The Viola Thread, Everybody welcome :-D Options

[fsharpminor]

May I trespass on to this thread, just to post a viola story as below. It has appeared under a Jokes thread before but isnt on this thread, so not all viola players may know it.

Letter to an Agony aunt in a women's magazine:


Dear Maggie,

I've just met the man of my dreams. I love him so much. He plays viola in our amateur orchestra. He has made so much progress since leaving prison and his probation officer says that he has finally agreed to help the police locate all the bodies. His mother is still inside for smuggling cocaine and his father is somewhere in Peru being tracked by the CIA for his work with Al-Quaida. His sister lives in Runcorn and is known as 'Miss Easy Lay' and his brother is in Broadmoor.

Next week I want him to meet my parents. Mummy and Daddy are so fussy and rather old fashioned.
I want to tell them everything, but one can only go so far..... do I really have to say that he plays the viola?

[viola-mad]

Sorry this is a bit confusing - I got all excited thinking I had worked out how to quote and then answer two different posts but it turns out I haven't!

Press the Quote button underneath each post you want to quote. It will turn red. Then press Add Reply at the bottom of the page. That should do the job!

I am SO excited!!

I discussed my Grade 5 (for next session) with my teacher yesterday and we're going to look at a couple of the pieces next week (I only have ad-hoc lessons so I'm dying for another one!). I've definitely decided on my 'C' piece and it's between two for the A list. The B list I'm not so sure yet.

Come on, spill the beans Lottie!! We need to know what you've picked. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[lottie]

Well, list A I'm maybe playing the Handel, 4th movement from the sonata in G minor op. 1 No.6 which should be familiar to most of the violinists. It's a wonderful sonata so I'm learning the whole thing... lovely (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) However I need to lighten my bow and develop some stamina to 'polish' this one for exam performance.

The other 'A' list piece that I'm considering is the Veracini 'Largo' which is absolutely hugely beautiful!!! It will need a lot of bow control and shifting from the sound of it although I haven't seen the music yet (it's on order (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) )

Hear the Veracini here - this is the best recording I could find but I do think this TOO slow and a bit turgid.

From the 'B' list it's either the Teselli 'Serenata' or the Mascagni 'Intermezzo Sinfonico'. Both of these are gorgeous although perhaps the Handel sonata would be the better contrast to pair with the 'A' piece. hmmmm

Here's the Mascagni....


From the 'C' list I have no doubts - Weill 'September Song'! It's a famous piece but just sounds lovely on my viola. Again I need some better bow control and some safer intonation in the shifting.

Here's 'September Song' ... with apologies for this arrangement sounding like the closing scenes of a rather bad Bond movie ... (when He's kissing the girl.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) )



All thoughts welcome please.... the 'B' list is the one I'm not terribly happy with.

[2childmum]

Sorry this is a bit confusing - I got all excited thinking I had worked out how to quote and then answer two different posts but it turns out I haven't!

Press the Quote button underneath each post you want to quote. It will turn red. Then press Add Reply at the bottom of the page. That should do the job!


That's what I did - and I got the first quote in a box but the second just became part of my thread. I've tried again so we will see what happens when I post this one.

I am SO excited!!

I discussed my Grade 5 (for next session) with my teacher yesterday and we're going to look at a couple of the pieces next week (I only have ad-hoc lessons so I'm dying for another one!). I've definitely decided on my 'C' piece and it's between two for the A list. The B list I'm not so sure yet.

Come on, spill the beans Lottie!! We need to know what you've picked. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Well, list A I'm maybe playing the Handel, 4th movement from the sonata in G minor op. 1 No.6 which should be familiar to most of the violinists. It's a wonderful sonata so I'm learning the whole thing... lovely (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) However I need to lighten my bow and develop some stamina to 'polish' this one for exam performance.

The other 'A' list piece that I'm considering is the Veracini 'Largo' which is absolutely hugely beautiful!!! It will need a lot of bow control and shifting from the sound of it although I haven't seen the music yet (it's on order (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) )

Hear the Veracini here - this is the best recording I could find but I do think this TOO slow and a bit turgid.

From the 'B' list it's either the Teselli 'Serenata' or the Mascagni 'Intermezzo Sinfonico'. Both of these are gorgeous although perhaps the Handel sonata would be the better contrast to pair with the 'A' piece. hmmmm

Here's the Mascagni....


From the 'C' list I have no doubts - Weill 'September Song'! It's a famous piece but just sounds lovely on my viola. Again I need some better bow control and some safer intonation in the shifting.

Here's 'September Song' ... with apologies for this arrangement sounding like the closing scenes of a rather bad Bond movie ... (when He's kissing the girl.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) )



All thoughts welcome please.... the 'B' list is the one I'm not terribly happy with.

I've played the Handel and it is lovely although I like the first movement best. I played 'September Song' at the adult concert last year. I don't know either of the list B pieces though, so I can't be any help I'm afraid.
I have sight-read through the Bridge as I learnt the second piece in the book recently and I rather liked that. I've also played the Mozart but I'm not very keen on it!

I've just looked at the syllabus on line - is it me or are all the pieces for 2012 onwards the same as the last lot? Couldn't they find anything new?


Edited to say- I think that is an improvement - my answer to viola -mad is inside a box with her post in but I have managed another box for the second quote. Might sort this posting lark out at some point!

[lilly763]

Well, list A I'm maybe playing the Handel, 4th movement from the sonata in G minor op. 1 No.6 which should be familiar to most of the violinists. It's a wonderful sonata so I'm learning the whole thing... lovely (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) However I need to lighten my bow and develop some stamina to 'polish' this one for exam performance.

The other 'A' list piece that I'm considering is the Veracini 'Largo' which is absolutely hugely beautiful!!! It will need a lot of bow control and shifting from the sound of it although I haven't seen the music yet (it's on order (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) )

Hear the Veracini here - this is the best recording I could find but I do think this TOO slow and a bit turgid.

From the 'B' list it's either the Teselli 'Serenata' or the Mascagni 'Intermezzo Sinfonico'. Both of these are gorgeous although perhaps the Handel sonata would be the better contrast to pair with the 'A' piece. hmmmm

Here's the Mascagni....


From the 'C' list I have no doubts - Weill 'September Song'! It's a famous piece but just sounds lovely on my viola. Again I need some better bow control and some safer intonation in the shifting.

Here's 'September Song' ... with apologies for this arrangement sounding like the closing scenes of a rather bad Bond movie ... (when He's kissing the girl.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) )



All thoughts welcome please.... the 'B' list is the one I'm not terribly happy with.

This sounds great, lottie. Enjoy viola-ing! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[lottie]

ALSO I have FOUR new bows arrived today to 'trial'. I live too far from a violin shop to be practical so I'm having eight in total sent in the next week (sorry muzikalbadger, I really need a new bow now but we can still go bow-trialing at Blackie Street in the New Year just for fun! (or camel cuddling (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) ).

Well.... I am blown away by bows!!! I had NO IDEA a bow could make such a huge difference. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) It's just a stick with hair after all.....

For the last two years I have been playing on a bow that cost a lot less than ?100. I thought it was pretty good because the other bow I have is not great and is only worth about ?15. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) I was putting my lack of subtle dynamics etc. down to inexperience and lack of skill. I mean, lets face it, at Grade 3-ish it can be hard to have the insight to judge subtleties, but now that my playing is 5-ish I was getting frustrated that I still seemed so clumsy with the more sensitive sounds I wanted to make although I knew Hannah had a fabulous sound.

Then yesterday I tried bows that cost several hundred pounds.

All I can say is WOW! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/hurrah.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party2.gif)

ALL FOUR bows pulled a completely different sound out of Hannah. It was astonishing!!! I was so gobsmacked (I know, I hate that word too but it seems appropriate) that I played from about 4.30pm until 11.30!!!!!! (I did stop to feed the dogs and grab something to eat). My fingers are fairly sore this morning!

I can't believe a bow makes so much difference (did I already say that? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) ) Then I narrowed it down to two. I did a 'blind test' - I didn't look at the maker or price of each bow until very late on. Then I found the two I had pulled out were both made by the SAME maker!! Even that is amazing - a particular maker seemed to suit Hannah better than the other two. The second shock was that these two were the lower price of the four! I guess it's just what suits the instrument.

So today I'm going to try them all again but I think I've centred on one that suits my budget but most importantly will take me and Hannah up a massive step!

Right... off to play again... if my fingers can take any more (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif) (sorry for my long post (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif) ... but did I say that bows are amazing.... )

[viola-mad]

Well, list A I'm maybe playing the Handel, 4th movement from the sonata in G minor op. 1 No.6 which should be familiar to most of the violinists. It's a wonderful sonata so I'm learning the whole thing... lovely (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) However I need to lighten my bow and develop some stamina to 'polish' this one for exam performance.

Cool! I'm learning this sonata at the moment - it's lovely. (Though I have to say - how criminal that they didn't put the 3rd movement together with the 4th on the syllabus.) I don't know any of the other pieces however, and I don't think my colleagues would thank me for listening to them on you tube in the office.... I'll have to have a listen some other time.

Edited to say- I think that is an improvement - my answer to viola -mad is inside a box with her post in but I have managed another box for the second quote. Might sort this posting lark out at some point!

Yay, progress! You've successfully quoted 2 different posts. If you're feeling brave, read on. What prompts the page to display a quotation from another post is a pair of quote "tags" in square brackets: one to open the quote, one to close it - just as when writing an article you might use open and close quotation marks. Without wanting to complicate things, the general order of things is:
1. New text (optional)
2. Open quote tag
3. Text quoted from previous post
4. Close quote tag (the one preceded by a slash)
5. New text (optional)

If you type your new text between the open and close quote tags (as you did above), it will appear as part of the quotation. Try typing it outside those tags to make it stand out more. Hope this helps.

PS Where has Lilly gone? Very sad to see another forum departure.

[lottie]

I've narrowed the bows down to two - both by the same maker. Strangely both are well under budget too! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) But the more expensive ones just don't sound as good.

But I can't decide between them... although I'm slightly bending to one... only vaguely slightly.


What are your criteria for testing bows?

And what little things do you try out to compare them?



Help please! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[2childmum]

[quote name='2childmum' post='1108015' date='Nov 22 2011, 09:16 PM']Edited to say- I think that is an improvement - my answer to viola -mad is inside a box with her post in but I have managed another box for the second quote. Might sort this posting lark out at some point!
[/quote]
Yay, progress! You've successfully quoted 2 different posts. If you're feeling brave, read on. What prompts the page to display a quotation from another post is a pair of quote "tags" in square brackets: one to open the quote, one to close it - just as when writing an article you might use open and close quotation marks. Without wanting to complicate things, the general order of things is:
1. New text (optional)
2. Open quote tag
3. Text quoted from previous post
4. Close quote tag (the one preceded by a slash)
5. New text (optional)

If you type your new text between the open and close quote tags (as you did above), it will appear as part of the quotation. Try typing it outside those tags to make it stand out more. Hope this helps.

[/quote]

Ok here goes - another try. Thanks for your help - I've been battling on only answering one quote at a time or listing people's names if I've wanted to answer them, but I am determined to suss this multi-quote thing now!


[quote name='lottie' date='Nov 24 2011, 10:10 AM' post='1108442']
I've narrowed the bows down to two - both by the same maker. Strangely both are well under budget too! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) But the more expensive ones just don't sound as good.

But I can't decide between them... although I'm slightly bending to one... only vaguely slightly.


What are your criteria for testing bows?

And what little things do you try out to compare them?



Help please! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)
[/quote]


When I was trying bows I took them to my teacher, She played them on her viola and then mine and we both decided which we liked the sound of independently. And we agreed, so that make it easy!


Edited to say: NOoooooooooooooo! I've lost the boxes altogether now! And it was going so well (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[katyjay]

You've lost one of the [quote] boxes, 2childmum

[lottie]

I've chosen my new bow!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/woot.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/hurrah.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party2.gif)

I've done more blind tests in the last three days than you would believe and I kept coming down to the same bow! I was actually trying NOT to like it because it was the cheapest one in the selection and I wanted a 'flashier' bow... but I can't deny that it is the perfect match for Hannah! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) (..and it is very pretty).

I wouldn't have believed a bow could make so much difference but it makes the one I HAD been using sound like I was using a BROOMHANDLE with a bit of baler twine sellotaped to each end!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rofl.gif)

So now I have a deeper and more mellow sound from Hannah and a massively wider dynamic range from a true fff right down to a whisper. I had been getting frustrated with my limited dynamic range but I was just putting it down to my lack of talent and ability!!! The notes in higher positions are also far clearer and ring much more safely (and I would never have put that down to the bow!)


Happy Lottie (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)


Oh and the bow has a name - Mr Roundstick!! The final two were an octagonal stick and a round stick and guess which one I chose!!!

[andante_in_c]

Sorry to crash in, but I was just watching this and thought it might be of interest. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

A viola player's view of Ravel's Bolero.

[lottie]

I do know that there is likely to be a viola playday in Primrose Hill in London in 2012, organised by one of my friends and led by Helen Sanders-Hewett. I'll let folk know more when I get the information.

I've just noticed on her website that there's a VIOLA DAY in February!!!! There's no more details though... anybody know anything more about it.. and want to come????? I'm willing to look into flying down...


Viola day mentioned at the bottom of this page


Has anybody met this lady?

[willobie]

I do know that there is likely to be a viola playday in Primrose Hill in London in 2012, organised by one of my friends and led by Helen Sanders-Hewett. I'll let folk know more when I get the information.

I've just noticed on her website that there's a VIOLA DAY in February!!!! There's no more details though... anybody know anything more about it.. and want to come????? I'm willing to look into flying down...


Viola day mentioned at the bottom of this page


Has anybody met this lady?

Aaaaaargh! I won't be able to go - even though I will be in London all day!

W (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[onion]

I've just noticed on her website that there's a VIOLA DAY in February!!!! There's no more details though... anybody know anything more about it.. and want to come????? I'm willing to look into flying down...
Has anybody met this lady?

Yes, I'm really please with the date (it doesn't clash with Egham!) I'm definately planning to attend.
Helen, who will be leading the day, is the assistant conductor at the Learning Orchestra in Euston, which I attend. She is really adult learner friendly, and an excellent viola player. She is a principal viola player with the Orchestra of St Paul's. She's lots of fun and can be strict with a smile!
The venue is a small community centre in Primrose Hill. We use the upstairs hall, so it is up two lots of stairs. Normally for a play day, there are between 10-20 players and the day runs from 12noon -6pm. With usually a break for lunch and two smaller breaks, and finishes with a play through at 5.30pm. I don't have any information about how the day will run for the Viola Day yet, but I imagine it wouldn't be too dissimilar.
We often finish by going out for a meal afterwards. There is a Russian restaurant (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) close by that we have been to a couple of times.

Aaaaaargh! I won't be able to go - even though I will be in London all day!
W (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Not fair! (Are those pesky recorders to blame?! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) )