Edith Lynwood Winn

“ It is absurd in these days of constant comparison between schools, considering the frequent study of great artists in several Continental schools, to assume that any one of them has the only legitimate interpretation of the classics. The French-school artist plays Corelli and Tartini with more poetry and varied tone-color than the German-school artist, giving to all the classics of that period more modernity and consequent beauty than they ever possessed in their time. ”

“ Sitt and Dont must inevitably aid in the mastery of bowings, as well as of position work. There is so much to learn from standard Concertos that it seems unwise, in our busy American life, to burden the student with too many études. If he can learn the great principles of violin playing from well-known works, or a few well-chosen études, he has time for the study of legitimate classics. The entire Sevcik plan is too extensive and impractical for American violin study; nevertheless, the most progressive teachers are adapting Sevcik to the needs of their pupils. ”

“ All passages requiring quick transitions on four strings should be played as broadly and with as free a bow-arm as the tempo will admit; in other words, too little bow gives no value to the passage, while a light stroke with a longer bow is made more valuable. Naturally, if the tempo is increased to allegro, we must remain near the point of the bow. When four strings are required, the bow-arm must be higher, and the distinction between a forearm stroke and a pure wrist stroke must be well defined. In rapid legato passages all pressure upon the bow-stick must be avoided. ”

“ Naturally the student must think modulations, even if he is perfectly familiar with his position work. Keep the thumb well under the neck of the violin, so as to compass four strings easily and at once. A wise plan with students who are very careless about making smooth string-transfers is to ask them to play the groups as double-stops singly in the lower half of the bow, using a light detached stroke. When playing such passages as this do not throw the wrist out, necessitating a perfectly flat fourth finger. All fingers should be arched. ”

“ As a means of ear training I consider the second position very valuable. The student who has difficulty with the fourth is likely to have the same with the fifth and sixth positions. One cannot stress too much the value of the careful study of positions. Beginning at the second page of this étude, it is well to play a somewhat shorter staccato stroke. The string-transfers are made by throwing the wrist over the string, in cases in which one goes from G to A or D to E. I sometimes review parts of the étude with spiccato bowing at the middle of the bow, single strokes. ”

“ One should avoid sliding up and down the strings when the phrasing does not demand the portamento. Do not hurry the movement. Pause between phrases to give added dignity. In playing very high on the string, do not press upon the strings too heavily with the bow, as the length of string is now so short that additional pressure gives a rasping tone. Practice the crescendo. Economize space in long bowing. Do not allow the fingers to leave the strings at such points.
A perfect legato can only be obtained when the fingers and bow are in perfect sympathy. A somewhat dignified trill is necessary. ”

“ I have often asked my pupils to write down the arpeggios as an evidence that they knew the musical content of certain études. Again we must insist that all the fingers seek a new position at once. The strings should not be pulled from side to side in the higher positions. This causes false intonation. While a fairly free forearm stroke is desired, with accentuated first notes of triplets, the staccato is not usually [Pg 20] practical. Too little bow gives no character to the work. Too much bow causes a jerky movement of the forearm. ”

“ I cannot see that the playing of a great many études counts for much if we neglect principles. When we go abroad, all our work ends until we correct bad habits and master principles which ought long ago to have been mastered. ”

“ To the student of Fiorillo, however, one position should be as familiar as another.
Again, we take F♯ in the fifth position, but this is not so difficult, as we have just played G. The prevailing difficulty with players is that they continually get ready for a new position before it is time to do so, giving the hand a restless motion, and changing the position of the fingers so that they play falsely. The thumb is invariably too slow in slipping under the violin. The thumb at the middle joint must be depressed, and there must be as little pressure as possible there ”

“ A brief glance at this étude would naturally give one the impression that it is played in a light manner. It is, however, one of the most interesting Adagio studies in violin literature. The Fiorillo études are not single detached studies. They flow into each other, as it were, naturally, and with sufficient variety as to tempo and themes to make them fascinating and agreeable. ”

“ The andante must be smoothly played, the portamento work being given especial value through position changes.
Strange as it may seem to the amateur, artistic phrasing begins with études; for instance, many of the Études Brilliantes, by Mazas, [11] furnish excellent examples. A natural crescendo occurs in the last four measures of the first line. The andante is graceful and dignified, a perfect example of legato playing. Transitions from third to first position should be made without disturbing the beauty of phrasing. ”

“ Many players have to move the whole hand at this point, so that the fingers may lie easy on the string. The hand should assume a position which will enable the pupil to play with ease. The newer chin-rests, which are wider than the former ones used, do not seem to enable one to hold the violin with ease. The chin should rest on the edge of the chin-rest rather than far in or on the tail-piece. The muscles at the back of the head become cramped by gripping too hard. ”

“ Entire scale in one bow. It is always best, when a student is advanced, to study these études of Fiorillo first with the bowing as marked, not with easier forms. It is far better to play a passage over and over until correct, than to institute an easy method of bowing. ”

“ The first finger must always remain near its original place, so that the position may not be disturbed as a whole. Whenever the fourth finger seeks a place, the first should fall at once into its position ”

“ Afterwards use six to a bow; then twelve. Practice number five in octaves at the middle (play both notes at once) . After that, play as marked, accenting the first of every group of two notes. One can go on with the Sevcik studies indefinitely, but I urge pupils to practice these special ones for string-transfers half an hour per day, at least. Always cross the strings lightly. In octaves, move the fingers simultaneously, with no crescendo or forte.
The Hermann edition uses the crescendo, forte, and pianissimo marks. ”

“ Naturally, from our conditions of life, we cannot always obtain the same high standards in America as in Prague, Berlin, and Paris.
No. 29.
[Listen]
We have now had so much practice in double-stops that this étude offers little that is new or interesting; nevertheless, it is valuable. Do not allow the accompaniment to stand out too prominently. Keep the theme as an example of pure legato playing. ”

“ Read in advance of the measure [Pg 60] which you are playing. Anticipate string changes with the wrist in short transfers. Do not slide into positions.
In the sixth and ninth lines think the position changes at once. If we can sing a theme before taking a position, true intonation is assured. Many students who are beginning the study of the second position, using the Wohlfahrt and Sitt studies, ask if the second and fourth positions are useful. One must turn to the études of Kreutzer, Fiorillo, Rode, and Gavinies, showing many examples. ”

“ After playing these exercises for an hour, including the Halir legato studies, pages 1 to 4, Tonleiterstudien, the wrist and forearm are supple for the daily work, while the left hand falls easily into line. In all technical work the left hand must be trained to anticipate the bow-arm. More depends upon the left hand than upon the bow-arm, hence the necessity of strong fingers and an ample technic. ”

“ Also use the third, fourth, and fifth Sevcik books (4,000 Bowings) , the Schradieck [Pg 58] Arpeggios [19] with varied bowings, and my Three Octave Scales. [20] I very frequently use the Tartini Art of Bowing [21] in connection with Fiorillo, as a further illustration of bowing. A review of the Kreutzer (first twelve) Études [22] is very useful. The student must understand that the more solid the technic of the bow and left hand is fixed in America, the more rapid advancement will be in foreign music centres. It is not wise to neglect details or principles. ”

“ It lies flat in this position and the fourth falls easily into place, slightly curved. The wrist is somewhat out of position, and the thumb far under the violin, but results are satisfactory. Every one can conquer limitations of the hand. No. 20 is not a virtuoso study. It belongs essentially to a good repertoire, but it is not easy, and must therefore be practiced until perfect freedom is secured and intonation is perfect.
No. 21.
[Listen]
Several editions of Fiorillo suggest varied bowings for this étude. ”

“ A little piece of chamois leather placed between the left jaw and the chin-rest will prevent a bruise of the flesh, the bane of professionals.
In the ninth line we have the form of bowing known as two cut and two slurred notes. ”

“ Fiorillo’s Études, as previously stated, cannot be studied in their order. Individual needs govern the teacher. Perhaps one student may be studying Fiorillo, while, also studying the more difficult trill and double-stop Études of Kreutzer. ”

“ They rank with the classical studies of Kreutzer and Rode. This work has been edited over and over again,—most recently by Emil Kross. Spohr wrote a second violin part, but he altered the original text to such an extent that his work is hardly authoritative, though decidedly violinistic and interesting.
[Pg 1]
How to Study Fiorillo.
No. 1.
Many teachers of note cling to old traditions. The earliest extant editions of Fiorillo, by Ferdinand David and others, have no expression marks for the Largo of the first étude. This was originally played forte, counting four very slowly. ”