Specific instrumental effect occasionally used on Broadway
#1Specific instrumental effect occasionally used on Broadway
Posted: 9/6/15 at 12:47am
This is a verrrrrry random and specific question.
It doesn't appear too frequently but whenever I hear it I'm always thinking "what is that????" It's a very eerie ethereal tone, almost like a theremin? My best guess is it's just high strings but if anyone knows for sure or could elaborate on the technique I would love to know.
It can be heard in these two songs:
At 0:41 seconds
At 0:28 seconds
musicals1989
Understudy Joined: 9/16/11
#2Specific instrumental effect occasionally used on Broadway
Posted: 9/6/15 at 12:55am
It's just violins. It's a technique called "harmonics".
#3Specific instrumental effect occasionally used on Broadway
Posted: 9/6/15 at 6:41am
Love that you started this thread, Nowak. I certainly knew they were strings, but I didn't have a term to describe the effect other than "long-sustained-bell-like-tones".
#4Specific instrumental effect occasionally used on Broadway
Posted: 9/6/15 at 12:02pm
Thank you so much! It's a marvelous effect.
#5Specific instrumental effect occasionally used on Broadway
Posted: 9/6/15 at 12:08pm
There are especially great harmonics in the original orchestrations for "Bewitched".
#6Specific instrumental effect occasionally used on Broadway
Posted: 9/6/15 at 8:58pm
There's also top notch ones in the original charts for "There's A Small Hotel" from ON YOUR TOES. Hans Spielek was apparently very much a fan.
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