A plaintively beautiful piece, Pastorale requires a lilting “feel” of two beats per measure. A flowing melody permeates the voicing, cushioned in sonorous chords. The challenge is not to upstage the treble line as it unfolds.
The phrasing in the right hand responds well to the supple wrist and curves of motion while the left has to be shaped in a forward movement to the dotted quarter note.
Where the theme is repeated in the first section, it’s a good idea to play with a tad of nuanced variation.
In the B section, there’s a counter-melody that if brought out is particularly pleasing.
Relaxed arms, undulating wrists, and long breaths are a helpful in spinning a melody that is enriched by lovely Romantic era harmonies. A modulation from the G 7th chord to the sub-dominant (C chord) provides a gentle peak before the music limpidly falls off to a final cadence.
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Published by arioso7: Shirley Kirsten
International Online Piano Teacher, blogger, recording artist, composer, piano finder, freelance writer, film maker, story teller: Grad of the NYC H.S. of Performing Arts, Oberlin Conservatory, NYU (Master of Arts) Studies with Lillian Freundlich and Ena Bronstein; Master classes with Murray Perahia and Oxana Yablonskaya. Studios in BERKELEY, California; Member, Music Teachers Assoc. of California, MTAC; Distance learning by Skype and Face Time with supplementary videos: SKYPE ID: shirley kirsten
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Private fundraising for non-profits as pianist--Public Speaking re: piano teaching and creative approaches
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