DW936 - Aria No. 1:
Standard: Grade 5
Approximate playing time: 2 min
This composition starts quietly, with a treble motif that is slightly haunting in character. It is written in D minor, but travels through several bass chord changes to end in its relative major key – D major. It encourages a really emotional interpretation, almost with the freedom of rubato.
The basses take the performer through a range of both solo notes and chords with bass and counter-bass notes, with a few surprises and a melodic ending that almost fades away. The composition requires good bellows control and fingering, and includes numerous phrasing and articulation guidelines. |
