Audition pieces for Juilliard

thedbassist · #1 06-23-2007, 02:04 AM

Hello Mr. Ruby, I'm having trouble deciding on which pieces to play for Juilliard's audition and was hoping you could share your opinion on which pieces are the most musical(and enjoyable) to play. I have tried Bach's viola da gamba sonata no. 1 (transcribed by proto) and that piece did nothing for me musically. Also, I figured since you were accepted into Juilliard, that you might be able to help. Thanks for your reply! Here's Juilliards audition requirements: http://juilliard.edu/pdf/MusicAudRequirementsLinks.pdf

Davidruby · #2 06-23-2007, 08:17 AM

Hi and thanks for wriitng...I owe quite a few replies here as I have been away for quite some time but I thought I'd start here...While you have to follow basic repetoire guidelines for Juilliard, choosing repetoire is always an individual voyage. You can go with the usual stock choices....movement of a Bach suite, Dittersdorf or Vanhal first movements, second movement Koussevitsky or Bottesini...Hindemith or later.....but I digress...the real truth of entry to Juilliard and the beginning of the voyage towards a career is this: and I quote Tim Cobb of the Met: "My favorite piece is usually the music I am about to perform on any given day". The fact of the matter is that you're going to Juilliard to learn a profession to the best of your abilities and ultimately get a great job. When your in an orchestra, you can't choose the repetoire but you can choose your attitude. Bring the excitment of performing in front of a live, paying audience that has come to see you play. Bring that excitement to every note you play, every phrase, every run and I promise you, you will get in with flying colors. That's what I did and it worked.

Conversly, imagine a jaded personality only willing to bring themselves to put any effort out to play musically and with effort only if the condutor is to their liking and the music suits their taste....and imagine whether that personality fits in with the best orchestras in the world...hardly.....note that Tim Cobb plays in the Met.......and lo......a new attitude is born...... Let me know if you have any more questions. FYI, I love that Gamba Sonata -what a work of genius that is.....

thedbassist · #3 08-16-2007, 12:25 PM

Thanks for your help, but I've decided not to play the bach sonata and instead play Vivaldi's 3rd cello sonata in D minor, can you recommend any good recordings of this sonata? transcribed or not, thanks for your help.

Pete G · #4 08-16-2007, 05:04 PM

Barry Lieberman's recording of the Vivaldi Sonatas is fantastic. I'd die a happy man if I could produce a tone like his.

bassman1489 · #5 08-17-2007, 05:07 PM

Anner Bylsma (cellist) has a great recording of the 6 sonatas. As far as transcriptions, Ed Barker's is the best I can think of. I'll have to check out Barry Lieberman's...

BTW, do you mean the 3rd sonata in A minor? Or do you have a transposed edition?

Pete G · #6 08-17-2007, 06:01 PM

I have the Byslma cello recordings too, and they are great renditions, and certainly seem to be played in an authentic period style.

However, if you want a sense of just how terrific these pieces can sound on a bass, I would simply reiterate my recommendation that you listen to Barry's recording. It's available from Lemur and from Amazon. It's not "historically informed", but such great playing!

(My Schirmer edition of No. 3 is also in A minor.)

thedbassist · #7 08-19-2007, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassman1489

Anner Bylsma (cellist) has a great recording of the 6 sonatas. As far as transcriptions, Ed Barker's is the best I can think of. I'll have to check out Barry Lieberman's...

BTW, do you mean the 3rd sonata in A minor? Or do you have a transposed edition?

It's transposed up to D minor by George Vance, I will check out some of the recordings. Thanks for your advice.