 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jeff Forman
Date: 2002-10-28 23:50
Hi - In the Rubank Advance Book 1, on page 69 lesson 2 (Melody by Robert Schuman, op 68, No.1) there are two marks I'm not sure I understand, and I want to know what they mean so I can practice this week's lesson correctly. So thanks in advance......
1) In several measures below the staff and under the first note is the following: <>
I know that < (and especially when it extends for a while) means go from soft to loud, and > means go from loud to soft, but what does it mean when both are under the same note?
2) Under the first quarter note of the second to last measure it says "rit" and the t has a front slash through it. I have no idea what that means.
Dave will be impressed if I actually play the piece as written, so your gracious help will be greatly appreciated.
Jeff
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2002-10-29 02:13
From what I believe, the <> means to put a crescendo/decrescendo on that note alone. Just kinda to "push" it out as you play that note. I think. Although, from my experience on this board, I'm probably wrong! Someone will agree or veto this soon. I don't know about the second.
Alexi
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2002-10-29 15:51
Jeff, sfalexi's right about the <> marking... it means just what it looks like. Attack *and* release the note the same as you would any other note, given the dynamic level in its musical neighborhood, but bring it uo to a higher dynamic and then immediately decrease.
But here's where I display my ignorance. As you likely know, "rit" is an abbreviation for "ritardando," which means "slow down gradually." (It means exactly the same as "rallentando.") But with a / mark through the t? I'm not at all sure I have ever noticed that before and am unable to recall -- if I ever knew -- what it means. It certainly is not your everyday sort of marking.
Regards,
John
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Author: Jeff
Date: 2002-10-29 17:52
As you likely know, "rit" is an abbreviation for "ritardando,"
John - I did not know that, so thanks. And I assume the front slash is one of those scrolly, fancy ways they write these marks. It's not really crossed out, it seems more like the slash forms the cross of the "t".
So anyway, I guess this means that when I get to that measure, I should slow the playing daoen all the way to the end. Is that what you're saying?
And as for the mark.... since we're talking about a quarter note, are you and sfalexi basically saying to play it louder than the others and back off as I get to the next note? There isn't much time to do much manipulation of tone in one quarter note.
Thanks.
Jeff
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-10-29 18:34
Jeff wrote:
> And as for the mark.... since we're talking about a quarter
> note, are you and sfalexi basically saying to play it louder
> than the others and back off as I get to the next note? There
> isn't much time to do much manipulation of tone in one quarter
> note.
It means crescendo & decrescendo on the same note, and a quarter note is <b>plenty</b> of time to unless you're doing a quarter=480 (since I've seen markings such as this on 16ths at quarter=120, tho' I sure as heck couldn't for the life of me figure out what <b><i>I</i></b> was going to do in that situation ;^)
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Author: ron b
Date: 2002-10-29 20:01
Is the slashed 't' possibly a defective character - I mean, is it a typo, as did the proofreaders miss something?
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Author: GBK
Date: 2002-10-29 20:23
In the older copies of Rubank Vol 1. the Rit. marking does not have a "slash" through the letter t.
What has most likely happened is that due to the numerous reprints of Volume 1 (most likely using the same original printing plate)this has now caused the letter "t" to become less crisp, causing some ink to leak over the edge of the letter.
This happens all the time - especially in the older Cundy-Bettoney (Carl Fischer) reprints...GBK
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Author: Jeff Forman
Date: 2002-10-29 22:38
Looking at it with a magnifying glass, I think GBK is right. The cross of the "t" just blends with what I now see is a period after the word rit. It appears to be an ink bleed, so John's answer that it is an abbreviation for "slow it down" seems to be the ticket.
Thanks for the help. The melody is not all that difficult, and my teacher is much more concerned with expression these days than whether I can find the notes. Perhaps this is a sign that I am on the way to actually making music instead of playing notes.
Jeff
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2002-10-31 01:08
Jeff: I believe you still have a question regarding how long you keep the pace slowed down.
"rit" or "rall" usually are found near the end of a phrase, as a direction to the interpreter to kindly slow things down (gradually) as the phrase comes to a close. Generally, unless the character of the music changes in the new phrase -- in which case a totally new tempo may be appropriate -- the old tempo can be resumed with the new phrase. But please remember that's "generally." If you're following a conductor, well, follow the conductor.
The term "allargando" (or simply "largando," which is the same thing) is similar. It may be used where a phrase is coming to an end, and a more majestic flavor is desired. Generally, most interpreters will want the music not only slowed down but played a bit more loudly as well, which is *not* the case with "rit" or "rall."
Regards,
John
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2002-11-01 02:55
Jeff: My apologies. I left out something very important. There is a direction often found on the music which is "a tempo." This is (same as just about any musical direction) from the Italian, and it means "to time." This means that after a "rit" or "rall" or "Allargando" direcction, "a tempo" means that you are then *definitely* to return to the original tempo of the music. Sorry I forgot to mention that before. It snapped into my mind today when I was stopped at a traffic light. The light turned green, and I thought "a tempo." Seriously. No kidding.
Regards,
John
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