Octaves

[StevenAC]

Hi,

In the "Academy", when describing "Sound Combinations", there is talk of "playing in octaves", or "playing two octaves above" etc. What does that mean? Does it mean playing exactly the same notes, but with one, two, three ... octaves difference, or playing different lines with about one, two, three octaves difference?

[MMKA]

Hi Steven, playing in octaves means playing exactly the same notes, but with one, two, three ... octaves difference. For example: the explanation that the combination of oboe and bassoon has organ qualities has to do with stops of an organ, that are 1, 2 or 3 octaves higher than the root notes and enforce overtones.

[Jos Wylin]

Playing in octaves is often used to bring forward a particular theme, melody in the orchestral texture. It reinforces the audibility because of obvious acoustic reasons. It produces more overtones, accentuates the theme, has a higher pitch and is therefore more audible without actually playing louder.

Jos