I see a lot of reference to "Bruch level" on this site. I am curious where people would see Mozart 5, Mendelssohn, Vivaldi Four Seasons, and Kreutzer etudes in relation to Bruch level. Or if there's any general reference of graded repertoire, understanding it's only a rough guide, I would appreciate that too.
Thanks.
GXS
Mozart 4 and 5 are both easier than Bruch. Mozart 5 is a little easier than Mozart 4.
Bruch and Mendelssohn are about the same level, with slightly different technical challenges.
Most students will have done a good chunk of Kreutzer prior to doing Bruch.
Vivaldi four seasons, among these four concertinos, Winter is the most difficult one, the other three ones (Spring to Autumn) will be taught from fourth to fifth year's course, which means that for beginners within five years' study. Winter is F minore, if my memory not go wrong, it is arranged with Kreutzer etude, while other pieces are arranged with Mazas.
By the way, Italian conservatories provide courses of relatively slow progress, though courses are given privately one-to-one and once a week, pupils do not spend much time practice everyday, because they have to go to school, consequently progress would be slower compared with private teachers out of conservatories. I remember I played Pugniani Sonata E major before I started to deal with Mendelssohn E minore, but today Pugnani Sonata E major can be done by some teachers on some children within only three years.
I remember some performances for diploma (the completion of 9th or 10th year's course in conservatorio) in recent years which I have seen in my hometown, one is Mendelssohn E minore, one is Paganini No.1 concerto, and one is Tchaikovski concerto Re Major. Although they were taught in the same program in the same school, their skills vary, due to time of practice, and how many years they have been playing...
Also, remember that one does not "play" a concerto or "practice" or "work on" a concerto. One "does" a concerto. So, if you are asked what you are working on, you should say "I'm doing Bruch." And you would ask a fellow violinist, "Have you done Bruch yet?" or "Did you do Bruch yet?" This is the correct language to be using.
Mozart will be more revealing of small flaws in baseline technique than a Romantic concerto, but that isn't harder per se.
At any rate they are all significantly easier than Bruch. Mendelssohn is more difficult than Bruch--slightly more technique, and it is *much* longer (demands more stamina).
I just spent about 6 months on Bruch and now am working on Mendelssohn, neither of which I can “sight read” prior to learning them. For an aging amateur like me, the process of learning them are journeys that, however imperfect, would take me to the next level of playing.
If everything has to be “perfect and beautiful”, how many of us can actually get beyond Suzuki Bk 1?
To my untrained ears, there is a considerable variance in playing quality even among first tier soloists ( ie those who command the highest fees) for whom technical issues, if any, are not supposed to be significant. The variance is greater in more technically demanding
repertoire ( e. g. Last Rose). So graded (technical) difficulties are relevant.
Personally I am interested in doing (thanks for the lingo Paul) all of the pieces I listed, but don't plan to work on any of them any time soon, with the exception of Kreutzer.
I read once that Heifetz said Mozart was the hardest to play, including technically. I never understood how that was possible so it's interesting to see some people rank Mozart so high in difficulty. If anyone can elaborate how Mozart level is higher than Bruch level, I would like to hear your thoughts.
That's why, for instance, auditions for professional concertmasters often require playing a Mozart concerto exposition in addition to a Romantic concerto. To just get the notes of a Mozart concerto out in a reasonable fashion isn't that hard; to execute one flawlessly is another matter.
A successful soloist who is ugly, there you’ll find real musical beauty.
I don't play the cello anymore - my cello is now in the capable hands of my daughter who lives in another country.
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The “Bruch level” is level 8 out of 10.