Beethoven "Andante con Variazioni" - Alon Sariel

[shamaiz]

Hi,

I recently found this UT video of Beethoven's Andante con Variazioni (WOO 44B).

The video is relatively new from about 6 months ago. (4/2016).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hl_6pkyeYqc

Alon Sariel - Mandolin
Michael Tsalka - Piano

As I am working on this tune (with my son as a pianist), I think it is an interesting performance.

I would like to hear from you about some experience with this tune, which is not for beginners, I think.

Enjoy,

Shamai

[billhay4]

Another Kerman.
Is this an Israeli player?
Thanks for posting.
Bill

[shamaiz]

Hi,

Yes.
He is from Israel (like me...) as I know.

Shamai

[Jim Garber]

Thanks, Shamai for this link. This is my favorite of the Beethoven mandolin pieces and is also the least-played. It does get progressively more difficult as it moves along but it is a sweet melody and I love the variations.

I have the urtext edition without any fingerings or dynamics. It sounds like Alon has put in some of his how ornamentation, or at east the way I recall others having played it. Nevertheless, I like his touch and his tone and phrasing throughout. The piano is also very sweet sounding. I wonder if Arik Kerman made the piano, too.

Actually, I see in the notes om the video that it is a Pleyel fortepiano, which may explain the delicate tone. More info here.

I embedded the video for convenience sake:

[JeffD]

I am working on it on my own right now, in anticipation of working with a "coach". Eventually I have a pianist friend who has expressed interest.

I like the little ornaments and decorations that Alon Sariel does. Very tasty. I don't have the experience to put anything of my own in; I am sticking pretty literally to the bare bones score.

I am finding it extremely challenging, but rewarding in proportion.

My goal right now is to get it down well enough to take to my "coach" with a minimum of embarrassment. Mandolin for me is purely avocation, and within the mando-universe, taking classical mandolin seriously is a relatively new passion. I get stuck on the most ridiculous of problems, and sometimes I am my own worst enemy finding solutions.

But it is a real thrill to get stuck on music this great.

[Jim Garber]

Shamai and Jeff: what edition are you working with? Are you following the fingering or working out your own?

Originally I had the Hladky edition and for the Sonatina in C Major he had some rather oddball and awkward fingerings. Beethoven would not have indicated fingerings, I believe, so I am happier with the urtext edition and work out my own fingering by trial and error. Of course, working with a teacher would probably be better in the long run. I will try and take out my music and play this again. The Variations is a fun piece.

IMSLP has three of the four existing pieces for mandolin but not this Andante and variations for mandolin and harpsichord.

[3step]

I listen to him a lot on youtube. One of my favorite players. His interpretations are so evocative and well played. Here's a good one.

[shamaiz]

Hi,

I am working with the scores from the Nakano collection (via CMSA).
There are few fingering notations there.

Most of the piece can be played in the 1st position, except few measures in the 3rd position.

In the 5th variation, which includes "melodic chords", I am trying my own fingering, using also "barre chords", like in a guitar playing, where needed.

The challenges in this piece, to my opinion, are:

1. The relatively fast tempo of the 1/32 notes, even when one play it in a tempo of Andante (76-108 bpm).

2. The coordination between the mandolin and the piano, but this can be solved by multiple trainings and acquaintance with the piece.

I also noticed, that the performances in UT that I saw, are at a slower tempo than real Andante, probably because of the fast 1/32 issue.

The performance of Alon here, is the fastest I saw in UT.
I measured it by a metronome, and estimate it to be about 65 bpm (the Andante part).

Other performances in UT are even slower.

Hope it will help...
Have a nice playing...

Shamai

[shamaiz]

Hi,

Another interesting performance to this piece is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdwA8OKjoRc

It seems to be close to the origin...

Shamai

[Hany Hayek]

Where can I find the score sheet?

[Jim Garber]

Hi,

Another interesting performance to this piece is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdwA8OKjoRc

It seems to be close to the origin...

Shamai

I like the sound of the fortepiano and it looks like the mandolinist is playing a copy(?) of an early mandolin, perhaps Vinaccia. He is also playing with what looks like a quill for that more muted tone.

[Jim Garber]

Where can I find the score sheet?

I have posted the pdf here (from the Nakano archives).

[Hany Hayek]

Thank you Jim, you made my day. You're the best

[shamaiz]

Hany ,

Nice phrase you quote (that of Victor Hugo...)
We are neighbors, I see...

Do you play Carlo Munier staff ? (your avatar image...)

Shamai

[Hany Hayek]

We are neighbors
I use Carlo Munier's books. Finished his scuola del mandolino book 1, almost done with book 2. Used his scioglia dita one and now I am on exercise 33 in book 2. I am starting on his 20 studi melodici e progressivi. I din't get to play any of his serious works yet, as most are still quite challenging to me. For the moment his exercises and studies are quite nice and satisfying .

[JeffD]

Shamai and Jeff: what edition are you working with? Are you following the fingering or working out your own? .

Urtext here.

I usually work out my own fingerings, not because I am so clever, or experienced, but because I don't have regular access to a coach. That, hopefully, will change soon.

I will check out the video in some detail to see what I can glean.

[Hany Hayek]

Kindly someone explain VAR 4 pick movement.