Wieniawski Polonaises
In the next week or so, I will be starting on either Wieniawski's D Major or A Major Polonaise Brilliante. I was just wondering which one is a step above the other and what makes that so.
Replies (10)
D Major is harder technically, and A Major is harder musically. At least that is my opinion. I prefer the D Major.
Really? The only challenges in the D is the stacatto, and most kids always play that one first.
"the only challenge in the d major is the staccato." I'm not sure what planet you play on Peter, because the whole thing is a challenge for most people. Kudos to you if the only challenge is the staccato. I'll go practice my running thirds now....
Hahahaha I agree with you Josh. There are plenty of other challenges in the D Major than the upbow staccato. How about the second half of the first page with all the awkward chords? What about the shift in the main theme from the C# to the B a 7th above? (that is, if you're trying to play it on the A string) What about the end with the octaves? What about the big jump up to awkward double stops at the bottom of the 2nd to last page? I really fail to see how the A Major poses any problems more difficult than these.
Are you maybe mixing up the polonaises? Cause the A Major has a ton of upbow staccato. The D Major only has like one passage where there's any staccato indicated, and I've heard it done without. Also, from what I've seen, people tend to learn the A Major before the D Major.
Yea so I'm real smart... totally mixed them up.
Ooops!
Haha that explains a lot :)
Right, you have staccato in both polonaises.
In fact, I first learnt the D Major Polonaise (also Polonaise Brillante). It's quiet OK, unless you want to play it like Heifetz. Did anyone listen to him on that DVD 'The art of violin'? He is so crazy! He adds even difficulties!
The difficulty depends on who is playing the piece.
This discussion has been archived and is no longer accepting responses.
Violinist.com is made possible by...
Dimitri Musafia, Master Maker of Violin and Viola Cases
Miroirs CA Classical Music Journal
Coltman Chamber Music Competition
Johnson String Instrument/Carriage House Violins
Laurie's Books
Discover the best of Violinist.com in these collections of editor Laurie Niles' exclusive interviews.
Violinist.com Interviews Volume 1, with introduction by Hilary Hahn
Violinist.com Interviews Volume 2, with introduction by Rachel Barton Pine
September 11, 2005 at 04:53 AM · A major... the part with the double stops is hard... really hard.
D will have you doing your staccato, which can be hard to do quickly and evenly.