BRAHMS, Johannes
Sonata for cello and piano no. 1 in E minor, op. 38
I. Allegro non troppo
Torleif Thedéen, visiting professor
Hayk Sukiasyan, student
Ofelia Montalván, accompanying pianist
At the beginning of the class, Professor Thedéen asks the student about his impression of his own performance and how it should be perceived by the audience, and as a result, he comments that it is more important to think about the things he has done correctly than to focus on the mistakes. As performers, it is very important to show some special moments in each performance, although this is very difficult to achieve, and sometimes simplicity works better than other formulas.
Professor Thedéen gives the student some guidelines to express the beginning of the piece and comments on the most appropriate way to reach the climax on the repeated note (E). When the piano carries the main theme, the cello should play a more interesting accompaniment, varying the rhythm.
The fingerings should not disturb the rhythmic notation, they should facilitate the way of playing. The professor also comments that the eighth notes have to “speak” more, and that the student should not forget to give more space to the most important notes of the phrases. Thedéen then comments that the B note on the E string is one of the most difficult to play for a cellist. More understanding and connection with the piano is also required at times.
Finally, the professor explains how to distribute the dynamics in certain passages of great intensity.
Language: English
