Here's the excerpt from Shostakovich 5.

I've been practicing it for years. I'm grateful to this website for the feedback.

William A. Lynn

Note: There is a 30 second delay prior to the start of the audio excerpt.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: MyAuditions,

shost_5.wav (9,054 Kb, 78 downloads)

Dear William,
Nice job on the Shosti 5, and I hate that excerpt (I think every horn player does!)... it's so hard! Unfortunately, we've all been practicing it for years, and having a million different opinions on how to play it, so please forgive me if I repeat what's already been said, or suggest something you've already been doing.
One quick fix comment is that it seemed a little slow. Do you subdivide before and during all your excerpts? That's often helpful for maintaining a good tempo and correct character.
Beyond that, my main concern had to do with what was happening when you tongue the excerpt. I presume you've been practicing it slurred (mp first, then mf, then f), if not, that would be very very helpful. I would focus only on keeping your sound and pitch perfectly even (and perfectly in tune) for the entirety of each note. Then, when you add the tongue back in (mp first, then mf, then f), I would still sustain the note all the way into the next, just add a nice, clean, powerfully accented attack on the next note. Even if you put a space between the notes, you should still sustain the note at the same volume and pitch until you release it (right now, your pitch is drooping a bit at the ends of your notes, and you're putting a diminuendo at the end of each one.) It will sound more powerful that way, without having to play too loud for your comfort level.
My next step is always to practice this excerpt up the octave. It helps with making sure your intervals are in tune in a comfortable octave, first off, and with playing the appropriate musical line within the intense character. Also, often one of the hardest parts of this excerpt is keeping one's articulation clean on every note, and that is easier up the octave, and then once it's in your ear, play it down the octave as written, and see if you can transfer the improvements. So just to be clear, I had some pitch and articulation concerns, but you'll be able to fix that quickly up the octave, I'm sure, especially with the help of your recording device. Sounds great, and best of luck with everything! Jennifer