BACH, J.S.: Viola da Gamba Sonata, BWV 1028: I. Adagio (Masterclass with Diemut Poppen) (Sanchez Fernandez, Veisova Hilpo)
Viola da Gamba Sonata in D Major, BWV 1028
Composer: Bach, Johann Sebastian
Poppen, Diemut
Sanchez Fernandez, Hector
Veisova Hilpo, Barbara
Catalogue Number: RSS9752_1
In this masterclass, Professor Diemut Poppen indicates the student that she has too much stress when playing, and that she should avoid unnecessary movements with the viola, as well as take care of her body posture, which tends to bend forward. The student also has to control the bad habit of breathing nervously. The trills must be shorter, as if she was playing a brief ornamentation. The student should think the pulse is in 3 in order to avoid jeopardizing the performance of the whole movement.
Professor Poppen also gives some advice about the most suitable bowings in certain passages; and she indicates that in less important moments, the student can play rubato to make the phrase more interesting, as well as to highlight the dynamics in the most relevant passages harmonically wise. Regarding phrasing, Professor Poppen considers that all the phrase ends should be softer. At the end of the class, Professor Poppen focuses on some technical exercises to monitor the movements of the fingers in the left hand. They practice scales in several positions and with one and two strings.
