Group 4

Dagmar this waltz will never be the same again after reading your lyrics, Dagmar! BTW beautiful playing!

Andrea Buckland hahaha, thanks I so much hated this thing! Usually I get a feel for every piece but Jazz haha.... and romantic pieces are in myblood. But this? I  neither knew where to emphasize,  nor where 1 is nor how this is supposed to be a waltz Never have I felt so helpless, my teacher lost all hope and thought maybe aliens had invaded my body and drained all musicality out of me. Until someone said "it sounds like: I mourn, I die...". After I had written the lyrics I had I in 2 weeks.

Dagmar This was great! 

Dagmar the lyrics are adorable! And love that gorgeous winning smile at the end!

Dagmar What witty lyrics, Dagmar! It was great! 

Michelle R the universe is telling you how fun this will be! 

Jennifer Mehta Please do join! You are very welcome in our group! 

Jennifer Mehta I don't know how the sign-up process works but it looks like I can see your posts, so post away!! happy to have you in the group :) 

Dr. Leann Osterkamp He thank you so very much!!!!!   

Dagmar You made TERRIFIC points. 

First off, you are a very talented lyricist. Keep at it!

What you asked is actually the entire concept of ADVANCED phrasing that we are working towards! Phrasing is not just "phrase" breath "phrase" breath "phrase." 

Instead, we have LAYERS of phrasing. We have longer phrases that are broken up into subphrases. Just like in language, we have paragraphs, broken up into sentences, broken up into clauses, broken up into word groups. They all coexist in simultaneous layers to create larger ideas and shifts. 

Your video demonstrates how writing lyrics in an organic way can actually help show you the different layers that exist in phrasing. We will talk about some of this in Week 2! I fully agree that the first four bars are a phrase! Evidence to that is the chord progression underneath... we have a digestible I IV V I progression. It is subsequently divided into two smaller phrases (like a dependent clause and independent clause), mostly by how Chopin manipulates the phrasing marks and counterpoint. Those two smaller phrases are then broken up into two even smaller mini phrases that help illustrate littler words and groups. 

Your lyrics PERFECTLY illustrate a parallel structure in language which is why your text fits so well in the ear! 

We will talk more about the idea of harmony in the second week and larger phrase structures... but great point about how certain harmonies modify our choice of text. 

I would say that when your edition takes away the phrase markings on the repeat, you can either repeat what was done earlier OR use it as an opportunity for artistry. What do you think has happened to the character since the last iteration? Why are we repeating our words? Are we more anxious, more excited, pleading, begging, whispering? How might your phrasing of the same words change to bring out a new emotional meaning? Maybe the words are almost the same except for a small change.... the CREATION of the difference is what is fun!

I would NOT play everything separated... that was not what was intended by the poor editing of the score :) 

Jennifer Mehta Nice work! Your example also illustrates the beginning of subphrases within longer phrases. 

Here's two things to think about with text :)

1. We tend to not want to accent "insignificant" words, like prepositions or conjunctions, unless they have importance to the text. For example, in m. 3, "and" is not really an important word. By putting it on the downbeat AND on the first note of a two note slur, it takes away some of the organicism of the language because we are "accenting" an irrelevant word. 

2. On the second measure of the last line, watch out to not put two words on a single held pitch. "All the" would need to have a rhythmic reiteration or a new note. 

I love the fall theme! Looking forward to the recording