Rehearsal Reflection
Please post comments about our rehearsal performance:
- TWO positive comments (these can be general)
- TWO constructive comments (these must be specific and include measure numbers). You may mention specific sections (cellos, violin 2, etc.).
Please include your FIRST and LAST name when you comment so I can easily assign your grade.
Raliyah Joseph
Work on intonation from measure 13-18. Work on style and balance from measure 37-54. Good style in water. Good dynamics in fire.
1. From measures 29 to 32, the entire orchestra was successful in bringing out the dynamic changes from forte to triple forte.
2. The orchestra’s phrasing in Water was noticeable through emphasized dynamics and a more gentle tone.
3. In Fire, first violins are not subdividing the slurred eighth notes in measures 167-168 and 171-173. As a result, the phrase sounds messy and not rhythmic.
4. In Water, violins were not counting during the 7/4 time from measures 127-132 and missed an entrance at 132.
Throughout the piece, the balance of the instruments was generally pretty good, the harmonies did not overpower the melodies. Additionally, the crescendo and decrescendo in measures 29 to 33 were very apparent and well done. However, in measures 1-3 the cellos G A G B flat sounds out of tune, and since it is the only section playing it is very apparent. Also, the timing of several sections like the violas and cellos in Water can not be heard playing much, and when they can their timing seems off.
1. Cellos did well during their melodies in 13-16 and 23-25
2. Dynamics throughout the piece were sufficient.
3. Cellos are not together during the 2nd measure of Air. We need to work at this with a slower speed.
4. Cellos need to put bow closer to the tip in measures 160-164 in order to play 16th notes together.
In measures 49-66 of Air, we really sounded good. The dynamic contrasts sounded very good, and the duplet descending part for the violins sounded great as well.
The ending in fire was pretty good as well. It was a little bit shaky with the eighth notes but overall it sounded good and powerful
In measures 158-173 the entire orchestra is not together. Many sections or individual players are rushing or not playing their parts in tune so the music becomes quite a mess of noise.
In measures 123-132 and most of the Water part, it’s hard to hear the transitions of the music, and there’s not a lot of harmony. The song is supposed to flow together but it sounds like we’re all trying to play over each other.
1. In 14-17 and 23-24, cellos need to practice those shifts and slightly better intonation
2. 36-41, violins need to listen to one another and count in order to remain together; more of the Airy style.
3. 52-67, the changes in dynamics are superb.
4. 93-95, the cellos need to practice that section more. it seems as if they were sight reading it.
5. In 120, violins need to count the measures before it and look up for the conductor’s cue.
6. In 126 or 127, the descending notes have to be in tune.
7. Big improvement in Fire, though in sections with syncopation, people are not together.
-We did well using a wide range of dynamics.
-Around 13 and 23, the cellos should work on counting and coming in together confidently.
-We need to add better phrasing to the beginning of the air section.
-As an ensemble, it would be helpful to listen to each other more carefully from 83 to 89 so that we are more together.
-At the beginning of the water section, 1st violins need to be more confident about their entrances (we should probably move more to help this even though we are only doing pizzicato)
-We have improved a lot on the fire section, and sound much more confident in our notes and rhythms
1. We need to make sure to stick together in the eighth notes at measure 45-54 and 75-89
2. In measures 122-143 violas were off time and some second position work was out of tune
3. We did well on dynamics through out the piece
4. We balanced our tones together nicely
2 Positive: The dynamics in 30 sounded good and the chords in the first few measures of 49 sounded good.
2 Negative: The first few measure of 13 could be more in tune and need to be more together during the first 10 ish measures of fire.
1. The cellos and bases came in strongly at the beginning of earth.
2. Once we got into fire, everyone was well timed and the rhythm sounded good.
3. We need to work on counting for the beginning measures of water starting at measure 118.
4. We (bases) need to focus on fixing our dynamics at the solo at the end of air around measure 107, it’s supposed to be mp but we’re playing mf.
-Earth is the most polished section
-Best transition at measures 144-150
-Violins miscounted/got lost at measures 127-132
-Crescendo at 163 cannot be heard
Going from each piece we transitioned really well going by the tempo. The violins played their parts really in tune. But The basses and cellos played a little loud than the rest of the orchestra. And we didn’t really stay with the dynamics.
Elements:
1. There was a good blend in the orchestra in measure 25 and 179-183.
2. In measure 5, the second violin entrance should be louder so it can be heard. Second violins can also work on a warmer tone in earth.
Serenade:
1. In measures 3-10 there was good intonation, balance and dynamics in the orchestra as a whole.
2. Second violins can work on using more vibrato and dynamics through the rest of the piece. Seconds need to bring out 57 and 107-109 more.
1. The intonation for the cellos needs work at the very beginning as soon as they start playing so we need to work more on making it sound nice.
2. Also, in Earth there are some moments when the violins come in and we aren’t together so working on syncopation and listening to be more together.
3. The violins had pretty good intonation throughout!
4. Dynamics in wind were pretty good too!
1. The dynamic contrast throughout the piece was solid. Especially at m. 58-72 and at the triple fortes
2. The overall rhythms of the piece are fairly strong throughout
1. Viola intonation in higher octaves, especially when hitting the high F in second position throughout Water needs to be better.
2. Keeping tempo throughout fire
The intonation in measure 1 needs to be better. The air cello part needs to flow more and be heard better. The fire sounded pretty good overall but some parts need work. 13-14 were pretty good as well.
positive comment 1- violas set a good tone in the beginning, sounds clear and together
positive comment 2- overall good intonation in first violins when hand position goes really high up
constructive comment 1- around soli section starting from measure 12, cellos should count and make shifts cleaner, maybe find a new fingering to avoid shifting in the middle of a slur
constructive comment 2- blending is an issue throughout the piece but especially in water, around measure 32 the dynamics and musicality between violas, first violins, and cellos are hard to tell, and we start rushing in that section as well.
*Overall, I think that the dynamics are well on their way to bringing the performance to a new level.
*The opening of “Fire” and many parts of it are generally being played very well. I think that, for the most part, we are doing well with the complicated eigth and sixteenth note rhythm that appears in multiple places.
*When the cello and viola sections have exposed lines, such as in measures 1-4, 14-17, 23-25, for cellos and from about 127 to 132, the intonation could use some fine-tuning.
*The first violins could improve rhythmic precision in the fast parts of “Air” (41-58) as well as the slurred sixteenth notes in “Fire” (167-169 and 171-173), Everyone is off from everyone else to the point where it’s really noticable.
1. We did a good on dynamics, and the contrast between each section on the piece. We captured a nice heavy tone in earth.
2.We are doing good with our rhythms and intonation. Violas and cellos do a nice job starting the piece.
1. The biggest thing I’m hearing is not staying together. In fire there are multiple areas where blending and staying together is a issue like in 152 I think violas rush. The start of fire could also be louder, and more articulate. There are some intonation problems.
2. Violins need to listen and count better in water during the 7/4 time. In air we are having trouble blending, and it could be smoother in the lower strings. Overall we can work on capturing a light, flowing sound. Throughout the piece there’s lots of hesitation we need to work on.
1. At the beginning cellos need to be more confidant and more in tune in their soli parts.
2. Sections need to listen to each other which will help blend parts and help all sections come in on time.
1. I think that overall the rhythms are solid and everyone has a basic knowledge of the music, although more practice is definitely needed.
2. Violins do a great job of playing out. Their melodies are always clear and in tune.
1. The transition from Earth to Air 32-38 was unsteady and out of tune
2. All sections were out of balance throughout Fire
3. Water had a good balance of dynamics throughout all the sections
4. Earth and Water are our strongest movements
1~ the entire orchestra could do better intonation especially when playing higher notes
2~ cellos could work on timing/counting so that they don’t come in early like they have been
3~ everyone had pretty good dynamics
4~ all sections stayed together and none of them sounded lost with eachother
We started and ended very strong, in earth and fire the articulation was good and the dynamics were dramatic and fun to listen to. Also the quick rhythms and slurs are much better. I think in Earth the cellos very much struggled with intonation, and air was messy. The articulation in air was not agreed upon between sections and it was unbalanced with the heavy strings outdoing the higher parts making it sound less airy.
1. the chromatic measures 181-182, in fire was played very well.
2. did good at getting back in time and together whenever we would start to get off.
3. it seems we have our parts down for the most part, but we need to work on keeping together.
4. going from measure 96-97 is a big change so we should work on making that sound confident.
1. The rhythm was great and everyone was in unison from 55 to 61.
2. The second violins were mostly together at the beginning of water and the overall balance was amazing for those beginning measures but maybe intonation.
3. Watch the transition from earth to air.
4. It is very noticeable that we aren’t together at 173 and the intonation at 177-178 needs work.
The dynamics in fire were good and the intonation throughout the whole piece weren’t that bad. We need to work on the transitions to the different elements more. Cello’s should work on measures 23-24 just to get it in tune.
-The articulation was really good throughout the piece, each section sounded unique.
-The dynamics and intonation in fire were fantastic.
-Throughout Air there are measures where first violins are not together so the notes are undefined and they blend together. (36-44)
-I think overall we could hear more from second violins.
-violas were very out of tune measures 127-130.
-The articulation for first violins could have been more defined in measures 167-169 and 171-172