of pitch. The high register of the cello and the low register of the piccolo are really medium pitches, but both of these have unusual appeal because of the peculiarly individualistic and expressive timbre produced. Become acquainted with all the extreme high and low registers on the several instruments, such as the pedal-tone sound of the horn with its fantastic, subterranean excitement, the lyricism of the high tones of the tuba, and the “allure” of the flute in low register.
from MARTINU: Sinfonia Concertante (Copyright 1953 by B. Schott’s Soehne, Mainz, by permission of the original copyright owner and its United States representative, Associated Music Publishers, Inc., New York) — PLATE XXII. BLEND OF DIFFERENTIATED MOTION [Plate withheld from the public edition: the excerpt is still in copyright.]
The opening measures of Sacre du printemps by Stravinsky make extraordinary use of the extreme upper tones of the bassoon. The Afternoon of a Faun by Debussy begins with a flute solo in the exceedingly attractive lower register. In the first movement of The Pines of Rome Respighi achieves a stunning effect by piling up the intensity of many vivid instruments all sounding in high register.
In some of Debussy’s music there is to be found a specialized use of non-extreme register. If all voices are restricted to use of the normal middle part of their ranges an impression of delicacy, sweetness, and gentleness is effected.
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