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Selecting and Playing Sounds
Selecting and Playing Sounds
What is an Articulation Voice?
In order to bring out the distinctive qualities of an acoustic instrument and
perform in a musically significant way, it is essential to employ the instrument’s
rich variety of tonal changes and diverse performance techniques
(articulations). Voices that are able to realistically express these acoustic
instrument sounds and techniques are called “articulation voices” on the
ATELIER. By using articulation voices, you can express the sounds and
techniques of such instruments in real time.
Playing an Articulation Voice
When playing an articulation voice, playing the keyboard legato or staccato
will cause the sound to change according to your playing technique. By also
using aftertouch, foot switch, etc., while you play, you can apply a variety of
effects to the sound, making your performance even richer and more realistic.
Terms Used with Articulation Voices
Legato playing
This refers to the play of successive notes without causing a break between
them to be perceived. On a keyboard instrument, you would play the next
note slightly before releasing the currently held key, causing the notes to
briefly overlap.
Staccato playing
This is the opposite of legato playing, and means that you clearly separate
each note you play. In other words, you would release the currently held key
before playing the next note.
Dynamics
This refers to the variations between loud and soft when playing an instrument,
and includes not only changes in volume but also performance techniques that
affect the tonal character. For articulation voices, you can use aftertouch,
initial touch, and expression pedal to vary the dynamics.
Portamento
This is a technique in which the pitch is changed smoothly from one note to
the next. This smooth change in pitch is particularly effective when playing
bowed string sounds such as violin or cello, or trombone.
Realistically Expressing an Acoustic Instrument Performance
(Articulation Voice)
What is aftertouch?
This allows you to apply
various effects to the sound by
pressing down on the key after
you’ve played a note.
What is initial touch?
This refers to the way in which
the loudness or character of the
sound is affected by the force
with which you strike the keys.
Slight variations in your playing
touch can add expressive
character to the sound.
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