CHAPTER 6 - Bass Clarinet

Spectrograms

Spectrograms of a number of multiphonics follow (more for bass clarinet multiphonics are available on The Clarinet of the Twenty-First Century website – http://www.research.umbc.edu/~emrich/multiphonic_spectra.html ). These diagrams represent the indicated multiphonic played at its middle dynamic level (i.e. if p-ff is possible, mf is the middle dynamic level). The duration of each multiphonic is between 2 and 7 seconds. It is important to note that the spectrum of practically every multiphonic changes (at least subtly) during its duration – the sound is constantly transforming.

In the spectrograms, height indicates frequency (hz.), or pitch of the fundamental(s) and partials; length (horizontal) indicates duration; and darkness/lightness indicates the relative amplitude (strength) of components of the sound.

Directly below is a note to frequency converter (taken from the website of the Physics Department of The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia – http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/~jw/notes.html), NON-TRANSPOSED (written B4 for clarinet = A 440), that gives a context for the spectrograms.

According to Peter Veale and Claus-Steffen Mahnkopf in their book The Techniques of Oboe Playing , multiphonic spectra on all woodwind instruments obey a similar basic principle. The frequencies present in a multiphonic spectra can be explained as a combination of the sums and differences of the two frequencies of the primary pitches of the particular multiphonic (each multiphonic contains only two primary pitches).

So,...:

A = highest primary pitch

B = lowest primary pitch

F = frequency within a multiphonic

F = A(+ or – 0, 1, 2, 3, etc.) + or – B(+ or – 0, 1, 2, 3, etc.)

In example 5 below, the vibration at 258 hz. can be explained in the following way:

A = G5 (698 hz.)

B = B ¼# 4 (220 hz.)

F (258 hz.) = A (698) – 2B (220) = 698 – 440 = 258

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38) E-19 : E ¼ 3 = 137 A ¼ 4 = 392 D ¾ 5 = 554 5th partial of E ¼ - 2nd , 3rd partials of D ¾

39) E1-3 : G ¼ 3 = 175 D ¾ 5 = 554 4th partial of G ¼; 3rd partial of D ¾

40) E1-7 : G ¼ 3 = 175 D#5 = 554 (weak) G#5 = 740 - 2nd , 3rd partials of G#

41) E1-10 : B5 = 440 (?) A ¾ 5 = 880

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