Books › The violinist, 1900 › scan 60
Scan 60
The violinist, 1900
29 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1The Inquiry Wicket
2BY MYRON A. BICKFORD
4A. H. R., Albany N. Y.
5Q. What are some of the essentials in forming a string quartet, and how can I obtain suitable music in the easier grades?
6A. I should say one of the first essentials to be observed in forming an amateur quartet would be to see that the four players are congenial, for unless they are in sympathy with each other, it will be very hard to make it a success. Then it is important that each player have at least a fairly good instrument and also that he be fairly proficient on it. The one who essays the first violin must be one on whose judgment and musical knowledge the others can rely, since it is his place to set the tempos and to virtually lead the quartet.
8In the larger cities and towns it is almost always possible to find viola and cello players who will be glad of this kind of practice, but in the smaller places it is often very hard to find these instruments.
10In the case of the viola, any violinist can, with comparatively little practice, accustom himself to the alto clef, and once that is done, it is smooth sailing, since the general technic of the instrument corresponds almost exactly to the violin. Aside from these occasional hindrances, the "forming" is really the easiest part, since the work really begins afterwards.
12As to suitable music, it is better to take something which is very simple to start with, even though all the players may be real "soloists," for the first and most important thing to be worked for is the ensemble, and this can best be obtained when technical difficulties do not enter into the case. A few of the very easiest of which I know are Bizet's "Adagietto" from "L'Arlesienne," Dunkler's "Au Bord de la Mer," Mascagni's "Intermezzo," Rubenstein's "Melody in F," and Schumann's "Traumerei." These are all arrangements but they are effective and will serve the purpose. After these the familiar Tchaikowsky "Andante Cantabile" and Raff's "Beautiful Miller Maiden" and some of the easier of the Haydn quartets may be studied.
14These can be obtained from almost any large publisher or dealer and it will probably be possible to have them sent to you on selection.
16* * *
18E. R. B., St. Joseph, Mo.
19Q. Can you give me any information as to how to acquire a good vibrato? Which is more correct, the slow or rapid vibrato?
20A. The vibrato, after the ability to draw out a good tone with the bow, is one of the most important adjuncts to artistic violin playing, and yet it is an effect which is largely individual, at least to the extent that scarcely any two violinists do it exactly alike or produce exactly the same effect. The vibrato is really the distinguishing feature between different violinists and schools of playing, for if Ysaye, Kreisler, Maud Powell and Kubelik were to draw a tone from an open string on the same violin it would be rather difficult to distinguish one from the other. But let each one play a short passage, using the vibrato, and those who are familiar with the individual styles are at once able to name the performers.
22Of course the best way to acquire a good vibrato is to study with a master of violin playing who will see that it is properly developed when you are ready for it. But if for any reason you are not able to study under a good teacher, there is a work or treatise on the subject by Goby Eberhardt which you will find very beneficial.
24There are also special chapters on the vibrato in "Catechism of Violin Playing" by Schroeder and in "The Secrets of Violin Playing" by Honeyman. The instructions given in the latter little work are the most complete and explicit which I have ever seen in print.
26As to the correctness of the slow or the rapid vibrato, this must be left to the individual to a great extent. If it is too slow, it ceases to be effective and the same may be said when it is too rapid.
28Just listen to the best violinists and select a happy medium.
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