Vaclav Nelhybel

This is one of the best "school music" pieces I've come across so far. While written specifically for young musicians, the richness and depth of musical material is STAGGERING, and VERY uncommon in a grade 3 piece. Melodies and countermelodies bouncing back and forth, delicious suspensions and other non-harmonic tones. MAIN CHALLENGE COMES FROM COUNTERPOINT AND INDEPENDENT PARTS. Besides that, the beginning gets off to a rather slow start, so students that have trouble playing slow lyrical things are going to have to be taught patience... If ever there were a grade 3, school music piece to teach kids about counterpoint and polyphony it would be this one. 10/10, program this thing.

One more side note: This piece should not be programmed until all students have learned how to play with COMPLETE CONFIDENCE and INDEPENDENCE the following things:
~ All notes in the key area
~ Rhythms with ties over bar lines
~ Long sustained notes
~ Vibrato

AISI Level - 6.5/10

AQ Level - 10/10

Interest Allocation - Not only does every part have an interesting part, but most parts get their own independent melodic part of the lush counterpoint.

Key area: A Minor, D Minor/D Dorian (almost entirely diatonic, brief modulation to key of 1#)

LH:
~ Problems inherent to natural and flat keys
~ Lush tone required
~~~ Work on vibrato
~ A few fast passages
~ No other major problems anticipated

Intonation and Balance:
~ MAJOR INTONATION AND BALANCE ISSUES ANTICIPATED
~~~~~ Because of the polyphonic nature of the work, sections don't have other sections reinforcing them.
~~~~~ It's also a long piece, and not much material repeats. This will effect rehearsal time and make he piece take much longer to learn. Sectionals should be utilized to facilitate the process.

RH:
~ Lush tone required
~~~ Work on bowing variables
~~~ Shaping of tone vis-a-vis melody
~ Slur-2's
~ Long Lyrical Style
~ Fast détaché playing

Tone and Expressivity:
~ TONE & EXPRESSIVITY LEVEL REQUIRED = ARTISTRY

Rhythm & Texture:
~ Entirely Polyphonic
~ Copious syncopations and suspensions.
~ dotted quarter and ties across bar lines are the most difficult rhythmic challenges

Meter: 4/4

Tempo: Adagio @ q=66, Allegro @ q=160, Vivo @ q=200+

Road Map: None.… (altro)