On preparing for a Beethoven marathon Part 10 Julian Jacobson. Julian will be repeating this performance in Uruguay six days later on his 75th birthday. In this post, he discusses the issue of playing repeats. Find out more here. On repeatsโฆ As the day approaches I have to take some decisions about repeats. In fact it would be impossible to do all the repeats without the day stretching on longer than the church can accommodate, or than people would have the patience to remain.
But it is a question all performers of the classics are confronted with on an ongoing basis. So composers in fact might be quite happy without first movement repeats, or even prefer it. Repeats seem appropriate in the earlier Beethoven sonatas where there is still a certain Mozartian formality but in the later ones they feel increasingly inappropriate or at least unnecessary. At the outside one could add a very few ornaments in the early sonatas.
But the mere thought of ornamenting the exposition repeat of, say, op is ridiculous. The next question is if one should consciously play exposition repeats differently โ softer, louder, different phrasing etc. Variation movements are perhaps a different matter: not only is it traditional to repeat each half of the theme and each variation but Beethoven often writes some telling detail to differentiate the first time bar from the second time where the music goes on.
As for whether I will do a repeat performance of the marathon โ the answer for now is a firm NO! Apart from my immediate repeat six days later in Uruguay. But one must never say never! This best-selling graded, progressive piano course contains a large selection of repertoire featuring a huge array of styles and genres, with copious practice tips and suggestions for every piece.
For more information, please visit the publications page, here. Where have all the audiences gone A concert-goer responds. Where have all the audiences gone A concert-goer responds In response to my article Where Have All The Audiences Gone, a reader, and a keen concert-goer, makes this response: First, we need a functioning transport system at a price that normal people can afford. Chord Playing and Improvising 3 Christopher Norton. Chris is contributing a series of guest articles, each one offering a free download of one of his piano pieces, as well as plenty of practice tips, suggestions and advice.
