Joosje Study plan, Mompou and Lovelady.
Finally. Organized my study plan.
I’m practicing Federico Mompou, Suite Compostelana
Why? I have a thing with Santiago. It’s very evocative music. Technically not too difficult, musically… demanding. I wouldn’t know what kind of technical exercises would be useful here. One exceptionally difficult excerpt I repeat in very slow motion ( think Tai Chi) in order to gain control.
My goal: get to understand and feel the harmonies and bring out the melodic lines. Memorize. Longer term (6-9 mnths): learn the whole suite. Short/medium: organize and memorize the Preludio, Cuna , Cancion and Muneira. That’s a lot … I will record 1 or more later. See if it’s too ambitious.
Also William Lovelady, 2 pieces: Curlew and White Stone
This is very poetic music (inspired by poems). It’s somewhat Zen-like. Curlew is quiet and slow with beautiful harmonies.The White stone has a quiet opening, evoking a Japanese garden(my own impression), then a fast part which is really fun to play, and a reprise. Memorizing the fast part (many repetitions and minor variations) is hard for me.
I warm up with a variety of technical stuff. (20´ up to 50´)- as suggested in the Tonebase livestreams and other. I often repeat some 1 or 2 familiar studies (Sor, Carlevaro, Brouwer). But also VL: #1 for arpeggios, sometimes # 2 (mainly to check my energy level and LH strength), or # 8 (some arpeggio with preparation, scale passages with slurs, balancing of melody (with a) above accompaniment (with pim). Btw it’s also a very nice repertoire piece
Another VL study I’m working on is #5. Memorized it, which wasn’t easy because of the complicated woven pattern of different voices It’s not the most popular one but I love it because of its Debussy-ishness
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You have a lot in your repertoire Joosje. I love also VL 5...it is very suggestive. I only have learned , so far , til N.5. The VL 4 is maybe my favourite...very mysterious....and desesperated. But I do not play them at the moment.
VL 1 is present every day in my practice of arpegios also...and I still do a loooot of mistakes... (I have been playing it for 2 years, I think).
Good night.
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That was a great read and makes me wanna hear more!!! Thank you for sharing! The Suite Compostelana is beautiful, I recently listened to Sean Shibe's recording of that, it's probably the most recent one! While Segovia's recording is of course mind-bending in it's freshness, I just appreciate the clarity and transparency of modern day recordings!
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Well done Joosje, I am very much looking forward hearing your pieces. I should make a plan with medium and long term pieces. My plan was in relation with objectives, better sound (better R hand) , better slurs, more rhythm and energy. But haven’t translated those into pieces I can play. I should work into that
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Joosje , it is always a pleasure watching you play and these pieces are great choices. I really look forward to hearing them (particularly the Mompou,Suite Compostelana) , as I know they will sound beautiful.
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Barney absolutely, cannot wait for joosje 's submission of these pieces
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Barney Martin I’d love to start some recording soon. I’m really working on them, with little progress so far. So many decisions to consider, musically. It’s really impressionistic in style, so, you try to get the right notes and rhythm first, but then have to start interpret, find the colours and phrasing/articulation. Notes and chords are not particularly difficult yet unfamiliar, complicating fingering and memorizing I can have only short practice sessions in between my various home activities. Concentration is an issue for me these days…
btw does any of you know the Lovelady pieces? Check Amanda Cook : -
joosje I did not...it is beautiful! . very different to all what I am playing and maybe also hearing in the group . Thank you !!
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