Week 1 Thread: Exploring the 18th Century!

Classical Pianist and Music Theorist
dr_AntonellaDiGiulio
3 yrs ago
174replies

Welcome to the Main Thread for the third week of "Mozart & Haydn - Music from the 18th Century" challenge!

Most of the time, the music for keyboard instruments written during the 18th century is defined as simple, pleasing, and overall superficial. And yet, the works written during this period contain the seeds for the development of larger musical forms.

This week we will start looking at music from a different perspective and consider the musical elements as building blocks of a structure that is meant to communicate a message.

Pick a piece from the suggested repertoire according to your level or share any piece written during the 18th century that you have been working on!

Post in the forum what you discovered playing your piece and your goals for this challenge!

If you want to describe your process, feel free to use the following template.

Piece(s) you have been working on:
Things you found easy:
Things you found difficult:

Happy sharing 😍

- Susan_Rogers
- 3 yrs ago
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I had a very full week so I did not get a chance to make a video, but during the week of the the nice “getting to know you phase” of my new piece (Mozart k280, Adagio) I mainly focused on listening to various artists performances, writing in the fingers I want to use, and working on the trills. Enjoyed everyone’s videos!
- Susan_Rogers
  
  3 yrs ago
  
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  Antonella Di Giulio thank you. :)
- Royhj
- 3 yrs ago
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Antonella Di Giulio I've been practicing with the groupings and the dynamics over the repeated chords. Must admit that it sounds differently every time I play it... but I think it's improving. Will be really happy to hear if this is in line of your suggestions. Thanks again!
- Classical Pianist and Music Theorist
  
  dr_AntonellaDiGiulio
  
  3 yrs ago
  
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  Roy much better!!! It sounds really good now. Maybe think in group of 4 measures also the second phrase… but it is already very beautiful 😊😊😊
- Pianist, composer and piano teacher
  
  Sindre_Skarelven
  
  3 yrs ago
  
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  Roy Awesome work!! It uplift my spirit, listening to this.
- Royhj
  
  3 yrs ago
  
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  Antonella Di Giulio thank you, I see what you mean. This second 4 measure phrase sounds like 3 small jumpy phrases... I have a better direction for it. Will work on it a little before posting again.
- Royhj
  
  3 yrs ago
  
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  Sindre Skarelven thank you. So much thought can be put into 16 measures :)
- vbashyam
  
  3 yrs ago
  
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  Roy Sounds very elegant! Great job!
- Classical Pianist and Music Theorist
  
  dr_AntonellaDiGiulio
  
  3 yrs ago
  
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  Roy I love your improvements though. And honestly, recordings are the best way to improve because you can criticize yourself and see what you want to do better. But your performance is really really galant 😇
- The Retired French Teacher
  
  Monikainfrance
  
  3 yrs ago
  
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  Roy this is an excellent performance and YOU are an excellent student, putting all suggestions into practice. In your place, I would pick up the tempo a tiny bit and imagine the long dresses of happily smiling women float right and left. Yes, imagery is my thing, it keeps me from getting stuck on the black dots on the page.
- Royhj
  
  3 yrs ago
  
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  Monika Tusnady Vidhya Antonella Di Giulio thank you guys so much for all the advice and feed back :)
- Derek_McConville
  
  3 yrs ago
  
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  Roy just catching up on this - sounds very good!
- Massimo_maj
- 3 yrs ago
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Hello,

I decided to experimenting with Mozart's K397

This is the first part, I am learning trying to enjoy the process.

K397_prima_parte
- Classical Pianist and Music Theorist
  
  dr_AntonellaDiGiulio
  
  3 yrs ago
  
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  Massimo maj Awesome... Very beautiful performance. Maybe, try to think about the bass line a bit more as a sort of pillar for the entire structure, but at the same time keep the middle voices of the left hand a bit softer.
  
  Great job though. If you would upload a video recording next time, I could tell you a bit more :)
- Classical Pianist and Music Theorist
  
  dr_AntonellaDiGiulio
  
  3 yrs ago
  
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  Massimo maj Also... look a little bit at the last part before the section in D major, try to stay in tempo there. :)
- Massimo_maj
  
  3 yrs ago
  
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  Antonella Di Giulio Thank you
- Classical Pianist and Music Theorist
  
  dr_AntonellaDiGiulio
  
  3 yrs ago
  
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  Massimo maj My pleasure!
- Natalie_Peh
  
  3 yrs ago
  
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  Massimo maj nice, I really like the descending bassline in your piece
- Massimo_maj
  
  3 yrs ago
  
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  Natalie Peh thank you
- Massimo_maj
- 3 yrs ago
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I tried to put all together, it's not so easy for me.
It sounds better than yesterday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dbr2iEbwyTQ
- vbashyam
  
  3 yrs ago
  
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  Massimo maj Sounds great!
- Massimo_maj
  
  3 yrs ago
  
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  Vidhya Bashyam Thank you
- Classical Pianist and Music Theorist
  
  dr_AntonellaDiGiulio
  
  3 yrs ago
  
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  Massimo maj I made a quick video with some of the things you might want to revisit a bit. I thought it is easier to show it to you than to write down what I mean :)
  
  It is a lot improved compared to the other recording you posted.
  
  However, keep in mind that it is not a romantic piece and some of the parts should really be more in tempo. Everything we need to know is written in the music. :)
  
  You did a great job though!!
  
  Here is the video: https://youtu.be/7DaBOdghkuM
- Massimo_maj
  
  3 yrs ago
  
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  Antonella Di Giulio Thank You
- Classical Pianist and Music Theorist
  
  dr_AntonellaDiGiulio
  
  3 yrs ago
  
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  Massimo maj my pleasure!