Texas Music Festival Week 2
What a week it has been!!!
To start, we had a PR & media training. This was a very great training to participate in and to learn about how to interact with media representatives. We learned more about why it is important to work with the media. We also discussed what most interviews look like and did some practice interviews with each other. It was really informative and I am looking forward to more partnerships with media!
In my lesson this week, Dr. Lo had me work on the Bach Allemande from Partitia No. 2. This movement was one of the first solo Bach works I learned back in junior high school. It is very special to me and I always enjoy performing it. However, I feel that I might have gotten stuck in the way I play it over the years. Some of the things that Dr. Lo emphasized in my lesson was the chord progression and the cadences. By focusing on where the chords changed, I was able to shape a new framework for phrasing in this movement. Once I knew where the chords changed and where each phrase began and ended, the piece felt more like a dance. I am excited to continue to analyze the chords in Bach and use those to help shape the way I play solo Bach.
Chamber this week was really great! I am really enjoying playing with the other musicians in my group. We are having so much fun! Our focus with our music this week was balance in our group. I cannot say in enough words how important balance is in any ensemble! We have been working hard on emphasizing the melody and moving notes in every phrase. Our coach this week, Dr. Dubois was very helpful in guiding us through each phrase and pulling the important voices out of the texture.
On Friday, we had a seminar on intonation, what that means, and how to achieve that. I’ll try and simplify some of the topics we covered, but I plan on researching this more in the future!
The first thing to understand is the harmonic series. These are also referred to as overtones and harmonics. We got into a bit of physics by talking about wavelengths, hertz (speed of vibration), cents, etc. By understanding the ratios and relationships between each of the partials, you can clearly see how the series works together.
We then explored the world of beats and difference tones. Beats, or beating, happens when two notes in the same series are played at the same time and are not in tune. You can hear the waves are clashing against each other forming a beating sound. When two notes are played in tune, you should not hear any beating. Difference tones appear when two notes in the same series are played together in tune. It’s really hard to explain. But that is the simple version.
Finally we talked about types of tuning. Just tuning means you are tuning to the harmonic series and the intervals are based on ratios. Tempered tuning means you tune each octave perfectly and then divide it into 12 parts (half steps) and each part is equal distance apart. This does not create perfect ratios and involves more complex math to figure out. Pianos are generally tuned with tempered tuning. But when we play solo instruments that can adjust tuning, we should adjust our tuning so each interval can be played perfectly.
Orchestra Concert:
Maestro Carl St. Clair
Ravel - “Daphnis & Chloe Suite II”
Strauss - “Ein Heldenleben”
The orchestra concert this week was an absolute transcendent, spiritual experience. The music we played could not have sounded better and more professional. Coming from one week’s worth of rehearsals, to have a performance that was so full of emotion, passion, and musicality was absolutely amazing. The pieces are some of the hardest in the orchestral repertoire, and every musician on stage did an outstanding job.
Working with Carl St. Clair has been incredible. He is a very talented conductor, teacher, and musician. I was very impressed that he had the scores memorized! Memorized down to every little detail - dynamics, rehearsal numbers, articulations, etc. His vision of how each piece was supposed to sound was so clear to him and was communicated to the musicians so profoundly. One of the most impactful things that I took away from the week of rehearsals was how to pull sound. This was one of the best lessons for me to help me find my sound and learn more about how to articulate every note I play.
This concert was a turning point in my musical career. Things that I have been told to do in my technique finally clicked. All the years of work have finally come together for my benefit. This moment, this concert is why I am a musician. The amazing feeling of accomplishment, gratitude, relief, and beaming happiness have become why I am a performer and why I choose to share my music with the world!
Cheers!
