WEEK THREE Updates: Main Thread - Where the magic triumphs!
Hellooo, everyone, and welcome to WEEK THREE - the final Main Thread for this challenge! 
Why is this thread necessary?
Because the Week 1 and Week 2 threads are now both officially monstrously long 
And navigating them can get tricky with the lack of multiple page display.
But Mircea - I hear you say - can we still post in the old thread?
Yes, of course! Feel free to reply to others in the old thread to your heart's content. Just make sure you post any new updates (whether text or video) in this thread instead.
"Oh no, I didn't see this thread, so I posted a new update in the old thread!"
No problem at all! Just tag me (@Mircea) and I'll move your post 
These admin powers I got here are actually pretty cool! It turns out I can move individual replies between threads.
Where are the Week 1 and Week 2 threads?
Find the Week 1 thread here! And Week 2 here!
Make sure you've read the rules before replying (<- click)
Download the music:
- Exercises 1 - 12 (← click)
- Exercises 13 - 24 (← click)
Please use the following format when commenting (feel free to copy & paste!):
- Etude you worked on:
- One thing you found easy:
- One thing you found difficult:
- (Optional): a video of you performing it!
Sample daily update:
- Etude you worked on: No. 1
- One thing you found easy: The polyphony between bass and treble flowed very naturally, I had an easy time playing each line like it belonged to its own voice.
- One thing you found difficult: I had a hard time creating enough variety throughout the repeated measures.
Feel free to make these updates as short or long as you wish!
-
Different job today.
NERD ALERT
Inspired by Ron:: Etude no 22, Sorry, not yet ready for recording.....
I did some ‘in depth analysis’, that is, try to understand what’s holding me back here. I used the facsimile edition.... have no other.
1) Key A major, 3/4 in triplets. It’s a character piece, ‘tempo di Minuetto’. Sor’s minuets are not very fast. But how to give this piece the simple elegance of a minuetto.... Sor also takes us along the upper strings towards the 12h fret. And plays around with open string and stopped notes.
2) Harmonic structure: I distinguished 7 phrases : [AB] (part 1) - [CD], [E], [FG] (part 2). [AB] move from TonA to DomE.; [CD] wavers between TonA and DomE, finally at the end (bar 31 d#) confirming (Dom) E-key. Immediately in [next part E] he is back to TonA. Interesting part [FG]: [F] cadence with, instead of SubdomD, its 3rd parallel F#7 (Dom to) - Bmajor then E7 (Dom to) - TonA. Followed by basic cadence SubdomD - TonA - DomE7-TonA(7) = Dom for repeat.[partG] = [partF] but in last line SubdomD is altered to the dramatic Dim chord and all is well that ends well......
3) I had to make some changes in my score, where I think there were copying errors. Feel guilty but couldn’t help....bar3: I continue the arpeggio on last beat (as written in the repetition - bar11). Would Sor stop the flow of the piece in the middle of the opening phrase?
bar21: 1st beat g-d-e , should it be g-d-b as in bar 17? OR: should this chord be g-d-e all the time. Note: the 2nd and 3rd quavers in each triplet are (almost?) always going up
bar49 (copyist made some corrections, but not all) a#-b-e, should be a#-c#-f# (as in bar41).
4) Fingerings indicate the intention, but I had to make my own (bar14 e.a.)
- What I found (relatively) easy: chord pattern in A major. Arpeggio simple i-m pattern. Moderate tempo
- What I find difficult: sight reading a tempo, fluency in the melody. Some difficult stretches. A few quick jumps, like in bar 14 from VII-IV: little time for preparation, must stop and lift the bass note just before 3rd beat. And the one in bar 53: coming from V jump to barred Dimchord in I with stretched 4 on g#c
-
joosje Thanks, nice analysis, I like doing that, for knowing what is going on harmonically. One aspect (for me) is the feeling while playing, I mean feeling the harmonies with cadences etc., the other one is the theoretical approach while looking on the score and trying to identify the chords and relationships etc., and of course the structure of the piece, too.
I have not played that piece so far. But now I was even more interested in doing that. I only have the facsimile score.
Regarding bar 3, I would tend to leave it as shown in that score, although, as you mentioned, the flow is stopped. But to me it makes also sense to have a short stop here, a short break, breathing... Makes it interesting (for me).
Bar 21: at the moment (looking at the score, without playing) I would also tend to leave it as it is in the facsimile score. g-d-b in 17, g-d-e in 21.
Bar 49: have no time for thinking about that at the moment...
I will definitely put this on my to-play-list (in this challenge, depending on my time, or later)!
-
joosje bravo!!! i will come back to your analysis when I do number 22. A lot of study ahead of me....
-
Emma sorry for the wrong number, I meant study #20 in A major (not 22 in b minor)
-
-
Etude I worked on: No 22 (have you ever heard it?)
What I found easy: Slow tempo suits my technique and preferences; I love B minor!
What I found difficult: The barres make it difficult for me to practice it too long without getting pain in my left hand; the position shift to the C#7 chord (bar 40?) is often not too clean.
-
Eric bravo! Like the Christmas tree in the background lol
-
Eric Bravo Eric, well done, beautiful. Thanks for recording and submitting it.
-
Eric great performance, Eric. I really like your phrasing and the way you accentuate and colour the melody. Thank you for submitting.
-
Vilio Celli I confess, we've had our fake Christmas tree up for several years now!
-
Eric Beautiful Eric
-
Eric Lovely clear melody - well played Eric
-
Eric sounds lovely Eric. Nice phrasing and bringing out the melody. Yes those barre chords are a pain!
-
-
Do you mean study 21? I looked through it yesterday. It’s quite difficult. For me I miss notes or buzz or squeak when shifting the barre. It’s very charming piece though would love to hear yours
-
joosje sorry this reply was supposed to be for joosje last post
-
David Chidsey yes , no... Sorry. It’s no 20! I was so impressed with Robert and David playing no 22
-
-
Etude I worked on: No 14 for the recording - I also worked on no 7, 8 and 12. 8 and 12 will hopefully be recorded this week but 7 is going to take more work.
What I found easy: number 14 is mainly straightforward enough
What I found hard: Number 14 the move at the end of the first bar in section B to the A on the first string with the fourth finger and getting F natural! at the same time.
-
Derek wow, Derek, great performance. Very rhythmical. And you bring out the voices very clearly. Nice tone too. Well done.
-
joosje Thank you Joosje. very kind
-
Derek Nice recording, Derek! Thanks for sharing that performance.
-
Robert Thanks Robert
-
Derek Bravo!!,Very nice!
-
Derek nice performance
-
Derek I love it Derek! Great sound and very lively!
-
-
- Etude you worked on: Fernando Sor Op.35 No.13
- One thing you found easy: nothing
- One thing you found difficult: bars 18,19 and 20
-
Olli Very nice!
-
Olli agree this one looks simple, but isn’t. When played like you do, it looks easy again.
End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
