Description: A mute is a small object of either wood, metal or plastic that is attached to the bridge of the instrument. Its purpose is to reduce the volume of the instrument. It also softens the tone.
Notation: con sord. or con sordino (German: mit Dämpfer).
Without mute: senza sord.
Comments: There are two main types of mute: those which are placed on the bridge, and ones which slide into place and are permanently attached to the strings. Composers must allow sufficient time for the player to put on or take off a mute!
clip 1 -
Mute - Rhydian contrasts the sound of the cello with and without the mute.
clip 2 -
Mutes require time to put on quietly - Rhydian demonstrates in this clip.
Natural Harmonics
Description: Whilst bowing, with a finger of the left hand the player lightly touches the string at a nodal point. This produces a light, "fluted" sound.
Notation: a small circle above the note
Comments: Natural harmonics are only obtainable at certain positions along each string - they are as follows:
1/2 way along (gives an octave above open string)
1/3 (gives 8ve+5th above open string)
1/4 (gives 2x8ves above open string)
1/5 (gives 2x8ves+maj3rd above open string)
There are more natural harmonics, but these are relatively unreliable.
clip 1 -
Natural harmonics...
Artificial Harmonics
Description: The string is stopped normally, and then fingered lightly (with the little finger) at a point a 4th or a 5th above the stopped note.
Notation: Looking at the example opposite, the first will produce a note two octaves above the stopped note, the second an octave and a fifth above the stopped note. Sometimes flag (= flageolet) is written over the note.
Comments: It is possible to add vibrato and to play melodic lines in artificial harmonics, but both techniques should be used with care. Two rarer artificial harmonics are:
min 3rd above stop - produces two octaves + a 5th
maj 3rd above stop - produces two octaves + a maj 3rd
clip 1 -
Artificial harmonics...