[Excerpt from Orefici 5, performed by Terry B. Ewell]
1. With the 12th Orefici study, we are clearly in the middle of the series. The danger with the middle of any series is lack of attention or even mediocrity. This 12th study is neither one of my favorites in the collection nor one of my least favorites. It is just middle of pack and if I am not careful, it could be performed with less enthusiasm or attention.
2. C. S. Lewis writes “The long, dull, monotonous years of middle-aged prosperity or middle-aged adversity are excellent campaigning weather for the devil.” https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/c_s_lewis_146408
3. We need to take this to heart and give our best effort in this study.
Unfortunately, editions of this study don’t exhibit careful attention. They also suffer from middle series mistakes. The International Music Company edition of the work contains four articulation errors in the first line alone! Also, the Buffet Crampon edition, which appears to the best edition available, has several problems as well.
Please study now my corrections on the screen.
4. Eb4 needs careful attention in this work. The upward slurs in the first measure, for instance, could provide some problems.
[Example]
5. I am not sure you can hear it. There is a little hesitancy to the start of the note. A little bit of dirtiness to the sound.
[Example]
6. If I relax my embouchure like that, it is terrible. So, use this fingering to clear up that note.
7. In the second line, we have our first slur from G4 to Eb4. That again is a difficult slur. I suggest flicking the C# key for that.
[Example]
8. It just cleans it up and then there is no anxiety about that note coming out.
[Performance Orefici 12, performed by Terry B. Ewell]
[Excerpt from ending of Orefici 5, performed by Terry B. Ewell]