Perhaps, we were a little flip yesterday in the Well Tempered escritoire. We did not mean to be dismissive in parenthesizing the Notturno as being a nocturne with an Italian accent. Indeed, there is a good reason Fanny named it such and it has much to do with Italy although it would be a few years after its composition in 1838 that she would actually visit that country. Brother Felix had been there and as we know, these two were thick as thieves and Felix had written many descriptive letters during his sojourn there and had even painted pictures. Larry Todd, in his 2010 book Fanny Hensel, The Other Mendelssohn, refers to the Notturno as a "presentiment of Venice." Fanny "begins with alluding with bacarole-like rhythms and doubled melodic thirds to Felix's
Venezianisches Gondellied in G Minor, op 19, no. 6, but then expands into a substantial, intense composition that easily dwarfs the miniature dimensions of its fraternal antecedent."
Ha! Take that, baby brother.
On a somewhat related note, I took a field trip today to observe a Master Class given as part of the Music at Menlo festival. The Master Teacher today, Jorja Fleezanis , is a violinist on the faculty of Indiana University. In working with a group of young musicians performing Brahams String Sextet in B-flat major, she chided the second cello for his sloppy eighth notes. "Cook the noodles a little longer," she urged. "Strive for al dente!"
I will take this to heart with my left hand on Saturday. The gondola must sail on an even keel.
Venezianisches Gondellied in G Minor, op 19, no. 6, but then expands into a substantial, intense composition that easily dwarfs the miniature dimensions of its fraternal antecedent."
Ha! Take that, baby brother.
On a somewhat related note, I took a field trip today to observe a Master Class given as part of the Music at Menlo festival. The Master Teacher today, Jorja Fleezanis , is a violinist on the faculty of Indiana University. In working with a group of young musicians performing Brahams String Sextet in B-flat major, she chided the second cello for his sloppy eighth notes. "Cook the noodles a little longer," she urged. "Strive for al dente!"
I will take this to heart with my left hand on Saturday. The gondola must sail on an even keel.
RSS Feed
