Night Breeze or Brise Nocturne

[Irene C]

Hello,

Can I ask a favor?

[Misty Harrison]

what city do you live in?

[Irene C]

Hi,

Thanks for your inquiry, but I was only hoping that someone could post it to youtube, or their website.

[Sarah Jacobs]

Why don’t you buy a recording like everyone else? There are so many good recordings of this piece.

[sherry-lenox]

Very respectfully I am wondering why between you and your teacher you don’t figure out how it should sound for you!

I follow that you are concerned about passing your Gr 6 exam, but if you are too close to someone else’s interpretation, you might be criticized for that.

A friend of mine had to play an exam on piano. The students were all working on the same very difficult and technical piece. I forget what particular piece, but I think perhaps one of the Beethoven sonatas.

After everyone played they were interviewed regarding the decisions they had made concerning their interpretations, phrasing and tempos. When the grades were distributed, my friend was the only grade of A given. He was told that his interpretation was both unique and valid and that the others had all been derivative and predictable.

Just a thought.

[Saul Davis Zlatkovski]

Salzedo’s music is very specific, and is not open to all kinds of individual interpretation. He knew what he wanted and notated it very clearly. He especially did not want rubato added unless indicated. We should respect this, particularly when we are close enough to him in time to still know what he wanted. Just think how much time pianists spend figuring out what Beethoven wanted. Playing music however you feel like may be self-satisfying, but it doesn’t necessarily get you closer to the music.

There are professional recordings of Night Breeze by harpists who know this tradition, I am pretty sure. I think one was titled Night Breeze.

Relying on performances on YouTube for guidance as to how to interpret a piece, or learning how it goes is not wise. Many if not most are simply casual play-throughs, amateur or student performances and the like.

To improve, it sounds like you need much more practice with the metronome, and much more exercise practice. Exercises will help you develop even tone, consistent and simple finger action without excess movement, and when you have that, you will begin to have dynamic control. If you are not sure what the notation is calling for, then you should get a copy of the Lawrence-Salzedo Method and study it for explanations. You should also spend a good amount of time practicing pedal changes. Listening carefully to the harp is a key element.

Playing should not be a struggle. You should have consistent hand position and movements, whatever your technical approach. Your fingers should go in and out of your palm consistently and surely.

[Misty Harrison]

it does sound like trying to get out of buying recordings

and trying to get out of counting by listening to someone else over and over

like everyone else said there are a lot of good recordings of this and it doesn’t make sense that a teacher wouldn’t know that and wouldn’t know the piece

[Irene C]

Misty,

Your last

[Irene C]

Thanks Sarah, can you recommend a favorite recording of Night Breeze.

[Irene C]

Hello Sherry,

Thank you for your reply.

[Irene C]

Hello Saul,

Yes, Salzedo wants his pieces played they way they were intended and so do examiners.

[Irene C]

Hello Dawn,

Thank you for directing me to

[Saul Davis Zlatkovski]

Dear Irene,
You certainly show dedication. Can your teacher not provide you with at least a substitute? You should not be without lessons for such a long period, not at all. At least you can use Skype or the equivalent, if absolutely necessary. And remember, we don’t know anyone’s background when they post here. And it is extremely important to buy cds and music, or they cannot be produced. Check Sara Ericsson’s cd, I’m pretty sure Night Breeze is on there, along with all the other Short Stories.

[Irene C]

Hello Saul,

I went to a CD/DVD store, (not sure what they call them), this evening to see if I could find a CD with harp music, but alas none to be found.

[Irene C]

This is directed to no one in particular,. . .

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