Pitch bends & glissandi
Pitch bends
The easiest way to produce an alteration in pitch over a small interval is through the use of pitch bends. Notes on the alto flute may be altered varying amounts from microtonal increments to a semitone or even in some cases a tone, up and down, depending on the note chosen. A fingering which uses more closed keys (such as d'' or c') has less pitch flexibility than one using an open tube (such as c sharp''). There is generally more flexibility when bending a pitch downwards than there is going up, and the highest register has the smallest amount of pitch flexibility.
A pitch bend is created by rolling the flute inwards (for lower pitch) or outwards (for higher pitch), in combination with movements of the player's head and jaw in order to create the maximum alteration in air angle. It should be noted that the further the air stream moves from normal playing position, the more diminished the dynamic control is, with the resultant sound becoming gradually quieter and with a progressively thinner tone.
It should be noted that the vertical design of the upright bass flute means that more time needs to be allowed for wide pitch bends, since the instrument has to be lifted off the floor and into a different playing position. This is not always practical within the context of repertoire, and the use of smaller interval increments is advisable.
The video clip shows pitch bends on a range of pitches. The first, on c'', uses just one closed key, and has a greater flexibility of pitch than the second example, on d', which has almost all of the keys closed. The remaining examples demonstrate the range of movement in the middle and high registers.
Pitch bends
Glissandi
Pure glissandi can be produced through finger movements, but are difficult to realise on the bass flute due to the limited number of pure open holes. Upwards glissandi may be produced by sliding off open holes and gently depressing levers. The evenness of the intervals is determined by the pitch range required; short pitch range glissandi on open-holed keys are most successful and reliable.
Upwards gliss
Downwards glissandi are more difficult to control as this relies on closing the keys evenly enough not to create a bump in the sound. For short interval ranges, pitch bends are most reliable.
Downwards gliss
Non-pure glissandi can be played as rapid scales in a particular key, or chromatic. Since the choice of scale can often be ambiguous, particularly in contemporary music, it is advisable to notate this instead as a run of grace notes. The effect in performance will be the same, but the composer has greater control over the pitches used.
Fall-offs
This is predominantly a jazz effect at the end of a phrase, where a player will begin a rapid descending scale in the appropriate key, while also executing a diminuendo to nothing.
Fall-offs
Notation
The examples below show various notational possibilities for pitch bends. In the first example, lines give an indication of the required pitch. These are specified further in the second example through the use of noteheads and accidentals.
Pitch bends
Glissandi can be shown either with the standard glissando sign, or through the use of grace notes to give more detailed specification of pitch.
Glissandi
Fall-offs