Violin Succession: teach your fingers to work in a hand frame
Have you been keeping up with the Roy family on HBO’s hit show Succession?
If so, you don’t need me to sing you the theme music. It’s probably already stuck in your head right now. But if not, then you should really hear it for yourself.
That’s for a couple of reasons: one, because the performance is really out of tune (more on that down below); and two, because the Succession theme, by Nicholas Brittel, can teach us a lot about hand frame.
Now, did those violinists mean to play the theme so badly? You won’t believe this, but I had the chance to play Succession live with the composer at the keyboard, and I just couldn’t bring myself to ask him. I kind of like the ambiguity, it turns out!
The only way to decide for yourself is to try it for yourself, using the violin part I put together with fingerings. Just let me know where to send it:
And, to guide you through the hand frame looking-glass, it’s Nathan Roy:
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6 thoughts on “Violin Succession: teach your fingers to work in a hand frame”
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Hi Nathan,
I’m a professional violinist and have met you several times and am thrilled that you are presenting this.
I have socialized with Nicolas Britell and Adam McKay and they are both fabulous.
Can’t wait to get your PDF of the music and dive into this!
Thanks so much,
Pam
Hi Pam, good to see you here! Hope you enjoy the detailed look at this catchy tune.
Yes indeed. Thanks Nathan for the reminder that it’s really the fundamentals that take you anywhere. Try playing a Paganini caprice without having set up your hand frame properly.
I just started watching the new season and laughed out loud at least 3 times in the first minute of your video! Then I watched the rest in total gratitude for your wonderful explanations of shifting and hand frame decisions. Pure gold!
Nathan you must know everybody who is anybody out there, why don’t you just call whoever played the piece for HBO and ask if the intonation was intentional or not. You could tell them that you think it was a brilliant stylistic effect.
Thank you!