sentence: Harpists are very fond of playing glissandi.
sentences_before: With instruments such as the piano, xylophone or harp a glissando is a quick slide in which we hear one note after another because the pitches between the notes cannot be played. At the end of the piano piece called 'Ondine' from 'Gaspard de la Nuit' by Maurice Ravel both these types of glissando can be heard. The pianist has to play a glissando with tips of the fingers or the finger nails. It can be quite painful to practise them a lot.
sentences_after: By changing the position of the harp pedals a harpist can change the scale which will sound when the glissando is played.
concept_name: harpist
headings: Glissando
categories: Musical performance techniques Musical terminology