Ornamentation In Exams, what's expected (g7 flute in particular)? Options

[Teigr]

I know that realisation of ornaments is optional at the lower grades and expected in the higher grades, but what about where there's nothing marked on the score?

I've listened to the CD produced by the AB and there are a few places where Gareth Davies adds ornamentation where there's nothing indicated on my score. It's entirely musically appropriate and is exactly where I'd have expected there to be stuff, but the edition I'm playing from has nothing at all marked in that movement.

So, what's the best thing to do - play it as written or add suitable ornamentation in appropriate places (not necessarily exactly the same as the CD, but probably similar)?

T.

[anacrusis]

Do I take it you're talking about a baroque piece?
If so, then you'll need to fill in the obvious cadential trills as feels appropriate; for grade 7 my teacher helped me with some other ornamentation - not much, just enough to show that we knew it was appropriate to do so - and at grade 8 we really got stuck in and put in a few fairly florid bits and pieces. You'd certainly not be penalised for ornamenting beyond what your score gives you to do, as long as the ornaments are in character and in the right key - and if you have a few really good ornaments, it will probably be appreciated by your examiner. It is difficult to get right though, not helped by the fact that tastes vary.

[Teigr]

Yes, it's Telemann.
I was surprised that it didn't have anything marked and had been tempted to add my own stuff in the expected places anyway, but now I've heard the CD with bits added it feels even more wrong without a bit of embellishment.
I just wasn't quite sure if I should because while the blurb from the board mentions not having to realise ornaments that are marked in the lower grades, it didn't say anything about adding stuff that isn't marked at any grade. As long as there's no risk of being marked down for straying from what's written and it's not going to make the examiner think I'm being impudent, I'll definitely bung in some twiddly bits.

T.

[Maizie]

I bought some secondhand 1990s Trinity albums a week or two ago - G4 and G5. The person who owned them had annotated ornaments in (trill, mordents, one turn), and articulation and dynamics.
The album actually has a note at the front of it to point out that for certain pieces you don't get much in the way of any of these things, but the student/performer/examinee should add these things as they feel are stylistically appropriate.
It's a bit odd, to deliberately play what isn't there; but then you look at some things and realise it could all be very 'same-y' without (e.g. thinking of the current G5 descant Saltarello - it's got repeated bits in it, and is very clearly in 'sections', so you could do dynamic or articulation contrasts between them if you wanted to)

[andante_in_c]

Hi Teigr,

Generally the better editions don't have editorial markings, so it's expected that you add your own. With the Telemann I add trills to all the dotted quavers in the cantabile, but the Allegro is the sort that doesn't need a lot of embellishment. You'll need to add your own dynamics too.

And don't worry if you can't play the Allegro at the pace on the CD - neither can I. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

[Morgan's Munchkin]

My flute teacher has always made me add ornaments in from grade 3 upwards. It's generally a good habit to get into because it shows you can do more than just play what's written - it makes it more of a performance.

[Teigr]

Thanks eveyone! :-)

Generally the better editions don't have editorial markings, so it's expected that you add your own. With the Telemann I add trills to all the dotted quavers in the cantabile, but the Allegro is the sort that doesn't need a lot of embellishment. You'll need to add your own dynamics too.

The dotted quavers are exactly where I was thinking of. :-)
Definitely don't have time to squeeze anythign extra into the Allegro, though I'm trilling my way up the scale on the second page.

And don't worry if you can't play the Allegro at the pace on the CD - neither can I. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

I havn't got it anywhere near that speed yet, but I'm going to have to get it fairly close or I'm not going to manage the breathing in some passages - there aren't a lot of rests and its hard to sneak them in some places without breaking the rhythm.

It's my favourite of the three exam pieces though and I'm having a lot of fun with it. :-)

T.

[poeme]

Hi All,

You definately need to put all suitable ornamentation in your pieces. Many moons agoa when I took my grade 8 (I was 16 and technically not strong, all though musically, very good) I got 139 for it, complete with all ornaments added and the appropriate cadenzas in the Mozart. My best friend at the time, who is now a very successful soloist in America did the same pieces and didn't do a cadenza, 'because it wasn't written in or mentioned in the syllabus' was her excuse (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) and she was failed on that piece as she hadn't performed it as per an 'authentic performance'!

Do as much as you can without hiding the true melody line.

Good luck

[jod]

Even my grade 1 pupils ornament their pieces. However their is ornamentation and ornamentation.

At a lower level, the ornaments are simplified to what they can manage. As they progress, then more is added, then as Da-capo movements are added, the idea of adding extra ornaments to the Da Capo section second time round is considered. The main treatise are discussed, and the ornaments planned.

This can be done from early grades upwards. Start simple, and then add complexity as technique develops.

However I am always minded by an interview with the singer James Bowman. In his early career he put loads of ornaments in the Da Capo repeat, now he has leart that less often gives more. So when I plan such ornamentation I stress to each pupil not to over do it.

As I talk about the performance practice of each period right from the word go, it seems silly to leave ornamentation out.

[mcentee2]

This is an interesting point for me too.

Although taking Gr 5 flute, and not Gr 7 as in the OP's question - I have chosen Anitra's Dance as my list A.

Do I have the choice of playing all the trills written in the score, or can I plead "this is only Gr 5" and not play them ?

In reality I will play them, because I can, and it adds to the piece for those vital few marks - but it would be interesting to know how this would be viewed by the examiner.

[Maizie]

Do I have the choice of playing all the trills written in the score, or can I plead "this is only Gr 5" and not play them ?

From 'These Music Exams':

Candidates may use their discretion as to how they interpret ornaments – they are just another aspect of performance. If it is possible for them to be incorporated comfortably into the rhythm of the piece, they are always welcome as additional aspects of the style. If playing the suggested ornament is going to upset the pulse, then it is much better to shorten the ornament into a turn or mordent, or to leave it out entirely to keep the structure of the piece intact. It is from Grade 6 that pieces really requiring ornamentation should only be chosen when the ornaments can be incorporated, even if in modified form. In the lower grades examiners are happy to accept performances without ornaments (although they will not be able to award the highest marks), providing that other musical aspects, such as phrasing and dynamics, have been given consideration.

So it's optional but you will probably do better mark-wise if you can fit them in one way or another!

[mcentee2]

[quote name='Maizie' date='Feb 7 2008, 12:18 PM' post='663159']
[quote name='mcentee2' post='663130' date='Feb 7 2008, 11:10 AM']Do I have the choice of playing all the trills written in the score, or can I plead "this is only Gr 5" and not play them ?[/quote]

From 'These Music Exams':
[quote]
So it's optional but you will probably do better mark-wise if you can fit them in one way or another!
[/quote]

Ah! Thanks Maizie - so its probably better to miss them out *if* I am likely to make a mess of them, if I can do them justice then leave them in.

[Wai Kit Leung]

I would definitely add appropriate ornamentation in. The slow movements in baroque music (when there is only a bare melody) were expected to be performed with ornamentation (not just trills, but free improvisation on top of the basic melody). A good starting point would be a well-ornamented version that you like, and you can make your own changes on top of that.

As a matter of fact, I passed my last exams partly due to the ornamentations I used, that the examiners deemed to be very effective for the piece. Please feel free to send me a private message if you need more advice on the subject of ornamentation.

Best of luck with your exam. I hope you will do very well!

[Maizie]

so its probably better to miss them out *if* I am likely to make a mess of them, if I can do them justice then leave them in.

But also remember you can amend what's there a bit - if you can't get a trill to fit in, rather than leave it out entirely, can you fit a mordent in (which is like a really-mini-trill (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) ) - sort of split the difference between fulling ornamented and unornamented. This only works if it sounds OK too (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Misti]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I remember once having a strange comment from an examiner with regard to making my ornaments "more precise". I suppose what was meant, that he couldn't tell if I was playing a mordent or trill, or that they were somewhat irregular, so maybe this is something to consider as well...