POSITIOI{ CHANGING FOR THE VIOLIN

NEIL MACKAY Beforebeginningtheseexercises it is advisable to clean the neck of the violin with a damp cloth so that the surface of the wood is free from any dirt or perspiration which could preventthe hand from sliding smoorhly up and down the insrrument. As the hand movesto 3rd Position,be carefulto shift the thumb ar rhe sametime so that it occupies a similar positionin relationto the fingers,as it did in rst Position. The change of positionwillproduceaglissando at first as thefingerslides over the string. This canbe overcome by releasing the fingerpressure slightlyduring the change of position, when, as the speedof the hand movementis increased, the glissando effectwill gradually diminish.

lst FINGER MOVEMENT

A and D strings
I - 1 meanskeep the finger on the string.
I

1. HEBRIDEAN LULLABY
[1 bar introduction]

Largo consordini
--:-----------

pp

t---l

l....-1

tv-

rir

.'->/
-

\:l

poco rall.
@Oxfora UniversityPress1963 Printed in Great Britain OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS,MUSIC DEPARTMENT, WALTON STREET, OXFORD OX2 6DP Photocopying this copyright materialis ILLEGAL

"l
i=)
l^f

E a n d A strings
r=t

ts'

2. THE FAIR ISLE

[4 bars introduction]

Allegretto
;-..---.ta*1 ^ \ --'---^

mf
L . \ l

D and G strings

{
J

3. DEESIDE
[4 barintroduction]

Andantino

Position Changing for the Violin

Znd FINGER MOVEMENT

A and D strings

4. MINUET
[4 bars introduction]

Grazioso

trw

>

mf
2 _ 2

>

z=-2

E and A strings
'n2-\z \

Position Changing for the Violin

5. THE CLOWN'S DANCE

[2 bars introduction]

Alle$ro moderato

L.\"-i
--2

2-2

?----........-z
==.--

2-?

?.......--..-z

z . -? -

2\ 2

:=-

D and G strings

2\<2

\ z t

6. IN OLD MADRID
[2 bars inhoduction]

) z -l-rt---

*fi

/2

b
'z'/2

/=-z

)
2 -------!-2

nw

:---

Position Changing for the Violin

3rd FINGER MOVEMENT

A string

7. A SPRING MORNING
[2 bars inhoduction]

Allegretto

?-l ?->

-ra

nw<
z ?---s
>mp

z l..--a

t-?

>.

G string

[4 bars introduction]

8. EVENSONG

Lento consordini > , /

-,

._2

3-"

rw

\ 4-2

3*13

\_-'
4\r-/'

2-.

s-J

pocorall.
Position Changing for the Violin

E and D strings
32

svj

3,,\-3

[2 bars introduction]

9. SNAKE ON A LADDER
3-ir
f \

Andantino

3=s - \

?7W -==-:-

t=s - \
+ 7

..-3

mf

p==-

\\-{:---

4th FINGER MOVEMENT

E and A strings
f;--=c
4-, t-4 / 4.-.-.-.--, a

[4 bars introduction]

10. SPANISH SERENADE

4-,

Espressivo
3-----3 1y Y / -

,V',,--4

mf
t 4

\-'

=]=-

Position Changing for the Violin

D and G strings

11.IRISH LULLABY
[2 bars introduction]

SoothinglY

7r'o

zY2
-

p (repeat pp)

4-1

(,\-r \4

4-4

4--4

CHANGING POSITION
From lst Finger to Znd, 3rd, and 4th
The finger effecting the change of position should arrive at a guide note (i) before the next note is played. With practice the glissandoand guide note can be omitted. Guide notes are not marked throughout the melodies, but should be used during each changeof position.

D and G strings

r-2

:{id j

+ (J) ) ,,__-?t
1---..-l

Position Changing for the Violin

12.VALSE TRISTE
[{ barsinhoduction]

Moderato

cresc.poco a poco

rnf V

A and E strings

13.THE DANCING CLASS

[2 bars inhoduction]

Poco a.ccel.-

moho accel.

Position Changing for the Violin

l0

15. DANSE MACABRE

I bar introduction]

The last note of DanseMacabreis an Artificial Harmonic. Stop E normally with the rst finger, at the sametime play A lightly with the pad of the 4th. This should produce above the stoppednote E. a sound 2 octaves

HARMONICS
playableon the violin. One is a NATURAL harmonic There are two typesof harmonics and the otherARTIFICIAL. are natural,and are playedhalf way up the string with the pad The following harmonics of the little finger. I(eep the left hand in 3rd Positionand extendthe fourth finger so that it restslightly on the string. The violin will producea flute-like note which is ratherplaintivein sound.

Position Changing for the Violin

ll

1. REVEILLE
Play STACCATOnotes OFF THE STRING in L.H. bow.
[4 bars introduction]

Vivo -

4 o >

mf

17. ON PARADE
Play STACCATO in U.H. bow.
[1 bar introduction]

mpJt

v,__. 2

18. TYROLEAN AIR

l3/2 barsintroductionl

Allegretto grazioso

f
-

nw
Position Changing for the Violin

pocorall.

T2

19.REVERIE
[1 bar introduction]

Teneramente V

poco accel.
4 o

pocorall.

t_.

m/p a tempo
4

q--.

4 o

4 o

mf

rall.

MORE GUIDE NOTES of positionare frequentlyused by violinists.A goodplayer never The following changes allows the left hand to leap from one positionto another,unlessit entailsa move from an open string to a note in a higher position,or vice versa. and avoid a positionchange, Rememberalwaysto use a GUIDE NOTE when effecting of position. changes soundbetween any intermediate

A and E strings

alsousing a bow to eachbar. Practise

[2 bars introduction]

20. BUTTERFLIES

Allegro ritmico

Position Changing for the Violin

l3

D and G strings

''r;
[2 bars introduction]

l{'

)'1

3'/3

3....--3

Practise alsousinga bow to eachbar.

21. THE TENOR AND THE BASS

Allegro giocoso

r
/o ;

mp

mf

IJ

; ; =
l>

l>

The followingmelodyintroduces changes of positionacross I(eep the fingers the strings. do"vnwhereindicatedand this wiil preventany tendency to leapfrom one string to another.

22. WALTZING
[4 bars introduction]

Moderato

-/----\-

p"
--.-\
o_-_----\

/------\

3_

l -

PositionChanginglor the Violin

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