WEEK 3: Master of Classical Style!

Week 3 Andante Op. 45 No. 5

I am now working on the return of the A section beginning at measure 34. I was able to find a gpx file of this piece that allowed me to import it into Guitar Pro 8 (anyone else use this program?). Now I can notate my own fingerings and other dynamic markings into the file. I also value the ability to loop chosen measures and have each repetition step up in tempo like a progressive speed drill. This is what I have been doing with measures 42 - 48 where Sor incorporates some very snappy 32nd note embellishments! Right now I am playing them at about 48bpm. The score suggests 60bpm which seems beyond my capacity at this point.  I would settle for a solid 50bpm as a goal.  🫨

Larghetto Op 35 No 3

I felt like taking another short break from Op 59, but this time I went to familiar ground. This is such a perfect early intermediate level study.

Fantasie Elegiaque Op 59 Marche Funebre Nov 21

I am moving along now to the second main section of this long piece. For the Andante Largo, I used the breakdown of Carlo Marchione from his TB lesson. Unfortunately, his lesson did not cover the Marche Funebre, so I had to do my own analysis of the form. Here’s how I see it:

1.       Measures 1-16: The main march theme in E minor, with two eight-measure halves. The first eight measures are very “march-like” and somewhat plodding, with a surprising cadence in G major. The second eight measures focus on the dominant and are marked by repeated B notes that sound like horn blasts.

2.       Measures 17-32: A cantabile section in E major that lets in some rays of hope and beauty, but still tinged by sadness with notes like the D natural in measure 25.

3.       Measures 33-59: A long transition back to the theme. It begins with some very surprising harmonies and chromaticism, followed by a long drone on the dominant B major. The transition ends with a single-line melody in the bass, with a dotted rhythm that brings us back to the march.

4.       Measures 58-73: Return of the main march theme in E minor, with only a little variation.

5.       Measures 74-101: A long coda. The first sixteen measures of the coda oscillate between tonic and subdominant harmonies for a while, until some dissonant chromaticism brings us back firmly to E minor. The piece could easily have ended here (at measure 89), but instead, Sor ends with a dialogue between himself and his deceased love in heaven. These last twelve measures are musically simple, but extremely emotional and poignant.

My playing here definitely needs a lot of work, particularly the cantabile section (number 2 above).

Fantasie Elegiaque Marche Funebre Nov 22

I have been working on this quite a bit in the last 24 hours, and I am much happier with the result. The cantabile section in E major still needs work, but there is much improvement.

By the way, since recording this, I have discovered two errors in my score (in measures 76 and 86). My next recording will correct those.

I'm a bit late again to the challenge and I thought about getting back to Op.35 would be a good thing. Here is #4, one of my favorite of the set, and if time permits I hope to post a few more of them by the end of the challenge.