Scan 76
The American history and encyclopedia of music .., 1908
8 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1ing absolutely on relaxation, quietness of hand, and the vibrato on a combination of relaxation and tenseness.
3The average player tries to put intensity into every tone, that is, to use the vibrato to an excess, and finds, when a trill is required, that his hand is too stiff because he is trying to do two things, diametrically opposed, at the same time. The vibrato is used too much and should be employed only in sustained emotional climaxes, with some exceptions, and in certain important places in passage work. The correct use of vibrato is a matter of taste; it should not be a constant accompaniment of violin playing but should be intelligently employed when demanded by the musical sense.
5THE TRILL.—The trill depends on a correct adjustment and relaxation of the hand and the even stopping of the string. This relaxation in the hand, the ability to combine freedom of motion with power of finger stroke, is similar to the ability, on the part of the right hand, to apply pressure and yet to make use of hand extension. In the trill, the freedom of the thumb is of the utmost importance, for, if it grips the neck too firmly it is apt to produce tenseness of the hand. Practise the trill slowly, holding down all of the fingers below the finger in use; that is, if the third is performing the trill hold down the first and second. Drop the fingers firmly but not from too great a distance above the string and hold the note long enough to produce a clear tone, giving each note of the trill the same value. If the thumb and hand are free there will be no fatigue, and if such occurs, it is well to look for stiffness. It is good practise to keep the thumb moving along the neck of the violin while the trill is being practised, not in the same rhythm with the trill, but absolutely independent, in order that there may be no direct connection in the movement. This will produce relaxation in the hand.
7The principles that facilitate a good trill hold good for the double trill. In some cases new difficulties present themselves, these being unevenly developed strength of fingers
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