overlap technique - Orchestral effects - Philipp Dangas

General information about the overlapping technique

The overlapping technique is one of the most interesting instrumental techniques that the composer to be available. Your tasks are diverse. One would be to create more or less contrast between sections.

Another function is to realize a color change . The overlapping technique is most closely related to phrase concatenation as an irregularity in phrase structure. But the overlapping technique and the phrase chaining are not the same.

Overlap technique as part of the „symphonic world music“

Is the most important instrumental means to combine timbres. Quasi to "color" or nuance individual tones in their own way. With the aim of creating a sound character that reflects the diversity of world music.

It is possible to gradually change the instrumentation parallel to the overlapping technique. This results in a color change — more or less clear.

The overlapping technique is demonstrated by way of example.

The contrast formation is low. Precisely because of the woodwind only the bassoon sounds in bars 16 and 17. The color contrast achieved is low. Due to the low ability to merge with the strings. Only at the end of the 17th bar does the clarinet sound.

At the beginning of the 19th bar the melody is handed over. From the strings she moves on to the woodwinds. A smooth color change is realized through the gradual change of instrumentation. The bassoon joins the string orchestra. And shortly afterwards the clarinet.