Week 4: "Samba Strings Showcase"
Welcome to the Main Thread for the last week of "Villa-Lobos Voyage" practice challenge!
Select a mesmerizing piece from Villa-Lobos or a composer connected to his Brazilian heritage. Whether it's a soulful Villa-Lobos composition, a rhythmic Brazilian-inspired work, or a piece by another artist inspired by the Brazilian musical tradition, the choice is yours!
Commit to regular practice and share your progress with the community. Strive to practice daily and upload at least two videos per week to showcase your musical voyage. This not only keeps you motivated but also allows you to share your artistic journey with our tonebase family.
Share your favorite performance or recording that captures the spirit of the "Villa-Lobos-Voyage Challenge." Your submission will inspire others and create a vibrant collection of potential pieces for fellow members to explore.
↓ Happy Sharing! ↓
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HVL Etude #5
This is much better, though I still have some rough spots. They will work themselves out over time, I believe, as I can play all sections fairly well just not all at one sitting (again - still).
I am not sure I will get to another recording of this Etude for this challenge. I have some pieces (a piece?) I want to record for the the current Mini Challenge.
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Jack Stewart Very well played, Jack! Great dynamics and sound.
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Jack Stewart I just posted my reaction to your previous recording. (Quite busy this week). Wow, this one is so great, more musically flowing. Great interpretation. Keep going . The piece is worth the efforts
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Jack Stewart You play this with real intention and direction, Jack. I really enjoyed listening. Thank you!
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Jack Stewart Excellent progress you have made on this Etude. Your playing does a superb job bringing out the polyphonic nature of this piece. I like what Carlevaro wrote about this Etude in his Master Class Edition of the HVL Etudes. "This study is composed over a continuous melodic pattern in thirds woven into a subtle fabric. Incorporated into this is a linear melody in the upper countered by a bass line which also plays an important role. The beauty of the structure should emerge in the quality of sound, from the colour and dynamic levels of the three voices which develop parallel to one another."
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Eric Phillips Thanks Eric.
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joosje Thanks Joosje. It has been a long slog but it does feel very close. I intend to concentrate on my 'American' pieces for the mini challenge but if I do manage a a significantly improved recording I'll post it.
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Marilyn Blodget Thanks Marilyn.
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Dale Needles Thanks Dale. I like that quote as well. His notes were helpful and enlightening even though I didn't (sometimes couldn't) always adhere to his suggestions. It gave me something to strive fore. I also incorporated his correction in bar 48. Thanks again for the notes.
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Jack Stewart what a progress since your initial post, amazing work on this study
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Blaise Laflamme Thanks Blaise
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Jack Stewart wonderful progress Jack! The beginning is sounding really good already, some of your musical ideas are very apparent. Keep at it!
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Jack Stewart Great progress Jack, it's really flowing well. Well done!
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don Thanks Don.
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Ron Thanks Ron
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Jack Stewart First of all, kudos for even attempting this piece! I was following along with the sheet music as you were playing, and it seems very tricky - deceptively "simple" - but really not, if that makes sense. Nice job on bringing out each of the separate voices!
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Villa Lobos Choros #1 take two-the unornamented version. It's memorized! This has helped me clean up some of the difficult shifts and increase the tempo a little bit.
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Marilyn Blodget Bravo, Marilyn. This sounding great! Very expressive and playful. And to memorize a 5 1/2 min piece of this complexity is no small feat.
For some reason I keep seeing a Charlie Chaplin dance sequence I my head. I can't remember which I am thinking of and I am sure it was not to this Choro but it had that same dramatic / jaunty feel to it.
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Marilyn Blodget I just listened your previous version 2-3mins ago and now this. I already thought the previous part was beautiful but this is even better!
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Jack Stewart Thanks so much Jack! I’m so glad you caught my intent. Now I’ll search Charlie Chaplin dance moments!
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don Thanks Don! It’s amazing how much we can learn from watching recordings of our playing.
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Marilyn Blodget Excellent Marilyn! The memorization definitely helped with more relaxation and musicality. I loved listening to it. Bravo!
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Barney Thanks Barney!
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Marilyn Blodget so nice, Marilyn. You play it with such ease and playful energy.
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joosje Thank you Joosje!
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End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
