SHOSTAKOVICH, Dmitry
Piano Trio No. 2 in E minor, Op. 67
I. Andante
Ralf Gothóni, guest professor
Trío Granados
Maria Tsogia-Razakova, violin
Célia Garetti Nicole, cello
Mariam Chitanava, piano
After the performance, the professor indicates that this first movement is very complicated due to the tempo relationships; in his opinion, the initial tempo was a bit slow, and the transition to the following tempo was too fast and sudden. The structure and character of the music imply starting as if in a vacuum—a long line that must gradually grow without stopping completely and with inner activity. He continues reviewing these tempo relationships and the musical character that should be expressed for the different sections on the score. Another important issue in this movement is the crescendi leading to the accents, as an expression of inner energy and the sense that something important is happening, as in Mussorgsky’s operas. He advises the strings to play the first notes of the theme tenuto, so that the structure and character of the movement are not destroyed later, and he also reviews that opening for the piano.
This beginning of the trio is very complicated to practice, and therefore they resume from the start. Professor Gothóni provides more detailed instructions and advice regarding articulations, dynamics, tempos, vibrato, intervals, character, attention to dissonances and different harmonies, the attack of the notes, etc.
Language: English
