Mazas: Phrase 3 (Copy)

PHRASE 3

MEASURES 16-24

Measures 14-20 of are characterized by a dialogue between a darker, brooding low voice and a light, chipper high voice. The next half of the phrase sounds like a compromise or duet of the two characters – it is a singing line with lots of accidentals like the first voice, but has the warmth and sunniness of the second voice. This half of the phrase seems to be searching for "the right" note to settle on and end the phrase.

General Practice Methods:

1. Use a tuner and metronome in this passage.

2. Try to keep your left hand frame open, despite the chromatic placements.

3. Practice vibrating all quarter note arrivals – especially the 4th fingers!

Phase 1 of Practice:

1. Start with slow practice, tuning the chromatic notes.

2. Start with a break or pause between character changes so you have time to remember what type of bow stroke you’ll use in the next character.

3. Plan your bow usage in the crescendos and decrescendos, speeding up the bow to the louder arrivals. Coordinating bow use in crescendos and diminuendos can be practiced with Exercise A from On the String exercises.

Phase 2 of Practice:

1. Begin speeding up the whole phrase with a metronome. Perfect one measure at a time at this quicker tempo, and string them together until you can play the full phrase at one speed without stopping.

2. Remove the pause between character changes, and work on seamlessly transitioning between types of bow use.

Breaking Down the Phrase & Reference Guide to Previous Exercises:

Measure 17:

• The accent on Ab can be played with a burst of vibrato and a slower, heavier bow.

• Don’t spend too much bow on the Ab slur – plan to be at the balance point to play the light, off-the-string notes that follow.

• Musically, you can shape the phrase by crescendoing slightly to the G on the downbeat.

Measure 18:

• The G on beat 2 needs to be played with a light, fast bow, traveling to the upper half to make room for the slur.

Measure 20:

• Shift to third position on the G on beat 3.

Measure 21:

• Don’t forget, we play F natural in beat 2.

• Chromatic fingering fills in with 3 - High 3 - 4.