Recordings are available in your account for 30 days from purchase date (or 30 days from class date if you attended live).
During the spring/summer season 2021 of Etudes 101, Gwendolyn embarks on first of three 12-week cycles through Rodolphe Kreutzer's Etudes. Visiting each etude in chronological order, Gwendolyn invites one of The Exhale faculty's violinists (or violists) to join for a lively exploration of one etude a week. Reference to the order of the etudes (these differ amongst the myriad editions in circulation) is made by way of the first edition. Publisher info: Paris: Cherubini, Mehul, Kreutzer, Rode, Isouard, Boieldieu, n.d.(1805). This can be found, for example, on IMSLP.
2nd June: No 9
This week her guest is Joanna Wronko, discussing and demonstrating Kreutzer No. 9.
Joanna Wronko writes: ‘We will look at ways of practicing repetitive movements of the left hand in a way that avoids injuries, building up strength and endurance gradually and in a safe way. We will also look at practicing different bow strokes as suggested by Massart, who was a student of Kreutzer. As the etude involves repetitive patterns on one string it offers space to look at bow movement, isolated from the issue of frequent string changes!’
9th June: No 10
This week her guest is Emi Ohi Resnick, discussing and demonstrating Kreutzer No. 10.
Emi Ohi Resnick writes: ‘The Kreutzer Etudes are masterful at honing in to strengthen different facets of violin playing. Kreutzer no.10 demands minute preparations from fingers/hands/arms/wrists to be able to smoothly and gracefully manoeuvre through string crossings and position changes. It’s also excellent as intonation training for developing a healthy basis shape for the left hand.’
16th June: No 11
This week her guest is Réka Szilvay, discussing and demonstrating Kreutzer No. 11. Réka Szilvay writes: This etude brings forth the singing element of violin playing; left hand legato and shifting, flowing movement on the fingerboard as well as finding the balance between gravity and release of both hands.
23rd June: No 12
This week her guest is Peter Sheppard Skærved, discussing and demonstrating Kreutzer No. 12. Peter Sheppard Skærved writes: ‘Kreutzer 12 can be seen as pure architecture: unity, variety, decoration and rocaille on a series of slopes—the playful roofs of a Loire Valley chateau. Rising, hovering repeated material is offset by the drama of bow distribution: the repeating trope is—heel-to-tip (2 little notes), upper half (22 little notes), tip-to-heel (one BIG note). Then there's the big form of the piece: the opening shape 'repeats' 6 times, is varied once (even, briefly, descends), repeats 5 times more, simplifies 3 times, and then is presented, en tout grandeur (beginning with an octave!) to finish. There's so much fun to be had just thinking about what the composer is doing... and then we can pick up the violin! I am so much looking forward to exploring this with you!’
Concomitant to Gwendolyn’s Scales Flow, this weekly 30-minute get-together highlights some of the violin repertoire’s best-known Exercises, Etudes and Caprices. Each week’s focus is on a new example of the staple repertoire. Gwendolyn explores ways to achieve better results from daily practice by revisiting the foundations of playing. Gwendolyn offers preliminary exercises, explanations and achievable goals, injecting meaning and impact to what is oftentimes considered the most dull and dreary moment of any practice.
These sessions are interactive. There will always be time for you to ask questions. These are all-levels sessions, suitable for intermediate and advanced players.