Happy Birthday Daddy!!!

So FYI today is my Father's 80th Birthday. He is a decorated veteran of three wars (W.W.II, Korean War, and Vietnam) father of seven children, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. (He's been very busy!)

But to me my Father has always been the support and push behind my career and love of music.



The arts were always encouraged in our house, it actually just dawned on me a year ago that I have made a career out of this without even realizing it. I remember when I decided that I wanted to transfer to NCSA, (which was a huge step up from the College of Charleston) my Dad sat me down and told me a story of how he had always wanted to be an architect (of course he fed that drive in other ways, draftsman in the military and designing our home) and how he wasn't able to go into that field because it just wasn't the thing to do at that time.
He told me that if I was accepted into the school he would find a way.




And he did. I think that the best thing that a parent can do for their child is to support their interests, whether they share them or not. I never worried about playing too late at nite (my Parents claimed it relaxed them, sweet aren't they!) or stressing about how much it would cost to upgrade to that cello that would take me to the next level (well maybe a lil bit for that last one) because I know that he and my Mother would find a way.



So Parents "SUPPORT YOUR KIDS" they'll thank-you for it later.



And Dad Happy 80th, I'm proud of you.

Bach Project 2006 PCA

The challenge in writing for a solo string instrument, is how to support melodic material. With a piano, it is quite simple you just add chords but with a string instrument that is the challenge. The chords must lead freely into the melodic material or the music will sound/feel awkward to both the listener and the performer. In the cello suites, Bach has mastered the art of the implied accompaniment. There might not appear to be a held chord under slew of notes, but if you listen closely you can hear different voices surrounding the melodic material. Each cellist has spent time getting to know his/her movement
intimately. They will each give a brief summary of what they have learned about their particular movement, with the exception of the Prelude which I will introduce.


PRELUDE, Brian Smith, Max Lorick




A Prelude was generally written to proceed and unify a collection of other pieces (usually dances). In this instance Bach uses the prelude to introduce the key, and laid-back nature of the G major suite.



Brian, Max; Prelude


ALLEMANDE, Brian Smith




The Allemande from Bach's cello suite number one is one of 27 of his titled Allemandes. An Allemande (from the French word for "German Dance") is traditionally written as a duple meter dance of moderate tempo. Allemandes are one of the most popular instrumental dance forms in Baroque music. It originates at one point in early to mid-sixteenth century appearing under different names in Germany and Italy.
This work has become one of my most favorite pieces to play. It is challenging without being overdone. The pace of this piece makes it very fun to play.



Brian Smith; Allemande



COURANTE, Miciah Bennett




Although the origin of the Courante is not well known, both France and Italy developed their own distinct versions of the dance at the dawn of the seventeenth century. The Italian Correntes and the French Courantes were both very popular during the Baroque era. The Corrente and the Courante are similarly counted in three, but the Corrente is a fast triple meter dance with balanced phrases, and clear harmonic and rhythmic structure while the Courante is a majestic triple meter dance characterized by its rhythmic and metrical ambiguities. Bach'?s Courantes, however, show less rhythmic ambiguity and fewer harmonies than his French predecessors. As I've learned to play the Courante at a faster tempo, it'?s been easier to picture people dancing in the French Baroque style. By playing the Courante I'?ve have also learned to differentiate in sound and tone to make the piece come alive.



Miciah; Courante



SARABANDE, Max Lorick




Hi my name is Exodus Maximillian Lorick. I am playing the Sarabande in g major. Sarabandes usually work well as dance pieces because of there clear since of pulse. The Sarabande is an introspective piece with a lot of tenderness and longing. The swells of musical phrase and dynamics make this piece truly fun to play. Vigorous chords and trills make up this baroquely written piece, in my own opinion made to pacify the listener and fill them with a strong sense of passion and then a great void of sadness, recovered by an emotional sweep of peacefulness. When played on the cello, the closest instrument to the human voice this piece turns into its own musical being, which sprouts into the closest entity to the human heart. This Written from roughly 1712-1723, without further ado Sarabande in g major.




Max; Sarabande



MINUET I/II, Kyle Green




KYLE WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR YOUR SUMMARY!!!



Kyle; Minuet




GIGUE, Andrew Stafford




In my jigs I have learned many things about Bach and Gigues themselves. As in a Scottish "jig", Gigues are often associated with being lively and in the case of Bach's cellos suites the Gigue is often the liveliest movement. They are usually in compound meter, and are challenging in the aspects of phrasing, tempi, and bowings (because the latter can get in the way if you are not careful). Because many of the movements of the Bach Cello Suites have little to no bowing and phrase suggestions, this allows for the great feature of playing them however you see fit (but of course understanding that these pieces should be played and understood stylistically before embarking on the freedom of the box), which allows for greater freedom and individual creativity.



Andrew; Gigue




"THE BACH PROJECT"





PURPOSE

First, To expose my cello students to the standard cello repertoire of the Bach Cello Suites.

Second, To use the Bach Cello Suites as a pedagogical tool to facilitate the learning process of pieces, the history of the music, and the ongoing debate of interpretation and style.

Third, to get the students excited about performing.


2006 ASSIGNMENTS

Baroque Dance and The Bach Cello Suites

Interpretational Angst and the Bach Cello Suites

Various articles taken from the New Grove.

- Students read and outline the articles, and build a brief summary incorporating the facts, and their personal opinions on their particular movement.

STUDENT FEEDBACK

Hey guys, I would really appreciate your ideas and opinions on the BACH PROJECT. I hope to repeat this assignment every Spring term. Be sure to comment, you can anonymously respond if you want. Thanks, Cora