I’ve sent the first part of the Joy of Mozart Manual and Method to several distinguished colleagues to ask their feedback before sending to a publisher, and their comments have all been very positive as well as helpful. I wanted to share a question from one of them, since it might be a question that some of you may also have. As you know from reading the articles on the site, the Joy of Mozart approach is a way to understand and perform Mozart’s music according to his use of five types of expression markings. These markings indicate five types of sounds of notes in his music (in addition to pitch), and the JoM approach gives today’s pianists specific action steps (or “actions”) for performing these distinctly different types of sounds that result in Mozart’s interpretation for his music (which is beyond exciting!).
This was the reader’s question:
"I’ve read about the first 15 pages and already find it fascinating! I’m eager to read more! I already have a question: Why is the first note of a slur not included as an important note sound type? I’m thinking particularly of Malcom Bilson’s video “Knowing the Score” where he talks about the LH of the opening of K. 333 where the syncopated figures there create a restless feeling because of the emphasis implied by the slurring. Does not the first note of a slur mean “heavy” or “emphasized”?”
In response:
The first note under a slur is already one of the five types of notes that Mozart uses; it’s a Continuous Note under a slur (CN), which is played legato. So, does the first note under a slur need to be played a special way that is different from the second, or third, etc. Continuous Notes under a slur? In this case, no; all CNs are played the same way. However, the last note under a slur (LN) has a completely different type of sound, so it is played a different way, and is a different (as you say, “important”) note type.
What MB is saying is more of a general comment that refers to the naturally occurring emphasis at the beginning of a slur, which happens for at least 3 reasons: a slur often begins on a main beat, which of course has a natural emphasis. If it begins in another place in the measure, the first note under the slur sounds emphasized because there was no sound connecting it to a previous note. It will also naturally sound emphasized by being heard longer because of being continuous (legato). So I don’t think we need to think about the first note under a slur in terms of “heavy" or “emphasized" beyond these natural emphases (any emphasis from us would sound belabored). Mozart accounted for naturally-occurring emphases in his use of expression markings.
The Joy of Mozart manual talks about two levels of expression—general and detailed—in Mozart’s music. We have been taught a good bit about the general level, but we haven’t been taught about the level of the details: these are the specific nuances of sounds indicated by the expression markings that convey to us a deeper meaning of his music.
I just wanted you all to know that the Joy of Mozart Manual and Method is shaping up! From it, you will be able to clarify all the ways that Mozart shows us his music’s expression. While it’s coming together, I’ll be happy for us to discuss any questions you might have if you would like to send them to me! I’ll post them here on the Mozartiana page.
All Good Cheer and Warm Wishes throughout your new year!
Mary