Triumph!

February 22, 2009 at 8:45 PM

Today was a wonderful day. I played the nursing home this afternoon, and it was easily my best performance yet. I played Hayn's Serenade, Saint-Saens' The Swan, Handel's Largo, and the Handel Sonata in D Major. The first three were pretty easy; the sonata was more difficult, and my accompanist and I had not had an opportunity to rehearse it. We played the entire sonata, even though I've only just learned the third and fourth movements, and David was literally sight-reading the piano part, but it went very well. I don't know how much was the Inderal, and how much was following my teacher's advice, but it was wonderful to play well today and know that I have found a solution to the problem of tremors in my right hand. It gives me hope that I will be able to continue to play for a long time to come.

From Stephen Brivati
Posted on February 23, 2009 at 4:06 AM

Greetings,

that`s a very great sonata. I eitehr use that one or the a major if I want soemthign abit lighter. Szigeti used to do a very interesting bowing in the fourth movement which I am very fond of. Instead of playing the repeated pattern 16/16/8 quarter/quarter with the short notes slurred as is usually printed he played three notesd separate at the heel and then did a retake with the two quarters on a down bow. The next bar starts up bow for the short notes and then a retake (at the point done from the air!) with the two quarters on an up bow, repeat pattern. Its anincredibly elegant and exctiing bowing. The usuall then sounds very effective in the second half as a new bowing. Well worth experimenting with.

Cheers,

Buri

From Karen Allendoerfer
Posted on February 23, 2009 at 11:54 AM

Good for you! Congratulations on playing a great concert!

From Laurie Trlak
Posted on February 23, 2009 at 1:54 PM

Thanks Buri and Karen.

Buri, could you explain that bowing again? I'm having trouble visualizing starting up-bow on the next measure. It sounds as though he retakes after the 16/16/8 to start the quarter notes down bow, which would necessitate a retake to start up-bow on the next measure. Is that correct? It sounds awkward when playing up to speed (138) Thanks.

Laurie

From Stephen Brivati
Posted on February 24, 2009 at 1:57 AM

Greetings,

if I recall correctly most editions have the 16/16/8 pattern slurred and the quarter notes separate. This is really heavy going. Szigeti gets round this by reversing things IE sep/sep/sep slur. Evertime tou start the quarter notes you have to do a retake. Thus:

b1) dud d-------

b2) udu u.........

That up bow retake from the air (small) is called a fouette or whippd bowing and is extremely elegant if done well. Its a great bowing . Haven`t got a mm with me but 138 seems a little fast for this movement. I think the dotted quaver semis need more substance than at that tempo.

Cheers,

buri

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