Opening solo of the Sonatine, it states
sans nuances. Any suggestions on how to play it? I try playing with very little
or no vibrato at all, but I''m having trouble on making the notes beautiful
without using any vibrato. Any suggestions on any of my questions?
Dutilleux's Sonatine Question
Moderators: Classitar, pied_piper, Phineas
Dutilleux's Sonatine Question
I think a little vibrato is appropriate.
When I studied this piece my teacher, she suggested a "smokey" effect which may
include some vibrato. Try to avoid a buzzy, thick sound on the low notes (like
we often like to do [;)].) When I play it, I try to keep the sound open and have
very few upper harmonics with a little bit of vibrato. We tend to stereotype
this sound as being less beautiful I think (James Galway for instance goes for
lots and lots harmonics all the time for any piece--the opposite of what you
want to do for the begining of Dutilleux,) but a little wind in the sound is ok,
it adds a wispy effect. The idea is to create contrast between the opening and
theme later on, which should be subtly sensuous. The best thing is to listen to
it being performed a bunch of times or get a recording since it's such a
wonderful piece. A lot of french music has important aspects which are not
communicated in the score, but are passed on from teacher to student and through
performances. Good luck on the piece, it's hard, but also lots of fun!
-Bradford
When I studied this piece my teacher, she suggested a "smokey" effect which may
include some vibrato. Try to avoid a buzzy, thick sound on the low notes (like
we often like to do [;)].) When I play it, I try to keep the sound open and have
very few upper harmonics with a little bit of vibrato. We tend to stereotype
this sound as being less beautiful I think (James Galway for instance goes for
lots and lots harmonics all the time for any piece--the opposite of what you
want to do for the begining of Dutilleux,) but a little wind in the sound is ok,
it adds a wispy effect. The idea is to create contrast between the opening and
theme later on, which should be subtly sensuous. The best thing is to listen to
it being performed a bunch of times or get a recording since it's such a
wonderful piece. A lot of french music has important aspects which are not
communicated in the score, but are passed on from teacher to student and through
performances. Good luck on the piece, it's hard, but also lots of fun!
-Bradford