E-Book Overview
Drawing on the principles of Francesco Geminiani and four decades of experience as a baroque and classical violinist, Stanley Ritchie offers a valuable resource for anyone wishing to learn about 17th-18th-and early 19th-century violin technique and style. While much of the work focuses on the technical aspects of playing the pre-chinrest violin, these approaches are also applicable to the viola, and in many ways to the modern violin. Before the Chinrest includes illustrated sections on right- and left-hand technique, aspects of interpretation during the Baroque, Classical, and early-Romantic eras, and a section on developing proper intonation.
E-Book Content
Before the Chinrest
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Publications of the Early Music Institute Paul Elliott, editor
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Before the Chinrest o A Violinist’s Guide to the
Mysteries of Pre-Chinrest Technique and Style
Stanley Ritchie
Indiana University Press Bloomington and Indianapolis
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This book is a publication of Indiana University Press 601 North Morton Street Bloomington, Indiana 47404–3797 USA www.iupress.indiana.edu Telephone orders Fax orders
800-842-6796 812-855-7931
© 2012 by Stanley Ritchie All rights reserved No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. The Association of American University Presses’ Resolution on Permissions constitutes the only exception to this prohibition.
∞ The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard o for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48–1992. Manufactured in the United States of America Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Ritchie, Stanley. Before the chinrest : a violinist’s guide to the mysteries of pre-chinrest technique and style / Stanley Ritchie. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-253-22318-0 (paperback : alkaline paper) 1. Violin—Performance—History—18th century. 2. Violin—Performance—History—17th century. I. Title. ML850.R57 2011 787.2/19309 2011001028 1 2 3 4 5 17 16 15 14 13 12
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To the memory of Albert Fuller, whose passionate vision and inspiring influence changed the course of so many lives
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The Intention of Musick is not only to please the Ear, but to express Sentiments, strike the Imagination, affect the Mind, and command the Passions. The Art of playing the Violin consists in giving the Instrument a Tone that shall in a Manner rival the most perfect human Voice; and in executing every Piece with Exactness, Propriety, and Delicacy of Expression according to the true Intention of Musick. —Francesco Geminiani
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Contents Preface and Acknowledgments
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Introduction: How to Support the Pre-Chinrest Violin
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Part 1. Right-Hand Technique General Observations
1. Tone Production
Basic Right-Hand Technique The Importance of Arm Weight The Use of Arm Weight
Lifted Strokes Slurred Notes Retaking Z-Bowing Martelé and Spiccato Sautillé Bariolage Ondeggiando
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3. Chordal Technique
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4. Bow Division
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5. Swift-Bows
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6. Combination Strokes
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Part 2. Left-Hand Technique
7. Position-Changing Exercises
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Basic Concepts The Position of the Left Hand The Swing Shifting Half-Position Vibrato