The Difficult Bits

[Guest]

<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN>In every piece of music I play there is always one or two bars of every piece that I have trouble with. I find it funny how I can play the other umpteen bars with no fear but always a couple of bars.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>I am currently working on the Suite Gothique by Bolleman and in each movement there is something I can not quite get to grips with.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>Choral – Bars 17 and 18 going back to the Great in G Minor Chord, never comfortable with it!</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>Minuet – on the first pedal run from top C is fine until the middle E, D, F, E, Low E, Middle D bars when I am never sure of the best footing technique there!</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>Priere – (Which is a beautiful movement) In the middle section B natural ped with D# and held F# 5<SUP>th</SUP> bar in middle section</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>Toccatta – the pedal line and hands when going between the theme sections </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>Think I would be there or there about with this piece otherwise!</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>Was fortunate enough to play the Priere at a concert in Liverpool Cathedral Lady Chapel this year. It was magnificent to play there! Does anybody else have a little phrase in a piece that bugs them and can not quiet get round it?</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>Daniel</FONT></P>

[Havoc]

Re: The Difficult Bits

I'm mostly in the opposite position: only a bar or 2 of each piece go without a hitch. All the others are plain wrong or I know they aren't right but I can't get it better.

[nullogik]

Re: The Difficult Bits



Yep, there is a bar in the BWV579 (Theme by Corelli) where I can't play the rhythm. I've tried umpteen times with one hand, then two, then one hand with feet etc. and I still can't get it. I've tried it slow and I've tried it fast but my brain refuses to get around it.
</p>

I've managed to fudge it so it "sounds right" - I'm sure most people won't be able to hear unless they listen really hard or know the piece inside out. Apart from that, I play the rest of it perfectly - strange that. [:S]</p>

[matmilne]

Re: The Difficult Bits



there isn't a musician alive today who can play something note for note perfect each time and remain true to the ideals of performance style at the same time. I find, particularly with repetetive arpeggio left hand sections in toccatas that after a while my hand naturally starts to mix up the order of the notes, so i usually don't fight it. if you find yourself with a problem, be creative. unless you're playing for an exam, and even if you are, chances are that whatyou play insteadwill be more musical and creativeand will likely count as an interesting andpositive aspect of your performance on that occasion.</P>


for the purists of course, you're probably better to pick a simpler piece to match your abilities and the instrument. (but i wouldn't heed that advice, it's much more fun to experiment and enjoy yourself than limit your performance unecessarily.)</P>

[crapmaster]

Re: The Difficult Bits

My teacher makes me break down these spots into tiny pieces and repeat them over and over again in rhythm while he conducts. Then when I've played it correctly 30 times, he has me add the previous beat (or sometimes a fraction of a beat) and do the same thing again. Or sometimes he has me play them in a different rhythm - adding dots or removing them - then going back to what's on the page. Frequently the "difficult bits" end up being the most secure parts of the piece for me.

[Guest]

Re: The Difficult Bits

Thats interesting, thanks for that. The key thing for me there is that you have a teacher to point that out and help you. When your on your own you dont know what to do next, which foot to use on the pedal difficulties or sometimes what the problem actually is!