If I want to transcribe/arrange a harp piece for the piano, and the piece contains lots of bisbigliando passages, what would be the best way to imitate that charming effect on the piano, and how would I notate it as clearly as possible?
asked Jun 21, 2020 at 17:40
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3Well, I learned a new word today!– RichardCommented Jun 21, 2020 at 23:30
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Could you please post an image with the bisbigliando you'd like to transcribe to piano.– user70304Commented Jun 22, 2020 at 0:27
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1An image would be very helpful. Have you by any chance got the sheet music of Debussy's Preludes? If any piano-writing produces that effect it's there. I could give you bar references.– Old BrixtonianCommented Jun 22, 2020 at 1:54
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Looks like the best you can do is mark a trill as pianissimo, and maybe even notate "fastest trill possible"– Carl WitthoftCommented Jun 22, 2020 at 13:41
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1 Answer
The best way would be, well, take a grab in the piano and play an actual bisbigliando on the strings! But that's hardly practical.
Short of that, I don't think there's much better you can do than using both the sustain and una corda pedals and then using a regular pianissimo trill.
If you have the option to prepare the piano, or use a digital one, there are a couple of options that could get you closer. Soft cotton wool on the hammers and/or strings, echo devices for a denser sound, or detuning the next key down a semitone so you can use two keys for the same note (again facilitating denser tremolo) might be things to consider.
answered Jun 22, 2020 at 16:15
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