CHAPTER 2 - Single Sounds

Quarter-Tone Trills and Tremolos

Numerous trills and tremolos that utilize quarter-tones are practical. They are available in three different classifications: 1) trills between adjacent quarter-tones and standard half-steps, 2) tremolos between non-adjacent quarter-tones and standard half-steps, and 3) trills between two quarter-tone fingerings. Several examples from each area are outlined below.

Drake Mabry successfully employs quarter-tone trills in his Street Cries for solo clarinet. The tension of an ascending quarter-tone line in the third movement is effectively heightened with quarter-tone trills (Example #74).

Example #74

measures 29-31, mvt. III

A different set of quarter-tone trills is utilized later in the same movement (Example #75).

Example #75

measures 46-7, mvt. III

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