Vibrato

[kvchellappa]

Sanjay Subrahmanyan liked
Steven Isserlis‏
I would find it unnatural (and unnecessary) to cut out all vibrato in the performance of 18th century music - can one really believe that singers/string-players at the time used none? But it must contribute to the phrasing - not be just an automatic ingredient. And here endeth...

(I hope someone explains!)

[Sachi_R]

This may help, KVC:
https://youtu.be/WSlvLS1t0XU

[thenpaanan]

This may help, KVC:
https://youtu.be/WSlvLS1t0XU

Thanks for the link. I also noticed that the sound of the violin is so much more relaxed and smooth here than the Carnatic violins I have heard. Is it more the violin or the violinist or the music system? Or perhaps just an outlier in the universe of violin clips?

The use of appropriate amount of vibrato in the voice also lends an air of relaxed feeling (I don't understand the pyscho-acoustics of the phenomenon). But it can be overdone like everything else.

-T

[Sachi_R]

Thenpaanan,
We had a famous cellist friend visiting us in Germany long back. She was shocked to know that our string players apply grease on their fingers that touch the strings. She said they use soap and water before a concert to keep the fingers really dry!

I feel vibrato simulates the emotional quiver in a voice.

You're right, it shouldn't be overdone. Also the type of straight notes one hears in western music, especially their equitempered scale, sounds to me offkey and unbearable after a point.

By the way, I urge everyone to get an Amazon Prime membership and watch a serial called Mozart in the Jungle. You will be treated to what I think is HIGH quality Western music - a variety of wind and string instruments, and also some fabulous acting and contemporary urban life there.

Fabulous is an understatement to explain my assessment

[kvchellappa]

I put a like for your musical depth, not because I understand!