BRAHMS, Johannes
Sonata for Viola and Piano in F minor, Op. 120 No. 1
II. Andante, un poco Adagio
Jonathan Brown, guest professor
Adriana Snape, student
Antonia Valente, accompanying pianist
Jonathan Brown congratulates the student on her performance of the 2nd movement of the Sonata, and indicates that they can work on ways of listening to the piano that will help her even more in her interpretation. For example, at the beginning, if she takes into account the piano melody it will be easier for her to construct her phrases (also knowing how those opening phrases are organized). To this end, they play the right-hand part of the piano, so that she is aware that her melody must “fit” there. Related to this, they also review the bowings and the most appropriate bow directions to achieve this phrase structure, as well as the space between them.
The professor continues making suggestions to improve this dialogue between the two instruments, and to highlight the most important melody according to the harmony of the music at each moment.
Brown then asks the student to sing a phrase, so that she imitates it with the viola because when singing the breath cut was more appropriate. Furthermore, he recommends playing with singers because it helps a great deal. In this case, it also helps the phrasing to think of it as a German song, imagining words that fit the melody.
They review in detail a position change so that it is not too fast and does not break the expression required in that section. They also review the bass voice, so that the student takes it more into account. Brown insists that she listen and react to the piano harmonies. They also work on coordination with the piano in terms of tempo and rhythm.
Language: Spanish
