We can focus on the key of g minor in Shinozaki Violin Method Vol. 2, Nos. 68 to 72.
What kind of violin works do you think of in g minor?
The first work which comes to my mind is Bruch’s violin Concerto. When I got very interested in working on the violin, this was the work that I was very much longing to play. And I worked hard on it. Many of my students are also interested in it. It’s a wonderful concerto.
Bach’s Solo Sonata No.1 as well as one of the Vivaldi’s violin concertos, which you will be studying in Suzuki Book 5 are in g minor, too.
The G note is the lowest note of the violin, can be played as an open string. There are many works written in this key, so let’s start to become familiar with it.
No. 68: g minor scale
By working on examples 1 and 2, you can prepare for No. 69: Becker’s Gavotte and No. 70: Hohmann’s Dream.
No. 69: Becker “Gavotte”
Jean Becker (1833-1884) was a German violinist. He formed the Florentine String Quartet and became famous in the world as its first violinist.
This piece is also included in the Suzuki Book 3 in a different way. The edition in the Suzuki Book is more repetitive, which is two pages long. With the Suzuki edition, one can study both the g minor section and the G major section, as well as going back and forth between the two keys.
What is Allegretto molto grazioso?
Allegret = not as cheerful as Allegro
Molto = very
Grazioso = graceful and elegant
Therefore, it is better to play with an elegant and gentle feeling, and not too fast. Professor Shinozaki also mentions Allegretto molto grazioso as “very graceful.”
Gavotte is a baroque dance, so don’t forget to play it at a steady tempo.
No. 70: Hohmann “Dream”
Christian Heinrich Homann (1811-1861) was a German composer and music educator who was known as the author of Hohmann’s Practical Method for the violin, which consists of five volumes.
This little piece titled “Dream” is Homann’s Practical Method
Volume 2, No. 70. Mr. Shinozaki gave this title and wrote the second violin part, I believe.
As you can see below, Hohmann’s No. 70 uses double dots in the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 9th, and 11th measures. Mr.Shinozaki rewrote it using eighth notes and ties so that the students can easily read and understand the rhythm.
Andante means “at walking tempo.” I wonder what is your “walking tempo.” I’m sure everyone has slightly different ideas.
No. 71 preparation practice
This is a preparatory practice for the bowings used in no.72 “Aria.”
No. 72: Senaille “Aria”
Jean-Baptiste Senaille (1687-1730) was a French composer of the Baroque era and a master of violin. After studying in France, he went to Italy, where he studied under Tomaso Antonio Vitali, who was also a composer and violinist. Later, Senaille introduced the Italian style to the French court. As a composer, Senaille wrote about 50 sonatas.
Aria means a song, in short. For example, this very famous work that everyone loves is also called an aria (=air). :
Adagio is generally expressed as at a slow tempo, but adagio in Italian means ‘leisurely’ in English.
I wonder what kind of tempo and sound you would choose for this “song.”
Let’s start practicing together !
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