Dear Sinfonia Members and Families,

This was another productive week, at least for the Thursday orchestra. Tuesday’s snow was a surprise interruption but should not disrupt the ensemble’s prep to performance too much. As always for each ensemble, keep up on your regular home prep, as you never know what unforeseen obstacles may get in the way. Take time to prep to your best ability. Be inquisitive and ask questions in rehearsal if you need clarification.

Part Assignment:
We are now starting our refinement stage to performance. To best represent our selections and to balance the ensemble, I am assigning the following parts in the Handel and Grainger violin and cello sections:  

Handel: 
  • 1st Violin and 2nd Violin stands 1-6, perform the solo (concertato) part. All other stands perform the accompaniment (ripieno) part.
  • Cello stands 1-4 perform the solo (concertato) part.  All other stands perform the accompaniment (ripieno) part.
  • Viola and Bass: play your part as written.

Grainger:
  • 1st Violin Section: Stands 1-6 perform Violin I part. All other stands perform Violin II part.
  • 2nd Violin Section: Stands 1-6 perform Violin III part. All other stands perform Violin IV part.
  • Cello Section: Stands 1-4 perform Cello I part. All other stands perform Cello II part.
  • Viola and Bass: play your part as written.

Homework Assignment: 
Yes, Yes, Yes! Focus on the Adagio, the 3rd mvt. of the Handel, Concerto Grosso.  This is the movement giving us our biggest challenge. We are clearly reminded of the difficulty of playing slow tempo movements and the need to count. Use this opportunity to develop and refine your awareness of rhythm and need to count in home prep and live rehearsal.

Stay well!

Mr. Rindt
Articulation
The articulation of sounds on the violin is much like the production of different consonants and vowels in speech, and the nuance in expression of tone. The many ways of articulating notes with the bow makes them speak in different ways.

Articulation in violin music is created using a range of bowing gestures. These can give the violin an array of different sounds on any one pitch. These differences are mainly in the transient sounds at the beginning and end of the note, and in the length of the note and the attack of the bow. Various techniques of bow pressure, position of the bow (point of contact), angle of the bow and position and movement of the wrist, fingers, and elbow are used to create different shapes in with the sound.

These techniques can be described as bowing patterns, or thought of in terms of tone qualities, speed, pressure and position of the bow.

from Violinschool.com

Simple Articulations that are used in our current music
Search (for your understanding) and apply creative thinking and detailed physical detail to the following articulations in your practice and performance:

Legato, Detache, Portato, Spiccato, Pizzicato
Word Search
There are a lot of musical terms in your music. Knowing what each term means is useful for understanding what’s going on in a piece of music. But more importantly, understanding music terms can help you better communicate how your music should sound.

Research the following terms (hint: they are all in our current music):

a tempo giusto, allegro, adagio, molto ritardando, a tempo, stringendo, piu mosso, meno, mosso, morendo, crescendo, molto, poco a poco, pesante, sonore.
Winter Concert Cycle Repertoire/Recording Links

Handel, Concerto Grosso in G Major, Op. 6, No. 1 (all movements)


  • Mvt. 1, 4/4, A tempo giusto, quarter note = 84
  • Mvt. 2, 4/4, Allegro, quarter note = 120
  • Mvt. 3, 3/4, Adagio, quarter note = 60
  • Mvt. 4, 4/4, Allegro, quarter note = 130
  • Mvt. 5, 6/8, in 2, Allegro, dotted quarter note = 76
Fun Facts
A Prolific Composer
Over the course of his career, Handel would go on to write 42 operas; 29 oratorios; more than 120 cantatas, trios and duets; numerous arias; chamber music; a large number of ecumenical pieces; odes and sonatas; and 16 organ concerti.
Grainger/Dackow, Mock Morris


  • 2/2, At fast jog, half note = 104
Fun Facts
A Collector of Folk Music
It was in England that Percy Grainger became famous and befriended many other famous musicians. He started out as a collector of folk songs and developed a taste for the phonographs with which he used to record these songs. 
Mahler/Gruselle, Adagietto from Symphony No. 5


  • 4/4, Very slow, quarter note = 58
Fun Facts
A Love of the Outdoors
Mahler composed almost exclusively during the summers, in a remote cabin. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed walking the Alpine trails.
Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra | myso.org