The Women Composers Challenge Week Three
Welcome to week three of our community-driven challenge on women composers! In week two, we heard some wonderful music by Sofia Gubaidulina, Emilie Mayer, Tatiana Stachak, Angela Mair, and Catharina Josepha Pratten. Let's keep it going into week three!
So, the goal is to choose a piece (or several pieces), and to work on it throughout the course of the challenge, posting videos or audio files of your progress along the way.
Or maybe you are a woman composer, and you would like to take this opportunity to share some of your work with the community.
The challenge will last for four weeks, ending on Saturday, May 3rd. A new discussion thread will be posted for each week of the challenge.
If you are looking for a place to start your search and pique your interest, Candice Mowbray has an excellent website on the subject. Here is a link.
If any beginners would like some suggestions for your playing level, feel free to ask the community by posting a message here.
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A quick recording of Andantino by Madeleine Cottin (1876-after 1952), a French mandolin and guitar player. It's number 3 from a set called Etudes Recreatives, but I couldn't find any information on any other pieces from the set.
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Steve Price I liked really much! It reminds me of one the Mertz piece.
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Update on Presti Etudes (Apr 23)
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Eric Phillips You make II look really smooth. The score looks harmless, but I messed with it for a bit, and the fingering on that is crazy. Very challenging. Nicely done.
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Eric Phillips Very fine playing, Eric! I remember looking briefly at these studies a couple of years ago, after hearing Carlotta Dalia playing number 2 for Siccas Guitars. I thought at the time that the few that seemed 'playable' weren't particularly interesting. But you've shown me that I was mistaken - and I will definitely revisit them. Btw, if you haven't heard Carlotta's recording of the entire set, it's definitely worth a listen!
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A few more of Annette Kruisbrink's etudes. No. I is pretty straight ahead. No. VI is tough with all the harmonics and ringing notes and soooo much space for mistakes to shine through. No. XI is hard on the left hand since she has you hold certain notes while playing the slurred runs underneath. Still a lot of work to do, but this has been a great challenge.
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Steve Price More great stuff, Steve! I'm surprised the studies are not more commonly played.
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Steve Price Well played! Thanks for sharing these Steve, they're all new to me
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Ron Thanks, Ron. They were new to me too, so that's what I like about these challenges. Helps me find new things.
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Eric Phillips Thanks, Eric. I'm surprised too. They mostly each have a clear technical focus like the Brouwer studies, but with a bit more modern language. But then I'm also surprised anything of hers is not more commonly played. She has a massive catalog in a wide range of styles and levels.
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Steve Price It's really nice to hear these studies, Steve. As Eric Phillips says, it's surprising they're not better known.
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Other than comments on the posts above, Week 3 is now closed. New posts can go in Week 4.
End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
