Considering balance in an ensemble
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Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can analyse an ensemble performance and consider the importance of balance in my own ensemble performance.
Key learning points
- Having effective balance in an ensemble is key to successful performance.
- It allows all parts to be heard clearly and the melody to stay prominent.
- Perfecting the dynamics in your individual part, listening to other players and recordings are all useful strategies.
- We analysed a brass duet with piano accompaniment that demonstrated many features of a strong performance.
Keywords
Balance - the relative volume of different parts or instruments; effective balance is where every part can be heard clearly
Intonation - the tuning of notes; if a performer has good intonation it means that the notes are in tune
Tone - the specific timbre of a sound, not to be confused with the interval also called a tone
Common misconception
If you just play your dynamics accurately the balance will be good.
Often good balance requires you to listen to the other players and adjust dynamics, and to make sure that the melody is always prominent. Just playing the notated dynamics accurately might not always create effective balance.
Teacher tip
Emphasise to pupils that in different contexts the balance should be different. In a solo piece with accompaniment, for example, the solo part is likely to be most prominent for most of the piece. In a wind quintet, different parts will take prominence at different points.
Files needed for this lesson
Performance exemplar - brass duet with piano (audio) 3.4 MB (MP3)
Performance exemplar - brass duet with accompaniment (brass parts) 65 KB (PDF)
Performance exemplar - brass duet with accompaniment (full score) 121 KB (PDF)
Download these files to use in the lesson.
Licence
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