Vibrato

[Shiva]

In the classical and early romantic eras, how much vibrato would have been used by:
1) Orchestral strings (i.e. the various members of the string family in an orchestral setting)
2) Solo stringed instrument
3) Orchestral winds / brass
4) The human voice, especially in opera.
5) Strings in a chamber setting

I doubt as much vibrato was used in the classical period and even less in the Baroque period but I don't know. Can anyone clear this up for me

[Ballaw de Quincewold]

I am not sure about this, but I think that vibrato was a twentieth century development. I know for a fact that strings didn't use it during the classical period.

[Bassoonery]

Not sure about the details but I know its use varies according to region and country, as well as fashion. I think it's always been around and I expect it has seen more use by soloists. Does America make more use of it in orchestras than other countries...?

A major factor is that in orchestral music you should never use it in chordal or homophonic writing because it makes the chord sound wobbly. It can be used in melodic or solo writing. Most orchestral musicians (not just strings) are aware of this today but I don't know how much the current opinion is different from the past.

Winds and brass can use vibrato but it is more difficult than on strings because it is controlled with your mouth/throat muscles and breath which can all affect intonation. It is usually something that has to be practised a lot and taught well to get right. Again it is more frequently used by solo instrumentalists or in solo chamber passages.

We windies do have cheat methods! My trombonist brother was told to stand one leg and slowly shake the other one to get a nice vibrato...

[Will Kirk]

Baroque Violinists used alot of vibrato actually, and one of their signatures was a super wide vibrato. I'm not too sure about other eras though

[Thorolf]

Originally Posted by Sor Is My Hero

Baroque Violinists used alot of vibrato actually, and one of their signatures was a super wide vibrato. I'm not too sure about other eras though

This is right, but vibrato wasn’t applied all the time, but chosen as a variation. In some sheets, it was designated by its own articulation mark, alongside trills and mordents.

Regards

[MaestroX]

This is an interesting subject indeed. Today there are conductors who are moving away from vibrato preferring instead a pure tone to be produced. In some "authentic" performances of Mozart the strings players play only with a pure tone which I myslef prefer.

In some sheets, it was designated by its own articulation mark, alongside trills and mordents.

Can you show what this would look like? Just in case i ever come across it

[Gryvix]

Originally Posted by Bassoonery

We windies do have cheat methods! My trombonist brother was told to stand one leg and slowly shake the other one to get a nice vibrato...

I would strongely advise to not continue with that!!! That is very bad teaching, maybe try finding another teacher! Does the teacher teach him also to smile(stretch lips) on high notes?
Those methods are dangerous for the lips, as it is based on putting pressure on and off the lips wich could damage the very tender muscle-tissue.
You only should use your lips themselves by slightly opening and closing it and this should be evenly like in eights(quavers) or in 16'th(semi-quavers).
trombones could still cheat by using, well, the slide

Most types of orchestras(besides strings) don't use vibrato as a whole except for people with a solo.
There is an exception and that is brass bands: every player here uses vibrato(besides percussion ). This has a few advantages, first and more important, it just sounds so warm, and more important, you're less likely to be out of tune.

[MaestroX]

It is teached through orchestration books that the clarinet is the only instrument not to use vibrato. Obviously not percussion either

[Gryvix]

I'd love the clarinet to have some vibrato in the high tunes, it would make it a bit more bearable ^^

[MaestroX]

Vibrato on the clarinet makes me shuder. It sounds awful to my ears. There is an Eb clarinetist that sits behind me in a concert band I play in and he uses it alot and its horrible, he may just have bad technique but to me it sounds like he has "wah wah" on it