Klarinet Archive - Posting 000498.txt from 1997/09

From: Roger Shilcock <roger.shilcock@-----.uk>
Subj: Re: Brahms 2nd Sonata question
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 1997 06:12:58 -0400

Isn't the "allegro" here supposed to be "non troppo"? The "sostenuto"
section *sounds* slower even when played at the same speed if that speed
isn't too fast, because of the nature of the music - I suspect the harmony
moves more slowly, though I haven't looked at it.
As I've said before on this list, it would be interesting to hear (or
play!) these sonatas with the type of piano Brahms expected to be used,
which would have had clearer (down DL) bass notes.
Roger Shilcock

On Tue, 9 Sep 1997, Frank Garcia wrote:

> Date: Tue, 9 Sep 1997 05:34:18 +0600
> From: Frank Garcia <fgarcia@-----.edu>
> Reply-To: klarinet@-----.us
> To: klarinet@-----.us
> Subject: Brahms 2nd Sonata question
>
> I have a question regarding the 2nd movement of the Brahms 2nd Sonata.
>
> The first third of the movement is marked Allegro appassionato. The middle
> section is marked Sostenuto. Then back to Tempo I. In rehearsing this
> movement with my pianist, she had posed a question that I could not answer.
> She wished to know if there is as relationship between the Allegro tempo
> and the Sostenuto tempo.
>
> Her interpretation of the Sostenuto section is a little faster than usually
> performed, but I like the way she plays it. The problem is, she wishes to
> relate the two different tempos somehow. I have always thought (prehaps
> nievely) that the Sostenuto was completely new music and should be treated
> as such. But, it is the piano alone that establishes the tempo in the
> Sostenuto section. Any thoughts on this subject would be very much
> appreciated by both of us.
>
> Thanks in advance. I hope those of us who are "back to school" are having a
> stress-free time getting into the swing of things.
>
> Frank
>
>
>