Leo Brouwer's Estudios Sencillios!

Ariel Elijovich Thanks once again for taking the time to make this video for us. Some questions:

1. In the LH, what do you do with the '1' finger that is on the 2nd fret, 1st string? Do you leave that finger on the F# the entire time, or do you lift it off the string at any point during that riff?

2. If you have the time, try entering that riff from the measure before? This is where I have my problem when playing at performance speed. It's almost like my mind is freaking out with anticipation of playing the difficult riff. I have to remember to get my m-a fingers ready.

I am going to try to make a small video later that shows how I practice that riff, and maybe you can give me some advice.

Obrigado de novo !

Marc Adler Hi, Marc! Ok, so I started studying this and I recorded a version. It is what it is with ... say, 50 minutes of work. It's not to brag but to give you an idea of how much is left out to work. You should take into account that I'm not a student, so the fact that there are some points still unresolved speaks of the technical complexity of the study. 

About your questions. 

1) I think that's more a musical question than a technical one, if you want to approach it correctly. Keeping all the fingers alouds for a more legato sound and that favors the overall crescendo that you have to build up to the end. Lifting the 1st and/or the 2nd finger(s) works in favor of a more rythmical pattern. In this version I mantain all the fingers (but the 4th, obviously). Each of the choices has it's own complexity. But as always, many times, what works easyer for you is what sounds best and then It's what makes the rendering much more enjoyable. So, I'd say that you could work both ways and meet in between: see what's more easy for you (to keep or loose fingers in the way) and what you would like from the musical point of view.  

2) As you can see from my version, I understand perfectly what you mean about the difficulty to enter to that Cbass meassure. I had a couple of memory lapses and this was one of those. I'd say that we have to work on it, by preparing mentally. I mean: the two previous bars are sort of agreeable so, maybe we should think about this C F D# with more anticipation and work better on how to shift positions from the previuos C# D

Send us your practice and we will all try and solve the puzzle together!

I have to say that even if that meassure didn't come out straight well I think the small rallentando I do in the previous bar is a good idea, from my interpretative point of view to pick up from a very low dynamic the pattern with the C bass and make a nice crescendo towards the end. I'll see if I have some time to spare and make a new recording with some more hours put into the process. I have to study for a concert with Nuntempe this 22nd so we'll see ... 

Ariel Elijovich You totally destroyed that piece (I say that in a good way!). Imagine if you practiced it even more! I love the transition from Ponticello to Tasto at the beginning (m 4-5).

One thing that I have tried is to put the slightest breath between measures 13 and 14 (measure 14 is the evil pattern). That works well, as it gives me time to put my fingers down correctly.

I just finished a practice session with one of those acceleration-enabled metronome apps, and it went very well. Now only if I could reproduce it in a recording.

Marc Adler 

Marc Adler said:
it went very well. Now only if I could reproduce it in a recording

Maybe you can transition by recording the metronome practice and then gradually lower the volume of the metronome. That could do the brain tricking, maybe?

Blaise Laflamme thanks, Blaise! It's a tricky one, this one. 

Ariel Elijovich Wow, that was great! Ariel. Very well played. I haven't yet played that etude, but I'll come back to this thread to learn and absorb ideas from you and others on this etude. Thanks for posting 

Nijwm Bwiswmuthiary Thanks, Nijwm! it was fun to get back to it after such a long time. This Estudio has as some other pieces from Brouwer, a bar which has a complexity completely out of range of the rest of the piece. That final pattern with the C bass really needs some work to be resolved. Something like that happens with "Un día de Noviembre" and many others. In this aspect it stands out of the rest of the Estudios, which are, generally, very even in complexity (with some sort of challange, of course, in the development sections) 

Ariel Elijovich Brilliant Ariel!  Thanks for spending time and sharing  it with us!  

Barney Thanks, Barney! Of course, it's in the spirit of Tonebase. I like to help if possible. And recording this was useful to me too. As it turns out I find I can work on my separation and independence between 2 and 3 a little more. 

Ariel Elijovich Hi Ariel, i think you had posted a reply to me earlier today, if I'm not wrong. I'd read that reply earlier today, but can't find it now for some reason. I couldn't reply earlier as I was sort of busy that time. Be that as it may, I really appreciate you helping me and other members with advice and suggestions.

It'd be unfair on my part to try to recall the contents of that reply as I might not remember them correctly and then comment on it. But you're more than welcome to repost that and I'm more than happy to read it and give my thoughts. Again, you're doing such great service for the community with your participation and I admire and appreciate that.

Ariel Elijovich This is really helpful. A slight shift in hand position made all the difference to hit those notes cleanly and reduced a bit of strain in my hand. Thanks a bunch. 

Steve Price great! Happy to hear that!! 

Nijwm Bwiswmuthiary Hi, Nijwm. yeah, sorry about that! No, it's ok. It was a bit of unrequested advice and as soon as I saw it published I thought it wasn't proper good advice and deleted it. Disregard it with serenity!

Ariel Elijovich Thank you so much for making this video on Brouwer 9. I found it very helpful!

Ariel Elijovich Seeing you play through the piece was really helpful. I like the color changes and dynamics.

Jane Anderson thanks Jane!! It's a lot of fun, this study. Not easy or simple at all.

Ariel Elijovich No worries, Ariel🙂. I love hearing feedback whatever it is. I learn so much feedback from members like you. Very often, hearing others' perspectives help us to reflect and think about ourselves. I've really enjoyed your interactions with me and other members.

You've taken so much time to help  us selflessly and graciously. So, you're always welcome to comment and I can't offer much in return, except gratitude. Cheers🙂

Marc Adler Marc, thank you, really. To tell the truth everything I have online is public and free. I don't have any exclusive content to offer or sell, but thank you so much for the kind offer. I really appreciate it!