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Topic: Quick Question on Notation  (Read 2070 times)

Offline adodd81802

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Quick Question on Notation
on: October 20, 2016, 06:46:49 PM
Just a quick question, on a couple pieces I have seen / looked at, some notes are bigger than others.

To give an example in the Chopin Aeolian Harp etude in most scores you see one or more of the notes large than the others (see attachment)

Now I understand what this is - the melody note, but my question is how to play it. is it simply just slightly accented, should it be held down where possible? is it down to taste?

Another piece you see it on is Burgmuller Op.109 no.5
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Offline adodd81802

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Re: Quick Question on Notation
Reply #1 on: October 21, 2016, 08:05:26 AM
A genuine musical question and nobody responds - is that what Pianostreet is turning into?
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Offline stevensk

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Re: Quick Question on Notation
Reply #2 on: October 21, 2016, 08:27:27 AM

Yes, its the "melody" and should be playd as ...a melody  ;)
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Offline adodd81802

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Re: Quick Question on Notation
Reply #3 on: October 21, 2016, 09:23:35 AM
Quote from: stevensk on October 21, 2016, 08:27:27 AM
Yes, its the "melody" and should be playd as ...a melody  ;)

I should have added 'unhelpful answers' to the list of things that Pianostreet is becoming ;)

How about I make a post about only practicing for 3 weeks, working on a Chopin etude and booked my grade 8, as that seems to get more response.
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Offline ahinton

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Re: Quick Question on Notation
Reply #4 on: October 21, 2016, 11:25:20 AM
Quote from: adodd81802 on October 21, 2016, 09:23:35 AM
I should have added 'unhelpful answers' to the list of things that Pianostreet is becoming ;)
You allowed little more than a day and a half to get any response and, in any case, you should have used the nickname Æolian Harp, not Aeolian Heart, for this étude if you had to use one at all rather than descrbing it as the composer's Op. 25 No. 1...

Not all editions have those notes shown in different point sizes in any case but, in those that do show them thus, what else do you suppose it could possibly have meant?

Best,

Alistair
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Offline adodd81802

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Re: Quick Question on Notation
Reply #5 on: October 21, 2016, 11:36:39 AM
Quote from: ahinton on October 21, 2016, 11:25:20 AM
You allowed little more than a day and a half to get any response and, in any case, you should have used the nickname Æolian Harp, not Aeolian Heart, for this étude if you had to use one at all rather than descrbing it as the composer's Op. 25 No. 1...

Not all editions have those notes shown in different point sizes in any case but, in those that do show them thus, what else do you suppose it could possibly have meant?

Best,

Alistair

Hi,

Thanks for responding, I appreciate 24 hours may be impatient, but the primary users of this site seem to be from the US and so I posted during (UK time) the day with hope it had better chance of being responded too.

1st copied and pasted ignorantly, trying to remember how to spell Aeolian, thanks I have fixed.

2nd - I posted a picture of what I was referring too to avoid any confusion and provided a 2nd piece.

3rd - I was not asking what they are - I know what they are and I answered that in my OP, my question was what people's interpretation of them was.
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Offline dogperson

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Re: Quick Question on Notation
Reply #6 on: October 21, 2016, 12:08:39 PM
Hesitantly, I post what I hope you do not see as an 'unhelpful' response:
- Do not hold longer than standard notation -  ignore large size 
- Work on voicing only so that the melody note has the primary voice -   I would call this a difference in texture rather than accenting.

I would recommend practicing using the Graham Fitch method of 'ghosting'
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Offline mjames

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Re: Quick Question on Notation
Reply #7 on: October 21, 2016, 05:24:55 PM
Because we already know that you know what you're supposed to do? All the regulars know your skill-level, what can we possibly tell you that you don't already know? That's why i didn't respond. It's not because I don't care about "genuine" musical questions.

No you're not supposed to hold it longer than you're supposed to. These aren't present in various editions, the reason why the editor chose to illustrate them like that is to perhaps facilitate the student in identifying the melodies. How you would approach them doesn't change, and that is of course through dynamic contrast - in this case playing the accompaniment drastically softer than the  voice, and by accenting. That's pretty much it. And smart pedaling, of course.
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Offline quantum

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Re: Quick Question on Notation
Reply #8 on: October 21, 2016, 07:11:15 PM
Voicing, agogic accents, textural differentiation, phrasing... take your pick.

It is notation.  The purpose of notation is not to tell us how to play, but to describe music efficiently so we make think about how we play.  Playing notation does not create music, interpreting notation does.  

You know it is a melody, now apply some techniques and use your ears to guide you.
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