Here is the next track in the Virtual Master Class Project. This is a recording of the Beethoven 9 recitative. Leave criticism, advice, practice tips, and the like by clicking on the ‘comments’ link below the player.
E-mail me submissions here (jsh177@yahoo.com)
Beethoven 9 Recitative
Candidate 7
Click to listen (right-click to download)
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This sounds a lot like candidate 6’s performance…
Nice playing! I would encourage you to make bigger gestures–more in the forte and less in the piano sections. Also, in general I could use a little more assertiveness in the tone of this excerpt. Excellent job, though.
Sounds Good! I was hearing some labored breathing in the background, like you were gasping for air in some spots. I would encourage you to breath with the phrase, plan it out almost like a vocalist would. Try singing the excerpt and take note of where you need to breath or listen to the vocalist entrance later in the movement and see how they do it. I think this will solidify your phrasing which is already quite good.
Thanks for the comments. I recorded this before candidate 6 had her recording up. I’m looking forward to hearing it!
More critique will be appreciated.
Generally nice tone. However I felt the intonation was inconsistent and I was unable to establish a pitch center for the overall excerpt. The flow of the phrases was often choppy. Also I would look for more leading to the the top F# in the penultimate phrase. The B flat pp phrase could start more from nothing – a silver whispy sound that grows with intensity. Look into the words that go with the recit – they help drive the musical phrasing. I woudl use this excerpt as an opportunity to explore the range and colors in your vibrato – it sounded all very similar.
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Agreed that the dynamic contrast was not apparent. Also bear in mind that it is supposed to be a vocal line for the bass, so more legato all the way through is necessary, singers don’t take breaths after every note.