Sor Op 60 No 16
October 28, 2021
I love Fernando Sor and his studies are always a part of my practice. I have recently been working through Op 60, and I'd really like to focus for a bit on number 16 as it is probably my favorite piece in the opus. The score is attached.
The first video is just a run-through of the whole piece. The second video is some focused practice, primarily on the ornamentation in measure 46.
My goals for this piece are:
- To be able to execute all of it cleanly, especially measure 46.
- To create a plan for the musicality I would like to add, so I'm not just "playing" it, but truly interpreting it.
- Memorize it so it is something I can play well in front of others. I have always struggled with memorizing Sor pieces, and I'm not sure why.
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Very nice Eric . Bradford Werner has been working through all of Op. 60 and posted a video lesson of no. 16 just a few days ago. I was unfamiliar with these studies until I started watching his recent lessons but they are indeed wonderful. Will this be your piece for the "community concert"?
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Brett Gilbert Thanks, Brett. I’ve been following Bradford’s videos too. I honestly was planning to work through Opus 60 in its entirety before he started that series. After all the challenges this summer, especially the Koshkin, I was just feeling like my technique needed a pretty major “tune up”. When he started that video series, I took it as divine confirmation of my plan!
I really don’t know yet what I’ll do for the concert. Right now, I know I want to dig deeper into this one because I love it so much. Knowing myself, I’ll probably be working on something completely different by December. I guess I struggle with making long-term goals!
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It is a beautiful music Eric, I can enjoy right now when you are playing it, this means your "start point " is very good for a concert in 4 weeks, if this is your choice for the concert. I've looked in my book of Sor and yes I see... in bar 46 we have these "fusas" (spanisch, sorry, how is in englisch?). You will get it !!!
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Nora Torres-Nagel Thanks, Nora! I really don’t know what I’ll play for the concert. Right now, I want to work on this piece, and I thought putting it in the practice diary will help me make my goals concrete, motivate me, and hold myself accountable. I doubt that it will take me until December, but who knows?
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October 29, 2021
Here is an updated version of Sor Op 60 No 16.
- The execution is a little bit cleaner, especially on the ornaments in measures 38 and 46.
- It has a bit more of a musical direction to it. I really like going ponticello and staccato in measure 23.
Next, I want to work on memorizing it. I do struggle with memorizing Sor. Maybe it is the way his repeats have these subtly different variations in them, and I find it hard to keep them straight. My plan is to do it phrase by phrase. I always find it helpful when memorizing to play the piece a lot of times throughout the day, even if it's just a quick run-through of a section when I have a spare two minutes.
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Eric Phillips Beatiful Eric. It's coming along nicely
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I have time and heard both with head phones. It is only one day after ...but it sounds different , more fluid...more easily played....more nuances also
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Derek Thank you, Derek.
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Nora Torres-Nagel I really appreciate you listening with care, Nora!
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Eric Phillips beautifukl phrasing! I've never played pieces from the op.60 as far as I remember, but hearing you play that makes me wanna explore that cycle!
What I found is that memorizing is a lot about trusting your fingers! Of course, the first time you try it you might miss certain details, but since you've played through the piece over and over again, you will be able to play until a certain point! Then you look at the place where you blacked out and try again, and soon you'll have assembled the whole piece! Great to follow your practice diary!
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Martin Thanks, Martin!
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October 31, 2021
I think I have Sor Op 60 No 16 memorized. I'm hoping to be able to record it tomorrow afternoon and post it here.
I'm also going to start working on Villa-Lobos Prelude No 5. I watched Emmanuel's livestream lesson on the piece way back in June and loved it. Now I want to buckle down and add this wonderful piece to my repertoire. It is so beautiful!
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November 1, 2021
Here is a performance of of the piece from memory. I still mess up more often than I nail it, but it's getting there.
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Eric Phillips Damn, It's unbelievable how much dedicated practice and repertoire you fit into your daily routine! I am kind of envious, at the moment I am happy when I can shuffle in some technique sessions in order to maintain my level!
You really nailed that singing cello line in the B section, I really enjoyed that, very musical and well controlled dynamics!
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Martin Yes, my technique level is so low that it is in no need maintenance, like yours!
I do love that cello-like line, definitely my favorite part of the whole piece. I'm divided between playing it all on one string (squeaks and all) and playing it across different strings to avoid the squeaks. Anabel Montesinos pulls it off very beautifully with no squeaks by playing it on different strings. That said, I love the physicality of climbing up one string. Right now, I'm going that way with the squeaks!
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Eric Phillips great phrasing and voice balancing, Eric! Really beautiful to listen. And it is very clean, also.
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Khiem Nguyen Thanks so much, Khiem!
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Eric Phillips hi Eric. I took the time - finally- to listen to your submissions on this great piece. I m impressed with the work you did. Progress, is not the word to describe it. You are admitting the music into your system and it now sounds as coming from your soul and Fernando Sor is speaking to us through your hands… this practice diary is very inspiring !
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joosje Wow, thank you so much, Joosje! I think I may be blushing right now.
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Eric Phillips that's already sounding great Eric, I like how you play this!
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Blaise Laflamme Thanks, Blaise! It's definitely not as hard as the Gran Solo!
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Eric Phillips well... I would say it's not hard for the same reasons, but Sor's music is quite a challenge and you're doing well here :)
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This is one of my favorite Sor piece. Very beautifully done.
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don Thanks, Don. One of my favorites too.
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November 10, 2021
I haven't updated this one in a while, so I practiced it a bit and recorded it again. As always, there are small things I’d change, but I'm feeling pretty confident about it now.
End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
