Description: Vibrato is a slight undulation in pitch. It can also be a variation in intensity of sound. Either way the effect is of a sound that 'wobbles' slightly.
Notation: Written instruction in the music - Vib. or Vibrato. Sometimes with a wavy line just after the note.
Comments: Vibrato is integral to oboe and cor anglais technique, but can also be specifically notated as a special effect. For example, if a composer wants lots of vibrato, they may write Molto Vib. or if a plain sound is required, Non Vib.
Glissando
Description: A slide in pitch between notes.
Notation: The beginning and end note of the glissando are written and connected by either a straight or a wavy line. Usually the word gliss or glissando will be written above.
Comments: on clarinet - works best between (written) D4 and F6. Avoid in the lower register. Bass Clarinet - glissandos don't work, because of covered holes. Fast chromatic scales are substituted.
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Glissando on the clarinet.
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Glissando on bass clarinet.
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Gershwin's glissando in Rhapsody in Blue...
Harmonics
Description: produced by fingering a fundamental low note, then picking out partials using venting or the register key.
Notation: o - over the notehead.
(It is probably a good idea to include a note explaining whether the notehead is the sounding or fingered pitch)
Comments: very rare and fairly ineffective on the clarinet.
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Harmonics...
Trills
Description: a rapid alternation between two pitches - either a tone or a semitone apart.
Notation: The example shows a minor trill (semitone) followed by a major trill (whole tone), indicated by accidentals over the note. If these are not given, players will choose a trill type based on musical context. Wavy lines to indicate the duration of a trill are optional.
Comments: All trills are possible on the clarinet and on the bass clarinet (except very high on the instrument). Timbral trills involve trilling between alternative fingerings for a given note, or using very little embouchure.
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An example of a major trill - low down.
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A minor trill in the mid range.
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A major trill high up.
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Bass clarinet trills.
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Timbral trills on the bass clarinet.
Tremolo or Tremolando
Description: a trill or rapid alternation between two notes more than a tone apart.
Notation: thick slanting lines between two notes. The tremolo shown on the left lasts for one beat.
Comments: Many are possible, but avoid crossing the register break, especially on bass clarinet. Clarinet tremolos sound particularly effective in the bottom register.
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Bass clarinet tremolando.
Subtones
Description: very quiet sound
Notation: verbal instruction - terms used include echo tone, subtone, mezzo voce or sotto voce.
Comments: An extreme pianissimo will easily be drowned out by other sounds!
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Subtone...