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Concerto · Currently Studying

Jean-Baptiste Accolay

Violin Concerto No. 1

Started August 1, 2026Edition: Bärenreiter

Current focus

The shift to third position in the opening phrase, and keeping the tone consistent through the long phrases.

Technical challenges

Shifting to third position cleanly. Bow control at the tip through the lyrical passages.

Musical challenges

Phrasing the long lines without losing the breath of the melody.

Practice notes

Practising the opening phrase in two-beat chunks, then stitching it back together.

Interpretation notes

The concerto wants to sing. I'm trying not to let the technical work flatten the phrasing.

Reflection

The opening phrase is starting to feel like mine, not just a sequence of shifts.

Recordings being studied

Accolay Concerto No. 1 — Perlman; Accolay Concerto No. 1 — Grumiaux

Listening references

Comparing Perlman and Grumiaux for tone and phrasing in the opening.

Attacca — keep goingKreutzer Étude No. 7Accolay Violin Concerto No. 1Intonation in third positionBow control at the tipPre-hearing the shift before it happensLightening the bow armReturning to the same passage, againOne étude into anotherOne lesson into the nextAttacca — keep goingKreutzer Étude No. 7Accolay Violin Concerto No. 1Intonation in third positionBow control at the tipPre-hearing the shift before it happensLightening the bow armReturning to the same passage, againOne étude into anotherOne lesson into the next