Ravel Concerto in G

[gms979]

Greetings,

Articulation question for people....

If opting to double tongue the Ravel Concerto in G, what do you all prefer - double tonguing ALL eighth notes (even an isolated pair), or only double tonguing in the middle third or so of the excerpt with the long run of eighth notes? I found recently that if I only double tongue the long stream of eighth notes, the excerpt becomes much more managable (assuming I'm taking it at a tempo too fast for single tonguing).

What do you all do?

Thanks!
Greg

[steve_fenick]

Personally, I single tongue it. However, if I had to double tongue it, I would likely just double tongue the longer runs, and single tongue where possible.

[thesplitmeister]

as a personal prefferrence I single the groups of quavers when they come in threes or less and double the longer passages. This works a treat for me but I had to spend a while making sure that the double balanced up to the single in sound.
Experiment and use what works for you.
Jim

[Peter Bond]

[camel]

I hope I do not offend anybody, by updating this topic, if so: sorry.

While playing this part, most of us forget they are making music. Because the tongueing seems to be the biggest problem. But my advise would be: make music, and don't think too much about double or single tongue. If you listen well to the music and you allow yourself to go with the music, it really happens that you're playing automatically the right way, without being bothered about your tongue.

Hope this helps

[Dance Of Vengeance]

Just single tongue it. Is 120 really too fast to single tongue?

[steve_fenick]

[drincredible313]

Post removed

[trumpetmike]

Try every way possible - be able to single it faster than you need to, but also learn the multipe tongue approach (as described by Mr Bond).
I have only had to do the part a couple of times - once was slightly slower than what one might term the "usual" speed, so single tongue was more than possible.
The other I think I singled as well - I had practised it both ways, but found that single was possible, so went for the one I preferred.

[Umyoguy]

Here's what I use, for what its worth...

TTT T TKTKT TK T---TTK TT TTK TT TKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKTKT TKT TKT TKTKTKT TKTKTKTKTKT.

Probably not much different than Mr. Bond's, except for the TTK pickups just before the second line...I feel it its much clearer for me - I've never liked playing pickups starting on K.

I am able to single tongue it at 116, the defacto tempo for this excerpt IMO, but I think double tonguing it is much clearer and more articulate.

Best,

Jon

[loudog]

Not sure if anyone else does this...but I discovered something great about this excerpt a couple of weeks ago.

I had always played it on C trumpet, and somewhat struggled with it...I just couldn't make it sound quite right both double and single tonguing it.

I actually tried playing it on my D trumpet...a LO AND BEHOLD!! The problems all seemed to go away. The darn thing even lays better on D trumpet, in my opinion! Give that a try, and see what you think!

Louie (who will now always play the Ravel on D trumpet) Eckhardt
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Dr. Louie Eckhardt, trumpeter
http://www.LouieEckhardt.com
Associate Professor of Music
Hastings College

[Socrates]

I second what loudog stated above. Don't be afraid to experiment with the smaller horns on this excerpt. Because the orchestra is quite smaller than normal, you don't have to worry about sounding too small. Both D, and Eb trumpet work well. I have even seen Ramon Parcells in Detroit use a four-valve Schilke G trumpet on this piece.

[tpetplyr]

Love my Kanstul Signature Eb/D on this piece. It lies really really well on the D side. Not tired it on Eb, and haven't ever actually seen a G trumpet in person so I can't vouch for them. But try it on D if you have one lying around...

Stuart
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"So long, and thanks for all the fish!" -- Dolphins

[Peter Bond]