Comments

wow those are some high notes.... I hate playing notes that high because I lose balance of the instrument... Because of my thumb not being on the "other side" of the neck..

For me it isn't so much the notes that high that gives me trouble... it is the balance act I play with my instrument while playing the notes....

Somersaulting "3" is hilarious! I like that open e as well [I'm guessing it isn't a semi-correct indication of harmonic because of the tempo...] Is that flying 3 I see? Oh dear. Have fun. You might want to try playing it as written without the 8va just to get an idea of how it sounds.

I have the Joachim edits of the Brahms concerto. Joachim had substantial input into the concerto but not the last word. The ultimate version has some jumps to very high notes, and Joachim's edits make clear that it is perfectly acceptable (the notation "ossia") to play those notes an octave lower!

One other important consideration. If you feel like you need to scratch your nose while playing the piece, Sarasate has made that easy for you. I was taught it really means open E. It shows up where it's so bleedin fast nobody cares. Gabriel, you pop over to the harmonic on the A string for that one. It works great at a relatively slow speed. I haven't gotten it up to tempo, but I'm really hoping I can keep the harmonics because at least I know those notes will be in tune; they're a great reference point.

Linda, when I see that 3, it makes me thing of religious-themed paintings in the Renaissance (or medieval period?), of the mortals that tipped their heels toward heaven and tumbled off the road of the straight and narrow. I gotta find that particular piece of artwork now.

Medieval. Heel tipping was out by 1400 and cow tipping was in.