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SharonC said
I think this is the version you’re playing (starting on D).
Sorry, I didn't watch this until now because if he did start on D he'd be playing in Bb.
He's starting on the note of F# and playing in the key of D (major). But he's playing on the D string, if that's what SharonC meant.
From memory the symphony is nominally in d minor (I didn't understand what @stringy was saying), but this part of it is in D Major. I'll post an mp3 later if I can, before I go away for the weekend. (if I had a grand for a camera, I'd spend it on a bow, lol!)
It strikes me that this is an excellent piece for a beginner to learn because it should be played with martelé bowing (or just loud, but notice the little flicks of his right wrist as he begins each note) to express the joy, and a lot of beginners bow tentatively, so this would be a good antidote for that. Martelé is a bit over-specific, but my teacher taught me it in lesson 1 or 2 to get me to bow confidently.
Also if anyone has rhythm problems, they might be solved by playing it a little slower, louder and with more bow. It has some of the nature of a march - it's like a pagan form of Onward Christian Soldiers type thing. (well, interpretation is open - you can begin it solemnly like a hymn and then crescendo into a march)
Andrew
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@Gordon Shumway -
I didn't want to say anything earlier, but I agree with you on how this should be played. It needs to be played with GUSTO - it's not a lullaby!
It IS an ode to "JOY", after all!
I didn't want to intimidate anyone with Itzhak Perlman, but if everyone just takes a look at the confident, strong bow strokes! Just ignore that he's using double stops, etc...
There's NO pussy-footing around here - I was expecting the bow hair to catch on fire! 😁
Don't be afraid to hit those strings & announce your JOY to the World!
Everyone wants expression - this is the piece to go for it! 🤗
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I know I'm not going to practise what I preach - intonation has to be right to play it confidently - as soon as one starts adjusting intonation, confidence goes out the window.
(currently installing the latest version of Audacity, lol. I hope I can still work out how to use it)
Andrew
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@Gordon Shumway - 🤣
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Yep, chicken is my middle name. I just recorded 3 takes, but I'm so ashamed of them, I'm not going to post anything. I was happy before I changed my strings, but I've been deeply unhappy since.
I'll change them back to Dominants again in December, so you might get to hear something in January!
This is only a superficially easy piece - smooth, rhythmic détaché and open strings and a microphone are not an easy combination.
Andrew
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Gordon Shumway said
SharonC said
I think this is the version you’re playing (starting on D).
Sorry, I didn't watch this until now because if he did start on D he'd be playing in Bb.
He's starting on the note of F# and playing in the key of D (major). But he's playing on the D string, if that's what SharonC meant.
Yep, that's what I meant-- playing on the D string--sorry for my abbreviated typing 
@ELCBK nice video - "Music unites us. It gives us strength. It also gives us Joy." 
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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JohnG said
Interesting thing happened today. I recorded Ode to Joy as found in Hal Leonard's Essential Elements - Viola, in three variations, as printed in D major, which has the high A alluded to in previous posts, then with the low A, and then down a fifth to G major. Also included my attempt from a year ago (after a weeks learning).
@JohnG Great playing! So good to see the comparison video from (only) a year ago. Progress is cumulative--sometimes hard to see on a daily/weekly basis (forest from the trees...).
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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@SharonC - Thanks, your kind words mean a lot! I'd forgotten how bad I sounded in the original video from a year ago! lol
The old curmudgeon!
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JohnG
Huge improvement for the start of your viola career!
Keep on working at it your doing great!
Mark
Master the Frog and you have mastered the bow.
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