Here is another pretty violin solo with variations introducing the bouncing bow (staccato). The 1st measure of the 2 that are printed in small example at the top shows the abbreviated form of writing this style of music, which begins at the 24th measure, and the 2nd measure illustrates the way it is played.

Now these staccato notes are NOT to be made with a jerk but are made by a bouncing bow from one note to the next. THis may be accomplished by a slight pressure of the 3rd finger of the right hand upon the bow stick, holding the bow in such a manner that the thumb is directly under the 2nd finger, so that the 1st and 3rd fingers on the upper side of the bow stick make it teeter on the thumb.

Hold the bow over the string about half an inch above it (middle of the bow) and let it drop on the string. WHen it strikes the string the pressure of the 3rd finger on the stick will cause it to rebound again and again, and after some practice you will gain complete control of the bouncing, starting and stopping it at any instant.

Begin this practice at the lower 3rd of the bow (next to your hand) and as you gradually gain speed draw nearer the middle, and finally near the point. You will also find that once you get the knack of it, you may do it without the aid of the 3rd finger, merely holding the bow with the 1st finger and the thumb.

This these is taken from Donzinetti's opera "The Favorite" and is in common or 4/4 time, moderato which is slow march time.

Count 4 to each measure, 2 counts to every beat of your pulse. Pay particular attention to the slurs and to the accents and expression marks and do not try to play the grace notes until after you have the piece well learned without them, as they are merely ornamental and do not get any time value at all, or at least, not enough to count and what little time they do get is borrowed from the note which comes after them.

"p" means softly - mf means moderately loud - cresc: gradually swell to louder- f means: loud - ff very loud. The wedge-like signs under the 1st measure of the 3rd staff means the same as the word "cresc"- (swell) and when it is turned in the opposite direction as shown in the last measure of the 3rd staff, it means begin loud and gradually diminish the sound.

THe little short arrow-like signs over the notes as shown in bar 1 of the 5th staff, signify that the 1st note in that groups shall be accented more than the other. Leggioero means: light, swift and delicate.

The 2nd and 3rd measures of the 7th staff and the last measure of the 9th staff show slurred staccato passages, (staccato notes with slurs over them). THese are produced by short staccato strokes of the bow going in one direction, for example in the 1st measure of the 9th staff there are eight notes to be played with one length of the bow, which must start and stop 8 times with the bow always moving in one direction, and the bow-hair must never be allowed to leave the strings at all.

N.B. When writing always mention instrument. Confine your questions to ONE LESSON ONLY. Give name of lesson, number of staff, number of measure, and be brief. Give full name and address.

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© 2003 R. Fingerson
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