Luis M. Araya

Hi Ed,

There is a student who is playing the Kennan Sonata and a question raised up. At measure 4 there is a cresc. sign for the half note (note E, after the 32th notes) starting at beat 2.

In the same page the same lick (rythmicly speaking!) ocurrs twice without the cresc.

So the question is, Is it OK to play all the licks WITH the cresc. sign? or should we stick with it as writen?

LMA.

__________________
Music is my life

ecarroll

Luis,

Good morning from Los Angeles.

I don't have a copy of the Kennan Sonata in front of me as reference but I'm sure that you know the many similarities between this piece and Hindemith's Sonate. Hindemith asks that his first movement be played "Mit Kraft" (with strength) and Kennan asks, I believe, for "strength and vigor". His editorial markings (crescendi, accents) reflect that and I consider them to be part of the objective goal that we have in playing a composition -- finding the composer's voice, if you will.

The subjective choices we have: how much crescendo, what sort of accent, how loud forte is/how soft piano, what color sound to employ and how much weight, etc. is where WE get to exercise our personality in a neo-classic composition.

I'd suggest sticking with the ink and having fun with this list. That said, if it helps your student to carry the line forward by using a crescendo in the same fashion elsewhere in the movement -- and if it doesn't become a boring cliche -- then I doubt that Mr. Kennan would object (?)

On another topic, I know that you're a terrific player. Would you mind starting a new thread telling us about the 2004 Ellsworth? I'm particularly interested in how you tackled Exposed Throat, a piece that I really like...

Best,
EC