PPOTW (Practice Pieces of the Week): November 17, 2011

OK, so I'm a few weeks behind on these, and the cross posting. Let's keep the whining down and the posture up. 

• Telemann, TWV 40.6, and 40.7 (Fantasias 5 & 6)
• Quantz, Capricci 2 (Presto) and 42 (Courante)
• Hotteterre, Preludes in c-minor
• J-D Braun, Sonata (1740; found in the pieces sans basse collection)

Practice Pieces of the Week (PPW) for September and October

Apologies for the delay in posting these. I forget that not everyone is using Facebook.

I'll be more diligent about the cross-posting.


Hotteterre Preludes in A-major (3 & 4); in Bb-Major (1 & 2).
Quantz Capriccen: Number 6 (Fantasia Presto); Number 31 (in Bb).

Hotteterre, g-minor preludes 3 & 4; Braun, Menuetto (p.10; this will get your lips in shape) & Capriccio (p. 12); Couperin, Concerts royaux, Quatrieme concert, Prelude (Gravement), Courante Francoise, and Sarabande tres tendrement (yeah, I like E-major).

The work continues (or, "if it were easy, anyone could do it")

Thanks again, everyone, for yet another fantastic week of Baroque Flute Boot Camp, Angst Factory, and Catharsis Clinic. I had a great time and love to see the changes in playing from year to year from individuals and from the group.

On the Facebook BFBC group I announced that I would be posting items for practice, in the manner of the "Quantz of the Week.." It could be just about anything, from the Bach of the Week, the Braun of the Week, the Blavet of the Month, or just about anything else, including, but not limited to, the Anderson Etude of the Week.

I just uploaded some files to the PB Works site. If you don't have them already, now is the time to get them. I'll be closing down the site for the winter and spring, as I always do, which means I'll remove your email from the site. I'll let you know when that will happen, probably not before Thanksgiving, so you can have enough time to finish any downloading you have been considering. I'll put a notice here, on the FB page, and on the wiki itself.

To start our Weekly Workout, I propose the following:

Hotteterre, Preludes 1-3 on page 6 of L'art de preluder (the facsimile, in French Violin Clef);
J D Braun, Rondeau, Giga, and Menuetto on pages 6-7 of the pieces sans basse (found on the wiki).

Those feeling particularly courageous should take the Rondeau in both keys (e-minor, g-minor; just switch to the French Violin Clef to get the g-minor/bassoon version).

More as it happens.

Quantz of the Week: Number 7

As usual:

• Level I: Good focus of tone on EVERY note
• Level II: Add perfect intervals (tuning)
• Level III: Add clarity of the written articulations, and make sure any articulation symbols are different from the notes that are not marked, and from those with different marks.
• Everyone: Take the first repeat only (AAB form). 

Levels I and II: Do not concern yourself with speed or any thoughts of tempo. Focus on the 2 Ts: Tone and Tuning.

Advanced players: This is NOT a race. It is all about TUNING and clarity (gotta love those slurs!). Don't make me bring back the Team and Individual Time Trials . . . 

Quantz of the Week: Number One (Yeah, believe it or not)

As usual:

• Level I: Good focus of tone on EVERY note
• Level II: Add perfect intervals (tuning)
• Level III: Add clarity of the written articulations, and make sure any articulation symbols are different from the notes that are not marked, and from those with different marks.
• Everyone: Take the first repeat only (AAB form). 

Levels I and II: Do not concern yourself with speed or any thoughts of tempo. Focus on the 2 Ts: Tone and Tuning.

Advanced players: This is NOT a race. It is all about TUNING and clarity (gotta love those slurs!). 

Quantz of the Week: 6 June 2010

 Is it time for the next week of Quantz already? 

OK, this will be the last group of pieces to focus exclusively on FLAT keys. Number 40 in Ab (if you are using the facsimile, this should show the first measure in A and then the first measure again in Ab), and number 29 in F, 2/4, for those still getting used to the idea that FLAT keys are fun, and, for those seeking to combine FLAT keys, embouchure flexibility, and variety of articulation, number 18 in F (Capricie III).

And, FYI, there WILL be a quiz on all of these Quantz pieces in flat keys at the boot camp. That means you might actually be asked to play them while Janet and I stare at you and scrutinize every finger motion and embouchure twitch. 

Not that we nitpick or anything . . .