Re: How do you approach a complex piece of music
It is indeed like learning a language. After the vocabulary and grammar and idioms and jokes and insights, there is still the task of one's accent and phrasing. Pick a good example and work on it, over and over for many years and with a good coach even others might say that you 'have it'. Even Chris admires Hillary's version. Our generation has a good one to follow.
Thanks for the video Jim.
Originally Posted by
Jim Garber
How much real difference is it, in structure at least, between fiddle tunes and a Bach piece like that one. It is merely arpeggios and scales (boiled down the basics). Breaking down into small chunks it is really all the same. Maybe Michael will chime in here with some words of wisdom. I really think that memorization is the first step (if you wamt to take that route) and it shouldn't be that frightening especially if you have patience.
BTW what also helps is to listen with memorization and phrasing is to listen to that piece over and over until it is in your ear memory. That would make it somewhat easier. I think the more you play it the more you understand the internal working and the logic of Bach's compositional structure. And remember: it is not just a bunch of notes on a page it is making your instrument sing.
Hilary Hahn, of of the best musicians on Planet Earth puts emotion and beauty in the performance of this virtuoso piece while she was very young (years ago). This should frustrate us but inspire. Same with Thile's playing.
Decipit exemplar vitiis imitabile
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