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Topic: commas in handel suites, how to apply it in practice on piano  (Read 1454 times)

Offline bonnerik

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i often see commas either in the middle of or above the grand staff. sometimes they are big, sometimes a little smaller, and sometimes inside of a paranthesis. i know that commas indicate a moment of breath, but how would i apply this on the piano, does the note after the comma land on a beat, or does this comma make his pieces impossible to play to a metronome.

for example, https://imslp.org/wiki/Special:ImagefromIndex/77919
page 75, second section last measure, u can see a comma in the middle of the staffs

any help appreciated!

Offline iansinclair

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Re: commas in handel suites, how to apply it in practice on piano
Reply #1 on: October 30, 2013, 05:55:31 PM
Are you referring to the second to the last measure of variation 24?  If so, that is an eighth rest, not a comma, and goes with the following A.
Ian

Offline bonnerik

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Re: commas in handel suites, how to apply it in practice on piano
Reply #2 on: October 31, 2013, 10:24:45 PM
No, what i am talking about is a (') which would be more of an apostrophe i guess. sometimes its inside of a parenthesis, sometimes above the g staff and sometimes above the f staff

Offline iansinclair

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Re: commas in handel suites, how to apply it in practice on piano
Reply #3 on: November 01, 2013, 01:00:13 AM
No, what i am talking about is a (') which would be more of an apostrophe i guess. sometimes its inside of a parenthesis, sometimes above the g staff and sometimes above the f staff
Sorry -- I guess I just didn't see what you were looking at.  In answer to your original question, if it really is a phrase mark -- and it may well -- the appropriate way to handle it is to cut off the preceding note slightly early, but play the following note right on the beat.  Sort of a one note detache effect.
Ian

Offline thesixthsensemusic

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Re: commas in handel suites, how to apply it in practice on piano
Reply #4 on: November 01, 2013, 09:32:49 PM
It serves the same function as in a written sentence. A mark where one should pause for a very brief moment before continuing with the bit after the comma.

Offline j_menz

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Re: commas in handel suites, how to apply it in practice on piano
Reply #5 on: November 02, 2013, 05:13:08 AM
does this comma make his pieces impossible to play to a metronome.

Handel had never heard of a metronome, so why should he care about being able to be played to one?
"What the world needs is more geniuses with humility. There are so few of us left" -- Oscar Levant

Offline bonnerik

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Re: commas in handel suites, how to apply it in practice on piano
Reply #6 on: November 02, 2013, 10:54:20 PM
ok. so to play this i cut off the note before the mark a little, and add a rest instead ? sometimes the commas are above or in the middle of the grand staff, and sometimes in a paranthesis, and i dont know how to approach it, anyone know ?

Offline iansinclair

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Re: commas in handel suites, how to apply it in practice on piano
Reply #7 on: November 02, 2013, 11:00:50 PM
I wouldn't call it a rest -- just a very brief pause with no sound.  But that would be my preference.  Which line to apply it to would depend on exactly where the comma was; it might be just one line of the counterpoint, or it might be to a group of lines -- or it might be to the whole fabric all at once.
Ian
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