Preparing fingers

February 25, 2007 at 8:10 PM

I think that there is some untapped genius in fingerings that are in old editions of violin music including in orchestra parts.

Last week, I rejoined a college town-gown orchestra that I played in some years ago. Just before I met my current teacher we played The Moldau in this orchestra. Now at least eight years later it is scheduled for the next concert. The last page and a half of this tone poem are quite difficult.

Last time I played it I rejected most of the printed fingerings in the Kalmus parts.

I am looking at it again and I see some smart things in these fingerings that I couldn't have done eight years ago because I lacked the technique and insight to see what was there.

(It came out a bit smaller than expected. The third measure of the example is 8va until the end of the example.)

The above example has a wonderful fingering that is very economical. Starting at measure 383 (the third measure of the example) cover the D and A strings with the 2nd finger. Once you play the high G# with the third finger (or better yet from the beginning) hold the third finger down on the E string for the next four measures including in the shift back to fourth position in measure 384. Keep the 2nd finger down covering the fifth on the D and A strings throughout the passage even through the shift. Essentially the whole hand shifts on a chord through those 4 measures.

The only finger that will move (up and down) is the 4th finger.

Amen to Brivati Sensei's admonition to look for fingers to prepare and hold down. I think that there is a lot of this wisdom implied in fingerings in old editions but if we are unprepared for it it is easy to reject the fingerings and look for something that only seems easier.

Now on to explore the possibilities in the other fingerings in those difficult passages. Any suggestions are welcome.

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Preparing fingers

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