Ravel - Valses nobles et sentimentales

[Nightscape]

I recorded these in a recital hall while it was empty.  There's still a lot of work to be done, but I'm making progress.

[Nightscape]

C'mon people!  It's not that bad is it?  Surely we have at least one Ravel fan who has a suggestion....

Although it won't help me know, since I've abandoned this piece for the time being (but I'll relearn it better in a year or two).

[quasimodo]

The quality of the recording is not very good so it may make me hear things that actually don't exist. Anyway, here are the picky critics of a guy who's very good at listening but unable to play  :

N.1 : ha, ha work on these inaccuracies at LH ... and you seem undecided about articulation, you wander from quasi-staccatto to marcatto and then quasi-legato in the same section, don't pedal before the chords (hiccups).

N.2 : Okay, maybe could be slightly faster (just my taste), LH a little bit heavy at some places.

N.3 : at the beginning the 2nd beat chords are not staccato, only the 3rd, you release the pedal too early. Heavy LH again.

N.4 : quite okay though the melody could (should ?) be more emphasized (Ravel writes "Le chant très en dehors" and later "La partie supérieure en dehors".
N.5 : nothing special to mention.

N.6 : I'm very picky again : you exactly follow the score, but on these dotted notes I find your stop is a little bit too abrupt.

N.7 : Just needs to flow some more on the fast notes at RH.

N.8 : Okay overall, but on the citations of previous themes, you could recall the same rhytmic ideas as in the original.

In general you make the effort of respecting scrupulously the composer's markings, which is essential with Ravel, but sometimes it doesn't sound "natural".

Anyway, it's very good work despite some inaccuracies and well, you're a criminal to "abandon" it for so long a time. If I was able to play as you do, I couldn't stop working at these pieces until I get them at perfect rendition. These are my favorite Ravel pieces.

[Skeptopotamus]

aww you shouldn't give up on it!  Obviously you have the technical stuff pretty much down; It obviously has some problems but all works in progress do ^^ Sounds like it could be really great if you just work on it a bit more.  You shouldnt give up on a piece when obviously you have the potential to play it very well.

[Nightscape]

Thanks you guys those are some great ideas.

I'm not totally giving up on it though.... I'm going to pick it up again fresh in a few months - I'm just busy with some other stuff right now.