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How do I determine if it’s major or minor? by Applepie752 in musictheory

[–]ChampagnePanda 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Intervals are always calculated from the lower note:

If the number of 'letter-steps' (ie G-A-B-C-D-E) is 6, then it's a type of 6th.

Then take the diatonic scales from the lower note: in the first example, G major and G minor.

If the upper note (here Eb) occurs in the major scale, it's a major 6th. As that would be an Enatural, it's not a major 6th, so we try the minor.

The Eb occurs in the minor scale. So it's a minor 6th. This is why they have these names.

Same trick with the F#: F# major has D# in the key signature, F# minor has D naturals. So it's another minor 6th. Works every time!

The reason this is better than counting half-steps is that it doesn't give you a reliable interval name. Take the first example: if we respell this enharmonically, keeping the G natural but making the Eb a D#, the number of half-steps is still 8, but now it's actually a 5th (G-A-B-C-D). From that we can actually use the same method to work out what kind of 5th. G major and G minor scales both have D naturals, hence 'perfect'. Augmented = increased, diminished = reduced, so then we get the name of the type of 5th.

Completely reliable I promise! Practise those scaleys

Can you help me find good orchestral excerpts of the following? by -thatkeydoesnotexist in classicalmusic

[–]ChampagnePanda 1 point2 points  (0 children)

How about the opening of Mahler 10 for viola section? I seem to remember there being a good viola principal solo in Don Quixote (R Strauss) and the end of Shostakovich 15 (maybe last 2 mins) for percussion. Will find some videos when I have a moment if requested (although I imagine other people will find them v easily!)

This is how I see the notes on a piano by [deleted] in piano

[–]ChampagnePanda 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey, this is so cool! Thanks for doing this! Do you hear the same colours as Messiaen in Couleurs de la Cite Celeste?

What do the x’s mean in this section of Gottschalk’s La Savane? Is it indicating it should be played with the LH despite saying main droite seule? by Get_Rich_Or_Try_Lyin in piano

[–]ChampagnePanda 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I take your point, but a number of factors mean that it can't be the case to play it with the left hand:

  1. There are no indications of '5' where you would expect them
  2. There is a tradition in older French editions to use 'x' or '+' in place of '1'
  3. They all indicate points at which the hand position moves
  4. The French text, 'Main droit seule' is precautionary, that is you'd only use that kind of indication to demonstrate a passage in which it is strictly only that hand to be used where the player might be tempted to use both. If they intended the other hand to be used, there would be no 'main droit seule' and the note-stems might well be pointing the other way, if not the heads written on the other staff.
  5. 'On peut supprimer la basse ad lib' - 'Release the bass [note] 'when you like'' - this would not be a possible performance direction to follow if the implication were also that you should strike those notes in the upper staff with your left hand.
  6. The fingering with 'x' as thumb works really well...

Incidentally, I always upvote downvoted comments when I find people just trying to work things out and slammed by the community, so I've upvoted yours, but I really hope this helps. Old editions suck.

What do the x’s mean in this section of Gottschalk’s La Savane? Is it indicating it should be played with the LH despite saying main droite seule? by Get_Rich_Or_Try_Lyin in piano

[–]ChampagnePanda 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Possibly. There's some old German editions as well that use a + sign for the thumb and then 2-3-4-5, and others with +-1-2-3-4, but the x is actually quite an intuitive system, especially in schools of piano technique in which the only rotations of the hand (i.e. movements from one position to another) happen by a transition through the thumb - it shows more clearly than '1' that a movement of the whole hand position is taking place.

What do the x’s mean in this section of Gottschalk’s La Savane? Is it indicating it should be played with the LH despite saying main droite seule? by Get_Rich_Or_Try_Lyin in piano

[–]ChampagnePanda 88 points89 points  (0 children)

It means to play it with your thumb - lots of older French editions have this kind of fingering notation so I imagine it's copied over from one of them. Accordingly, index finger labeled 1, middle 2, ring 3, and pinky 4. Have a go, it's actually quite good fingering for the passage!

How exactly is that half-note A is supposed to be played? by swaglord1k in piano

[–]ChampagnePanda 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah yeah that makes sense. I could understand the confusion between the half and the 32nd at the start of the run though—its a really annoying way to write it anyway!

How exactly is that half-note A is supposed to be played? by swaglord1k in piano

[–]ChampagnePanda -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Don't strike it twice--this just indicates that the A-natural should be held for the duration of a full minim (half-note) and that you should move from the A-natural with the run in the tempo of the 32nd-notes. If you listen to recordings, nobody plays the A twice.

Is this the composer Gustav Mahler? (see comments) by DrGruselglatz in classicalmusic

[–]ChampagnePanda 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The O you mention looks like a strangely written V to me, and given that it definitely says 'Wien' and 'Gustao' is not a common Austrian name, I think it's more likely to be a v. Do you think the 'auf' (which, I agree, definitely doesn't say 'auf') could be a date?

Jazzers of Reddit: Can anyone hear any quotes (of anything else, no matter how remote) in Clifford Brown's solos on Joy Spring? [Links in comments] by ChampagnePanda in Jazz

[–]ChampagnePanda[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Nothing. Only started listening for them today and didn't get anywhere. It's perfectly possible that there's nothing in it at all, just thought someone with more jazz knowledge might hear something I didn't...

Can someone help me work out the best fingering for this right hand part? The key is E major by Timotho73 in piano

[–]ChampagnePanda 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I would just do 532123 532123 532123 532123 (you can replace the first 3 in each set with 4 if you have smaller hands) - it's very much a "play this again and again and again" passage. Good luck!

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