with piano accompaniment
Programme
Note | Performance
Instructions |
Sample Page
Blues at Eleven is, as the title suggests, in slow blues style and in 11/8 time. The original version for viola and piano was written for Helen Tuckey, violist with the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra, who asked me for a blues piece for her students. I have since prepared other editions of the work for flute, clarinet, E flat and B flat saxophones, and violin---all equally suitable for the private studio and concert platform. Blues at Eleven is in the viola grade 5 syllabus of the Australian Music Examinations Board and was commissioned by Helen Tuckey with assistance from the Western Australian Government through the Department for the Arts.
© S Benfall 1996. May be used in programme notes.
For most players, especially students, the challenge of this piece is to play the slow blues style accurately and observe the correct counting in an unfamiliar metre.
The effectiveness of the work lies in careful adherence to the given articulations and accents, which are faithful to an authentic blues style.
It is essential that the pulse of the quavers (8th notes) remains constant throughout the work. Nearly all bars (measures) can be counted as 3+3+3+2. This means that the 4th beat of the bar is shorter than the other beats. It may help to verbally practise these subdivisions by counting out loud "123 123 123 12" in each bar. Remember to count each of these 11 pulses at the same speed---don't slow down the last two. The work should be played in an unhurried blues style. Some slight rubato is welcomed as long as the essential pulse is maintained.
© S Benfall 1996.
The violin / viola version of Blues at Eleven was edited by Graham Wood, OAM.