What to play at Christmas Recital?

November 3, 2009 at 9:45 PM

As to celebrate the beginning of November my teacher mentioned what I wanted to play at Christmas recital. He gave me a choice of 3 pieces:

-Bach E Major 1st, mvt: I have been working on this piece for about 2 and half months and I have got the basics down so now I am working on the finer points and bringing it all together

-Schön Rosmarin: I have been playing this piece on and off since last January. I have it down pretty well but there are some finer points I have to work on which I believe will take a short time to fix.

-Ravel Piéce en formde de Habanera: I have been playing this piece for about 2 months and it´s coming along nicely

So what piece would be an ideal one to play? I find myself feeling very undecisive as I love all those pieces and want to play them all equaly as much :)

From Anne-Marie Proulx
Posted on November 4, 2009 at 7:29 PM

I can just say that Bach E maj first mvt is widely study and generally teachers love it for its musical and pedagogical richness. You learn so many things with it. It's also an excellent occasion to develop even more physical resistance. (I call it a "cardio" piece because it's non stop and one has to learn to save energy if one doesn't want to die! BTW a very important skill in violin) It looks so simple and when you listen to recordings, many are boring and just a few are wonderful but HOW WONDERFUL when well played! In addition, the piano part of this Bach is really ART two, not just a little accompagniment. It's so melodic and it feels like a duet. It's one of the best dialog I ever had with a pianist. There is nothing like making these creshendos and decreshendos together with Bach's powerful conviction in his music. You also learn a lot about how dynamics can bring live to the music. Also how to produce dynamics in something that is quite fast... (an interesting bow challenge!) This piece is so refreshing, truly addictive and musical in my opinion!!! It is in such pieces that you can learn how to develop your personality even more.

But it's your choice of course!

Good luck!

Anne-Marie

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What to play at Christmas Recital?

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