pallotta's New Writeupshttp://everything2.com/?node=New%20Writeups%20Atom%20Feed&foruser=pallotta2002-04-23T23:13:37Zricochet (thing)http://everything2.com/user/pallotta/writeups/ricochetpallottahttp://everything2.com/user/pallotta2002-04-23T23:13:37Z2002-04-23T23:13:37ZRicochet is a <a href="/title/bowing">bowing</a> technique used on <a href="/title/bowed+string+instrument">bowed string instruments</a>. It is used in modern (that is <a href="/title/20th+century">20th century</a>) music, quite rarely.<br><p>
When playing ricochet, the <a href="/title/player">player</a> strikes the <a href="/title/bow">bow</a> onto the strings, quite forcefully, and then releases the pressure, allowing the bow to bounce uncontrolled for a short while. The effect is quite <a href="/title/percussive">percussive</a> and has very little <a href="/title/pitch">pitch</a>.<br><p><!-- close unclosed tag --></p><!-- close unclosed tag --></p>Bunad (thing)http://everything2.com/user/pallotta/writeups/Bunadpallottahttp://everything2.com/user/pallotta2001-08-23T07:00:28Z2001-08-23T07:00:28ZA bunad is <a href="/title/Norway">Norway</a>'s traditional <a href="/title/folk">folk</a> costume. A different bunad exists for each part of the country, and represents that area's history. The bunad is one of the most prominent symbols of <a href="/title/Norwegian">Norwegian</a> Romantic painting.<br><p>
Each bunad is <a href="/title/elaborate">elaborately</a> <a href="/title/embroidery">embroidered</a> and is adorned with <a href="/title/beadwork">beadwork</a> or silver. The most famous
silver decoration is a <a href="/title/brooch">brooch</a>, called "sølje". (See <a href="/title/the+letter+%25C3%25B8">the letter ø</a> if needed...) Most bunads are black with brightly colored embroidery, although green is also quite common.<br><p>
Folk costumes of all sorts existed for centuries before the bunad. These were clothes used for special occasions. Towards the end of the <a href="/title/19th+century">19th century</a>, a strong sense of national unity prevailed, and the need for a common identity grew. Keeping old <a href="/title/tradition">tradition</a> and <a href="/title/culture">culture</a> became important, and the bunad was developed, based on the old folk costumes.<br><p>
The bunad started as a dance costume by youth dancing groups, but its use soon changed to holidays and important<!-- close unclosed tag --></p><!-- close unclosed tag --></p><!-- close unclosed tag --></p>…Viola (thing)http://everything2.com/user/pallotta/writeups/Violapallottahttp://everything2.com/user/pallotta2001-08-22T17:40:39Z2001-08-22T17:40:39Z<p>The viola is called <a href="/title/Bratsche">Bratsche</a> in <a href="/title/German">German</a>, bratsj in <a href="/title/Norwegian">Norwegian</a>, and this clearly shows (at least if you try to <a href="/title/pronounce">pronounce</a> it...) that it's a descendant of the <a href="/title/Viola+da+braccio">Viola da braccio</a>, which means <i>arm violin</i>.</p>musical chairs (thing)http://everything2.com/user/pallotta/writeups/musical+chairspallottahttp://everything2.com/user/pallotta2001-06-22T15:37:22Z2001-06-22T15:37:22ZThe <a href="/title/Chair">Chair</a> <a href="/title/Game">Game</a> works best with ten or more players, a good <a href="/title/kindergarten">kindergarten</a> game. The players (hereafter called <a href="/title/contestant">contestants</a> for <a href="/title/oomph">oomph</a>) have one chair each, <b>except for one</b>. The chairs are placed back to back in a line, kind of like this:<br><p>
< ><br>
< ><br>
< ><br>
< ><br>
< ><br><p>
There can (should?) also be chairs at either end. The contestants now stand around the chairs, facing away from the chairs. Someone not playing the game (a <a href="/title/kindergarten+uncle">kindergarten uncle</a>, perhaps?) then puts on some <a href="/title/music">music</a>. <a href="/title/When+the+music+starts+to+play">When the music starts to play</a>, the contestants move around the chairs (in the same direction). The game controller then stops the music suddenly, <a href="/title/unexpectedly">unexpectedly</a> and all the contestants have to find a chair. This is naturally not possible, as there is one less chair than there are contestants. The person with no chair is out of the game. One chair is then removed.<br><p>
The process repeats, and there are fewer and fewer chairs (and contestants). This can<!-- close unclosed tag --></p><!-- close unclosed tag --></p><!-- close unclosed tag --></p>…bridge (thing)http://everything2.com/user/pallotta/writeups/bridgepallottahttp://everything2.com/user/pallotta2001-06-20T16:46:50Z2001-06-20T16:46:50ZThe bridge of a <a href="/title/bowed+string+instrument">bowed string instrument</a> is a meticulously <a href="/title/carve">carved</a> piece of <a href="/title/wood">wood</a> that sits vertically on the instrument's top (or front, depending on your view). The <a href="/title/string">strings</a> are strung over the bridge, and the <a href="/title/vibration">vibrations</a> produced by the strings are transmitted into the <a href="/title/instrument">instrument</a>, thereby making the whole instrument vibrate.<br><p>
The bridge is not fastened to the instrument, but held in place by the <a href="/title/tension">tension</a> of the strings. The <a href="/title/placement">placement</a> of the bridge is determined by the <a href="/title/f-hole">f-holes</a> of the instrument. (The <a href="/title/f-hole">f-holes</a> are f-shaped openings in the top of the instrument, allowing air to move out of the instrument, therefore producing <a href="/title/sound">sound</a>). The bridge should be placed directly between the f-holes to give the best distribution of the vibrations. Moving the bridge is not something to take lightly.<br><p>
On the <a href="/title/double+bass">double bass</a>, adjustable bridges is becoming increasingly common. This involves inserting a metal screw into the "legs" of the bridge. The height<!-- close unclosed tag --></p><!-- close unclosed tag --></p>…Tremolo (thing)http://everything2.com/user/pallotta/writeups/Tremolopallottahttp://everything2.com/user/pallotta2001-06-20T16:46:32Z2001-06-20T16:46:32ZTremolo is a <a href="/title/technique">technique</a> used on a <a href="/title/bowed+string+instrument">bowed string instrument</a>. The bow is moved back and forth very quickly, producing a "shaking" <a href="/title/effect">effect</a>. Tremolo can be used to achieve a number of different <a href="/title/sound">sounds</a>. If combined with an <a href="/title/accent">accent</a>, a sense of urgency and energy is conveyed. When used more statically, over longer periods of time, the effect is more like a <a href="/title/carpet">carpet</a> of <a href="/title/sound">sound</a>.<br><p>
The <a href="/title/Austrian">Austrian</a> <a href="/title/composer">composer</a> <a href="/title/Anton+Bruckner">Anton Bruckner</a> (1824-96) used tremolo extensively throughout his nine <a href="/title/syphony">symphonies</a>, making them physically hard to play. It is often better to play a slightly slower tremolo in his works, adding to the feeling of a carpet of sound, and the term "Bruckner tremolo" is sometimes used for a slower, more <a href="/title/sluggish">sluggish</a> tremolo. <a href="/title/contemporary+music">Contemporary</a> composers also use this effect a lot, and when combined with other techniques, such as <a href="/title/sul+ponticello">sul ponticello</a>, <a href="/title/sul+tasto">sul tasto</a>, <a href="/title/glissando">glissando</a> etc., the result can be quite astonishing.<!-- close unclosed tag --></p>