BRAHMS, Johannes

Sonata for cello and piano no. 1 in E minor op. 38

I. Allegro non troppo

Torleif Thedéen, guest professor

Hayk Sukiasyan, student

Ofelia Montalván, accompanying pianist

At the beginning of the class, Professor Thedéen asks the student about his impression of his performance and the way it would sound from the audience. The teacher comments that it is more important to think about the things we did correctly than the mistakes. As performers, it is very important to show some special moments in each performance, although it is a very difficult thing. Sometimes simplicity works better than other formulas.
Professor Thedéen gives some guidelines to the student for expressing the beginning of the piece and they comment how to do the arrival to the climax in the repeated note 'E'. When the piano takes the main theme, the cello could play a more interesting accompaniment, making a different kind of rhythm.
Fingerings should not disturb the rhythmical notation, it should be played in an easier way. The eighth-notes have to 'speak' more. The student should not forget giving more space to the most important notes of the phrasing. Professor Thedéen also comments that the 'B' note on 'E' string is one of the most difficult notes that a cellist could play. In some moments, it is required more understanding with the piano part.
Finally, the Professor explains how to ration the dynamics in certain intense passages.

Language: English