Handel Chaconne: Masterclass!
Here it is! The highly requested masterclass on Handel's Chaconne, the feature piece of our recent community challenge! Learn about the articulation, dynamic, pedaling, phrasing, tempo options, and more in this special livestream!
Find the start time in your time zone by clicking the photo or following this event link:
https://app.tonebase.co/piano/live/player/handel-chaconne-masterclass
We are going to be using this thread to gather suggestions and questions!
- What questions do you have on this topic?
- Any particular area you would like me to focus on?
Here it is! The highly requested masterclass on Handel's Chaconne, the feature piece of our recent community challenge! Learn about the articulation, dynamic, pedaling, phrasing, tempo options, and more in this special livestream!
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Hi Dominic ! I just started going threw the Chaconne. Didn't have time to practice it earlier, but want to do the challenge now.
I was wondering if you can address the choices you made for the Theme. Is it common to play this and similar pieces in an unmeasured way? I'm thinking about this style with chords, and then some really fast notes. How do you approach this, and what is the thinking process.
I was also wondering about the sound you create when you do the trills. Is there a secret to get this crisp and delicate sound? :)
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Thanks for doing this Dominic , I have one general question and one specific technical question:
- The imslp version contains more ornamentation than the urtext version I used to practice and different than some of the youtube performances I listened to. Unlike Chopin, for example, where every dynamic/tempo/phrase is marked it's interesting how baroque pieces have a lot more leeway for "improvisation" if you can call it that or at least much wider interpretation. I assume there are various editions that may all have different ornamentation added by editors.
- Variation 8, measures 68/69. Would be curious to know what fingering you use in left hand for these kind of descending passages (2-1 or 3-1). I had a lot of trouble with this section playing at speed and then even when I got it down I could not hit it consistently because I'd always tense up. So part of this is technical but part mental to get over the "fear" when you get to passages that have been challenging. I can't imagine the mental pressure of performing for a paying audience or in competition.
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Could you address the differences in the Barenreiter and the IMSLP versions. They are fairly significant, but I haven't been able to find the Bareneriter for purchase.
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Tim This is the Barenreiter I used. It can be purchased at the link.
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Heng-Pin Chen Thanks for Sharing!
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Oops! We have community challenges now? How cool! Can Rondo Cappricioso, Prokofiev Sonata in D Minor, Brahms Intermezzo 118-2, or Jardins sous la pluie be considered for for future challenges? You play a killer Intermezzo, Dominic Cheli
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Lisa Thomas Yes! This was a community practice challenge! It actually went on for 3 weeks with lots submissions from everyone as we all practiced Handel's G major chaconne!
You can look at what all the fuss is about here:
https://piano-community.tonebase.co/category/handel-chaconne-in-g-major-hwv-435
Or you can watch our "Watch Party" and see us celebrate lots of the recordings sent in by users!
https://app.tonebase.co/piano/live/player/handel-chaconne-watch-party
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how do I become part of this community? Sorry im new to tonebase!
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Marlene Vlok Hi Marlene - I've only seen one challenge so far, so all you need to do is monitor this the community challenges under forums and when they post the next one you can join in. I love the resources on Tonebase, and the Masterclass today for the Chiconne was a great way for us to finish off the challenge... I don't know if you know the piece, but if you haven't you ought to give it a try... the posting will still be open as several of us are still working on variations and plan to post our progress.
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Dominic FYI. The edition I played was Barenreiter. It's different from the edition posted in the forum. Or, maybe Barenreiter published different editions?
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Heng-Pin Chen Thanks, I do know it is very different - but honestly, the printing is much clearer and easier to read - I'm giving in and buying it.
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Tim I like to play from the book too. It feels more luxury
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Tim I used the Henle urtext which I was comparing during the live stream and it looked similar to the Barenreiter. This could be an interesting topic on it's own but I almost always go for Henle, I like the cream color pages and have both Barenreiter and Henle version of Goldberg variations (I wanted to compare 2 editions of the same piece closely) and like the fingerings in Henle better. Either way, you can't go wrong. I still like using physical books and am unlikely to ever go digital. :) I ended up buying the Henle edition at a recent 20% off sale at sheetmusicplus
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Brett Gilbert Wonderful! I actually remember seeing the edition of the Handel by Henle and being impressed by it. Great buy!
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Thank you kindly for the link - I will definitely get it! Hope you are still working on it - it was great to hear what you had done so far.
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Tim You are very welcome! Just a heads-up, this edition is different from the one in the forum.
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About repeats (the last question in the video), I didn't repeat on the submitted video, because it's only a practice and I wanted to make the video not too long. (I repeated on the last 3 variations, because it was too exciting to not repeat them :p) If I perform the piece, I would repeat, and make some differences out of it.
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Heng-Pin Chen Yes! The repeats should be a way to shed new light on previous heard material. Of course, if you are just practicing no need to repeat everything! Bravo again on your wonderful performance you shared with us!
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Dominic Cheli Thanks a lot for your kind words. It's still far away from wonderful performance, and you know it
The community challenge gave me an opportunity to explore more repertoires. I really appreciate it.
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