Chopin Etude Op.25 No.1

[faj]

Another Recording of my practice ... perhaps it's too fast ?...
Any comments/ advice welcome

Regards,
Faj

P.S : same with my other recording, I'm using Handycam's mic (monitor out go into P.C). Seems it couldn't capture the sustaining tone/ reverb of ther room clearly. Sorry for that ...

[pianistimo]

i really like this tempo.  the pedalling is a bit unclear in places - but wow - you must be very happy to have learned this etude.  now, it's just clearing it up in the places that it's 'muddy' with the pedal.  so many people would kill to play this etude as effortlessly as you do.  well, maybe not kill - but you know what i mean.

[teresa_b]

Hi Faj,

Congrats on getting most of the notes!  But it sounds like Chopin on a freight train!  The tempo is way too fast, resulting in muddy arpeggios.  These accompanying arpeggios of course are not meant to sound like a series of discrete notes, but they must be clear, rippling and shimmering.  Don't forget the whole musical point of the arpeggios--to connect the melody into a legato whole. 

Work on playing this much more slowly.  Also, play the melody by itself and leave out the arpeggios.  Listen to the flow and think about phrasing.  Rather than trying for maximum speed, relax with it and bring out those wonderful melodies and counter-melodies.

Good start--Have fun!
Teresa

[faj]

Thanks for your comments !

Hi Pianistimo, seems you now became a speed demon 
But thanks a lot for you're kind input

Teresa, "Chopin on freight train" …. haha .... yes I fully understood .....   
Hmm, When playing this, I felt I already bring out the arpeggio quite clean enough.
But perhaps that's only my feeling.... and your comments are real 

Actually I recorded this together with appassionata only for my self, for analyzing purpose. But I think It would be better to also get inputs/ feedback/ advice from this great forum.

Highly Appreciate both your comments/ advice.

Regards,
Faj

[teresa_b]

faj,

I want to apologize for that "freight train" comment--it was off-the-cuff and not as thoughtful as it could have been. 

You have a wonderful technique, and you need only to refine your Chopin to bring out the artistry.  The clarity may have been obscured by the recording.  I have a definite preconception of this piece at the usual slower tempo.  I do believe you will be able to bring out the beautiful phrasing much more if you don't give it a driving quality, but approach it in a more relaxed manner.   

And you are doing great on your Appassionata!

Teresa

[zheer]

  Thanks Faj for posting. I agree this Etude must sound fast,but it should'nt be played fast. I really good teacher recently said that one should play slow but make it sound fast.Hence we often creat illusion on the piano.
   Am sure as you analyze your own recording you will change a thing or two, good luck.

[pianowolfi]

It's indeed very fast. On the other hand, Chopin's tempo mark is very fast too. And according to Schumann Chopin didn't let hear all the single notes of the arpeggios. It was more "like a waving of the a^b maj. chord, from time to time risen with the pedal" as he wrote. Ok, though I am not sure if you are sometimes cheating a bit in that you are playing the respective third note after the melody note before the second one. I mean for instance in the first bar you would play (r.h.) E^b C A^b instead of E^b A^b C. So it sounds a bit flighty over all. But that could be fixed easily I guess.

[anastazia]

hey,
that was really good! the only thing i might change is perhaps playing it slower?? also, i think you could maybe make the dynamics a bit more varied, but that's merely my opinion...
other than that, i think it's great!
~anastazia

[steve jones]

You know, Im not sure that this is too fast at all. Not imo. But what you could do with is more dynamic in the phrasing and more rubato. It is the relentless pace that gives it that 'freight train' effect. If you could use a natural rubato and dynamic (dynamics should even be marked on the score!) to provide the greater 'shape' to the phrasing, then it should be in the bag.

SJ

[faj]

Thanks a lot for all of your feedback ! ….
Yes I personally like the tempo, but want to hear "generally accepted" good tempo.
Btw, I ddn't mean to play AFAP. The tempo came naturally to me.

Pianowoli, thanks for your feedback!. After reading your post, I soon check my playing.
Well, It sounds strange and rather difficult to me to play as per your "cheating" suggestion.
But, in the middle in some bars, I tend to do that unintensionally. Thanks to help me find things to improve.

Also thanks for all great advice here... That's very helpful for me to improve

Regards,
Faj

[steve jones]

Yeah, I had been told that the accompaniment should sound like a harmonious 'cloud', with the clarity being in the melody. My favorite interpretations manage to achieve this effect.

SJ

[jazzyprof]

Very nice, Faj.  Impressive speed!  You timed in at 1:49 so you really have nimble fingers.  However I do agree with most of the listeners here that it could be a little slower.  That allows the music to breathe.  My favorite recordings of this etude are somewhat slower: Perahia(2:15), Pollini (2:21), Horowitz (2:24).  Think about how a singer would sing the melody line.  Keep up the good work! 

[faj]

Hi jazzyprof , Apreciate your comment and suggestion, thanks a lot !

Best regards,
Faj