bending notes, glissandos on the flute?

sweetensour · Post by **sweetensour** » Thu Jan 16, 2003 2:30 am

we''re playing a song at school
called ''ghost train,'' and the flutes have a part that mimics a train
whistle. the music has ''bend up'' and ''port. up'' (i know port. means
portabella.. something like that) written above the notes that are supposed to
be ''bent'', and it''s supposed to sound like a glissando. how is it
possible to play a clean gliss on the flute? we''ve heard a couple recordings
of the song, so we know it''s at least possible.. i could try explaining how
the actual notes are written if that helps.

damjan · Post by **damjan** » Thu Jan 16, 2003 11:58 am

With an open hole flute -
depending on which notes you are playing, your finger uncovers the hole
gradually (try it going from E2 to F2, for example). That is the basic idea of
it. What notes do you play?

sweetensour · Post by **sweetensour** » Mon Jan 20, 2003 12:31 am

Db2 to D2, D2 to Eb2

BandSlave · Post by **BandSlave** » Mon Jan 20, 2003 8:56 pm

Hey, I'm playing ghost train
this year too! that's soo cool!

damjan · Post by **damjan** » Tue Jan 21, 2003 12:00 am

I do it by playing Db and than
gradually pressing the C# trill key, once you depress it fully you start
depressing the D# trill key, once you have both depressed, the note will be Eb.
The same is for Db2 to Eb2 as it is for Db3 to Eb3. Good luck!

sweetensour · Post by **sweetensour** » Tue Jan 21, 2003 12:53 am

haha, yeah scary thing is we're
playing lincolnshire posy also.. we sight-read it last year but apparently my
band directer 'didn't have the guts to let us play it' then, so we're
playing it this year. i tried using the trill key, it works really well! i just
want to clarify.. from D natural to Eb, do i finger the 1st trill key and slowly
press the 2nd one?

damjan · Post by **damjan** » Tue Jan 21, 2003 3:24 am

That is right!

BandSlave · Post by **BandSlave** » Tue Jan 21, 2003 10:26 pm

hey, sweetensour, that's really
cool! what movements? what year are you, i'm a senior. we're doing movements
1, 2, 4, 5, and 6. I don't have the picc parts, but, my friend Sarah does,
it's so pretty! Have fun playing both songs, are you doing the flute solo in
ghost train? I've got it, it's cool! -Abby

flutecastle · Post by **flutecastle** » Tue Apr 15, 2003 2:17 pm

Hi, I heard a college band play
it and I got to sit right in front of the flutes. On "Ghost Train" I noticed the
flutes kinda puffed out their cheeks to get the wind sounding effect to bend the
notes. Maybe that could help? The piece sounds really fun, hope this helps![:)]

BandSlave · Post by **BandSlave** » Tue Apr 15, 2003 7:43 pm

Hi there Amy, I'm glad you
enjoyed them play "Ghost Train!" It's a really fun piece and I got to see it
performed twice so far and now I'm playing it!! I've loved it since the first
time I heard it, in 6th grade, but sadly, I've not been able to see how other
flutists bend. Thanks for that tip and I'll try it tomorrow when I practice it.
Thanks again and I hope you play some fun pieces too!!! -Abby

sweetensour · Post by **sweetensour** » Wed Apr 16, 2003 3:34 pm

we're playing 1,2,4, and 6 of
lincolnshire. we just added on the 4th movement, i LOVE those runs!! i've been
practicing them a lot.. and yeah i get to play the solo! i think i know what
you're talking about with the puffing cheeks thing, i tried out this weird
thing with my mouth and it bends the notes pretty well. if i can figure out how
to explain it i'll get back to you on that one. we still can't really bend
those notes at mm22-24 very well though.. but on a recording of us you can't
really tell cause the trumpets bend those notes also, and it kinda blends in
with the flutes.