Rachmaninoff Prelude Op. 32, No. 12 in G-sharp minor

[jlh]

Seems that Rachmaninoff preludes are pretty popular now... 

Here's my contribution to the Rachmaninoff Prelude rage.  Hope you like!

Edit:  I have included another of my recordings of this Prelude.  The first one is from my 2005 senior recital, and the second one is from the undergraduate honor recital 2 years earlier in 2003.  Which do you like better?  What did I do best in each recording? What could be better in each?  Did the piece improve in your perception over this 2 year span?

I personally have already answered these questions for myself, but I would really like to hear what you all think as well.

Thanks!

Josh

[lostinidlewonder]

Your playing is decieving in parts for instance when you play the final note in the first arpeggiated chord in the LH 0:14secs, the Rh is not there. You can get away with it because we are distracted by the melody in the LH, but to someone who has heard this many times will pick it out. The interaction between the two hands is mumbled throughout the piece but not too often, so careful when you are picking out your melody, the support needs more balance in this recording.

The opening RH, the middle note is too loud, it is sticking out like a sore thumb. I also couldn't help but think you where to heavy at the beginning of cresendo's and not gentle enough in the softer dynamic ranges making your playing a little harsh overall.

Not as annoying as some people I have heard played it, so it is listenable but only just, work more on lightening your touch soften your hands.

The honor recital recording is much better, despite some note slips which don't really matter anyway it is much better played, far more superior in my opinion.

[teresa_b]

Very nice!  I listened to both and I feel you improved in the later one, with better cohesiveness and "flow" of the whole piece.  Maybe you could do a touch more rubato in the long melody lines, but overall, I liked it very much!

Teresa

[jlh]

Very nice!  I listened to both and I feel you improved in the later one, with better cohesiveness and "flow" of the whole piece.  Maybe you could do a touch more rubato in the long melody lines, but overall, I liked it very much!

Teresa

By later one are you talking about the honor recital one or the one from the senior recital?

[teresa_b]

I liked your 2005 recording better. 

Teresa

[jlh]

Thanks! 

It seems we already have an excellent case study for individual tastes in performance going on here.  Both recordings are unique in interpretation, spanning a couple years of pianistic thought and development. 

Perhaps one day I'll perform this again and make a recording that is better than both of them... we'll see.  I've got too many other projects I'm currently working on to think about that any time soon.