The Case of the Whistling ‘E’
This story is a favorite amongst violinists, maybe you’ve heard it.
Late in the career of the uniquely compelling violinist, Josef Szigeti, he performed at Carnegie Hall. On the program was the famous Chaconne of Bach. Throughout the movement are to be found chords that use the open ‘e’ string.
On that occasion, each time maestro Szigeti struck one of those chords his ‘e’ string whistled, without fail. Members of the audience could sense his rising frustration.
Finally, at the last climatic iteration of the opening phrase, fully 15 minutes after the movement began, his frustration got the better of him. In bar two of the phrase there are two, four note chords that use an open ‘e’. The first, true to form that night, whistled. The second also whistled, but this time the hapless virtuoso was ready for it.
Upon meeting with the unctuous bleat he fiercely drew the bow back and forth several times fortissimo until he produced a flurry of ear rending open ‘e’s.
Having thus exacted revenge, he played to the end and was met with thunderous applause – and more than a few belly laughs on the part of fellow fiddlers.
Now, the case of the whistling ‘e’ is not entirely closed.
Yes, in part it is due to the condition of the string – tarnish will cause a string to go false and increase the likelihood of whistling. And yes, there are E strings on the market guaranteed not to whistle. Problem with them is they don’t sound very good otherwise.
No, there is a secret to solving the case of the whistling ‘e’ that goes deeper than mere equipment. And for reading this email, good friends, I will give it to you.
The biggest factor in causing the ‘e’ string to whistle is bow placement on the string. Try attacking the ‘e’ string fortissimo with the bow striking down near the fingerboard. You will, more often than not, get a whistle. Now do the same thing with it nearer to the bridge, e voilá, no whistle. Case closed.
All the best,
Clayton Haslop
P.S. Now open YOUR case and get cracking on my Kreutzer course.
