F. Chopin Polonaise "Heroic" Op. 53 in Ab (any comments will be welcome)

[cardinals]

I realized I kind of messed up in the LH octaves in the middle (i.e., repetition of ED#C#B) and think more practice should be focused on the slow part right after then...

But I think it's better to post it here to get any comments from you to improve it and upload better one in the next month...

Live recorded with the CASIO px-310 in my dorm just a few hours ago...

ALSO, important question...are there any tips for playing or practising the left hand octaves (couple of ED#C#B's and EbDCBb's) in pp with no missing notes at full tempo (with relaxation, of course)?

(maximum volume setting (both PC and player) recommended)

[pianistimo]

51, 31, 41, 51 might work.

but, now that i think about it - it's staccato throughout - so you probably could use 51, 41, 41,51 with no problem.  sor t of a quick 'flop, flop' on the black note octaves.

[faj]

You did it very well !
For repeated octave, I think you already got speed there, but did you try to lift the fingers/ hand not too high from the key (so just like moving your hand almost only horizontally) ?
Also the noises of the recording are quite disturbing.
But once again, you did it very well.

[quantum]

Good Job! 

For the long scale runs (the ones in small notes) I think you could start much softer then give crescendo, it will help lead them to the top better. 

Octaves.  After playing this piece myself for a long time, I had realized that the pre-occupation with the LH accuracy seems to hinder the passage.  Remeber the RH has the melody, you can do more to shape the phrasing in the RH.  Also it seems that your LH is heavier than your RH - lighten up the LH it doesn't need to be so loud and bring out the RH.  LH is only accompaniment, lightening up the LH will also help relieve fatigue. Think of a supple wrist.

I use 5 4 4 5 for the E maj, then 4 5 5 4 for D#.  Also try to minimize the in and out movement (towards and away from the fallboard) of the hand on the keys.  I like to keep the hand over the point where the black keys end in the middle of the white keys.  If I play the white keys at the very edge I have to move my hand towards the fallboard to play blacks plus the reverse, and I find that is a lot of wasted movement.  So I find keeping your hand in a position where it can reach both blacks and whites easily is important.

Single note melodic section just after octaves.  Take advantage of the contrast the section provides and sing the melodies, no need to rush.  Also can be a lot softer, so the return of the main theme is even more grand.