Performance Notes

Performance Notes Cello C string needs to be tuned down a minor third to A. The resulting pitch is notated, not the fingered pitch. The final movement might work well with the G string also tuned down a minor third, to E. One may decide to tune it down after Whipping Post or Little Martha, or possibly even for the whole suite. About pitch bends, slides, and so forth: Only the most important pitch inflections are notated. Individual taste and expression may override the notated inflections, or principles stated below. One may ignore suggested pitch alteration or add more, again according to one's taste and experience. Lines leading into articulated notes occur on the beat, and in general arrive at the notated pitch. Lines between articulated notes (i.e., between slurred notes) will generally occur ahead of the note of arrival. These most resemble the traditional glissando or portamento. A line standing in place of a note head will get a more rhythmic treatment, but won't necessarily need to end up being much different from the slide described just above. Lines placed as if to extend note heads are intended to occur after the beat, and show whether the pitch extends up only or up and back. The fact that the lines are straight is only a matter of convenience: much more subtlety of pitch inflection should be exercised! For In Memory of Elizabeth Reed, a graphic notational method is used. The figures below all indicate whether one starts on or before the notated pitch by using a note head in the graphic. All generally start on the notated rhythmic location and happen during the notated duration. up to notated pitch up from notated pitch down to notated pitch up to notated pitch, then down down from notated pitch up through notated pitch, then down There are two non-standard manners of pizzicato used in Little Martha, which is performed pizzicato throughout. One is the thumb-drum pizz, named for the technique of slapping the string with the blunt side of the thumb. It is marked "Th-Dr" in the score. The second is brushed pizz, which is executed by dragging the thumb across the string. It is indicated in the score as "Brush". The traditional mordent symbol is utilized to indicate a wild vibrato in Whipping Post, while it indicates simply use of vibrato in In Memory of Elizabeth Reed. One will benefit from listening to the source recordings of the classic pieces by the Allman Brothers. While primarily drawn from the studio recording to be found on the double album, Beginnings, certain details of Whipping Post were influenced by the performance preserved on At the Fillmore East. I have not provided the song lyrics for Whipping Post here, but knowledge of the lyrics, especially of the chorus, can be of great assistance. In particular, listening to the source will improve one's grasp of the intensity of expression needed, and might provide a guide for modeling tone color to imitate the vocal line (which is carried by the viola) or other important sonic details. Little Martha is from the album Eat a Peach, and In Memory of Elizabeth Reed is the version on Beginnings (or Idlewild South). JHM November 23, 2010.

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