Falset (Music)
Encyclopedia
Falset is the latitude for a brasswind
player's pitch-control of a harmonic
. While only just sufficient in middle and high registers
to allow for intonation
adjustment, this latitude becomes very wide in the low register in the flattening direction; indeed, without this, the conventional system of three valves would be problematic owing to the sharpness
of certain valve combinations. Previously also falset referred to falsetto
.
At H2 the pitch can sometimes be dropped by a fourth
or more by means of what is often termed loose-lipping, a sort of dragging of embouchure
which produces facticious pitches not allowed for by the simple theory of the harmonic series
. This useful historical term originates from the German Praetorius
in connection with the cornett
: playing 'in falset'. Horn
playing has known it from the eighteenth century. For instance, notes down to low G (written in bass clef as G') are encountered in classical parts. Mathematician
s from Mersenne onwards have suggested explanations for these sounds, in some cases recently requiring a considerably revised view of the structure and genesis of the harmonic series which will surely lead in time to satisfactory elucidation of corresponding anomalies that crop up in the early history of sounding small horns and other labrosones
(lip-vibrated instruments).
On tenor trombone
s without an F attachment, there is a gap between B1 (the fundamental in first position) and E2 (the first harmonic in seventh position). Skilled players can produce falset notes between these, but the sound is relatively weak and not usually used in performance.
All notes emitted from the bazooka
are produced purely in falset. Pitches are produced specifically by the player's lips as they vibrate and resonate in conjunction with the mouthpiece and leadpipe
unit but not with the full tube length of the horn as is the case in the trombone.
Brass instrument
A brass instrument is a musical instrument whose sound is produced by sympathetic vibration of air in a tubular resonator in sympathy with the vibration of the player's lips...
player's pitch-control of a harmonic
Harmonic
A harmonic of a wave is a component frequency of the signal that is an integer multiple of the fundamental frequency, i.e. if the fundamental frequency is f, the harmonics have frequencies 2f, 3f, 4f, . . . etc. The harmonics have the property that they are all periodic at the fundamental...
. While only just sufficient in middle and high registers
Register (music)
In music, a register is the relative "height" or range of a note, set of pitches or pitch classes, melody, part, instrument or group of instruments...
to allow for intonation
Intonation (music)
Intonation, in music, is a musician's realization of pitch accuracy, or the pitch accuracy of a musical instrument. Intonation may be flat, sharp, or both, successively or simultaneously.-Interval, melody, and harmony:...
adjustment, this latitude becomes very wide in the low register in the flattening direction; indeed, without this, the conventional system of three valves would be problematic owing to the sharpness
Sharp (music)
In music, sharp, dièse , or diesis means higher in pitch and the sharp symbol raises a note by a half tone. Intonation may be flat, sharp, or both, successively or simultaneously...
of certain valve combinations. Previously also falset referred to falsetto
Falsetto
Falsetto is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous edges of the vocal folds, in whole or in part...
.
At H2 the pitch can sometimes be dropped by a fourth
Perfect fourth
In classical music from Western culture, a fourth is a musical interval encompassing four staff positions , and the perfect fourth is a fourth spanning five semitones. For example, the ascending interval from C to the next F is a perfect fourth, as the note F lies five semitones above C, and there...
or more by means of what is often termed loose-lipping, a sort of dragging of embouchure
Embouchure
The embouchure is the use of facial muscles and the shaping of the lips to the mouthpiece of woodwind instruments or the mouthpiece of the brass instruments.The word is of French origin and is related to the root bouche , 'mouth'....
which produces facticious pitches not allowed for by the simple theory of the harmonic series
Harmonic series (music)
Pitched musical instruments are often based on an approximate harmonic oscillator such as a string or a column of air, which oscillates at numerous frequencies simultaneously. At these resonant frequencies, waves travel in both directions along the string or air column, reinforcing and canceling...
. This useful historical term originates from the German Praetorius
Praetorius
Praetorius, Prätorius, Prætorius was the name of several musicians and scholars in Germany.In Germany of the 16th and 17th centuries it became a fashion that educated people named "Schulze" or "Schultheiß" or "Richter", which means "judge", put their name into the Latin language as "Praetorius",...
in connection with the cornett
Cornett
The cornett, cornetto or zink is an early wind instrument, dating from the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods. It was used in what are now called alta capellas or wind ensembles. It is not to be confused with the trumpet-like instrument cornet.-Construction:There are three basic types of...
: playing 'in falset'. Horn
Horn (instrument)
The horn is a brass instrument consisting of about of tubing wrapped into a coil with a flared bell. A musician who plays the horn is called a horn player ....
playing has known it from the eighteenth century. For instance, notes down to low G (written in bass clef as G') are encountered in classical parts. Mathematician
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
s from Mersenne onwards have suggested explanations for these sounds, in some cases recently requiring a considerably revised view of the structure and genesis of the harmonic series which will surely lead in time to satisfactory elucidation of corresponding anomalies that crop up in the early history of sounding small horns and other labrosones
Brass instrument
A brass instrument is a musical instrument whose sound is produced by sympathetic vibration of air in a tubular resonator in sympathy with the vibration of the player's lips...
(lip-vibrated instruments).
On tenor trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
s without an F attachment, there is a gap between B1 (the fundamental in first position) and E2 (the first harmonic in seventh position). Skilled players can produce falset notes between these, but the sound is relatively weak and not usually used in performance.
All notes emitted from the bazooka
Bazooka (instrument)
The bazooka is a brasswind musical instrument several feet in length and incorporates telescopic tubing like the trombone. Often, people construct very simple bazookas with scavenged materials like pipes and funnels...
are produced purely in falset. Pitches are produced specifically by the player's lips as they vibrate and resonate in conjunction with the mouthpiece and leadpipe
Leadpipe
In a brass instrument, a leadpipe is the pipe or tube into which the mouthpiece is placed.For example, on the illustration of a trombone, the leadpipe would be between #3 and #4, the mouthpiece and the slide lock ring. In the illustration of a French horn, the leadpipe is #2.Some instruments have a...
unit but not with the full tube length of the horn as is the case in the trombone.