher, it becomes tighter. This can make it sound louder and brighter. However, musicians must be careful not to tune strings too high, or they might break! Scordatura also helps musicians play unusual chords or quickly switch between notes on different strings.
When a composer wants an instrument to use scordatura, they write down the special tuning at the start of the music. The notes in the music are then written as if the instrument were tuned normally. This makes it easier for the player to read. For instance, if a G string is tuned up to G# and the composer wants a G# sound, they simply write a G. The instrument will then play the G# sound automatically.
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What is Scordatura?
Scordatura is a technique where string players change the normal tuning of their instrument's strings. This is done to create new sounds or make certain musical passages easier to play. It's like giving the instrument a different voice!
Why Change the Tuning?
Musicians use scordatura for a few reasons:
- Different Sounds: Tuning a string higher makes it tighter, which can create a brighter and louder sound. Tuning it lower can make it sound darker and richer.
- Easier Playing: Sometimes, a special tuning can make it simpler to play difficult chords or quick note changes.
- Special Effects: Composers might use scordatura to create unique musical effects, like imitating a specific character or mood.
Scordatura in History
Scordatura has been used by composers for hundreds of years. It was especially popular during the Baroque period.
Baroque Period Examples
The Baroque period lasted from about 1600 to 1750. A famous composer who loved scordatura was Heinrich Biber. He wrote a set of violin sonatas called the "Rosary Sonatas." In each sonata, the violin had a different tuning! In one sonata, called Resurrection, Biber even asked the violinist to cross the two middle strings over each other. This created a very unusual sound with two Gs and two Ds.
Classical Period Examples
During the classical music period, scordatura was used less often, but there are still famous examples. Mozart used it in his "Sinfonia Concertante" for Violin, Viola and Orchestra. He asked the viola player to tune all four strings a semitone (half-step) higher than usual. This made the viola sound brighter and louder. It helped the viola match the bright sound of the violin, especially since the violin was playing in a key that usually sounds softer.
Later Examples of Scordatura
Scordatura continued to appear in music in the late 19th century and 20th century.
- Gustav Mahler: In his Fourth Symphony, Mahler asked the main violinist (the leader of the orchestra) to use a violin tuned very strangely. This was to make the violin sound like a poor beggar playing. The violinist needed a second instrument to quickly switch back to normal tuning.
- Camille Saint-Saëns: In his piece Danse Macabre, Saint-Saëns asked the solo violin to tune its E string down to E flat. This was done to make the violin sound like the devil!
- Zoltán Kodály: He wrote a sonata for solo cello where the cellist had to tune the two lowest strings down. This helped create a very dark and rich sound for certain chords.
See also
In Spanish: Scordatura para niños
