Rachmaninoff Prelude Fingering :S

[nanabush]

I'm starting the Bb major prelude op 23 #2 and I have a book of the preludes with MINIMAL fingering.  I've found several versions online that have no fingering, and this prelude happens to have no fingering in my edition (it has some, but in obvious places that don't really need it indicated)  I noticed instantly the left hand span is HUGE and found this fingering works for me:

1&5 (on the octave Bb's)  4 - 2 - 1 - 4 - 3 - 1&2 - 3 - 4 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 5 - etc, etc...

Is this correct?  I'm not sure if this is the intended fingering at all, but I've tried a couple things, and this one seems to work, it's just awkward playing anything at all after the octave Bb's.  How legato does the left hand have to be, and in this part is pedalling a necessity in keeping the left hand legato?  Generally, what do I have to do to make the left hand keep the sweeping motion in the initial fingering.  (more questions will come later when I get further in the prelude )

[pianistimo]

i've not worked this with a teacher - but i like to use this fingering in the lh:

51, 421 54 21 34 124...  the reason i use 54 is to reach the third easily and quickly.  the crossover of the pinky isn't that hard.  it's a sort of sweeping movement just naturally moving your hand up the keybaord as you play.

[pianistimo]

in measure four on the third beat, i use:  35 (together) 421 (accent on 1) 543212  then chord.

[nicco]

From the start I would use:

1 - 4 - 2 - 1 - 5 - 4 - 1 - 3 - 4 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 5 - etc
5                              2

[nanabush]

Ah! K thanks for clearing that up; puts a little less strain on my hand.

[rob47]

Don't worry, I'm here now

Heres a good one for the opening

1-5 on the octave then: 5,3,2,1,4
(pause, relax)
1-2 on the third then: 3,4,1,2,3

5,3,2,1,4,3
(pause, relax)
1-2 on the third then: 3,4,1,2,3 (or 4 maybe)

I think it's important to practice going up and practice goin down as two separate phrases (starting on the oct going up, n then starting on the 3rd goign down, which is why i wrote pause relax in between them; only for practicing though)

also helpful is two have an even 6 beats ready to go in your mind so you're not bashing out the octave pausing then starting the rest of the figure, so use the metronome for that.

"there is no escape -- we pay for the violence of our ancestors"

ROBBAH out

[pianowolfi]

True da robbah. I mean the fingering I use the same.

[classical pianist]

Here is the magic fingering.... please observe the different between two groups.

51- 4-2-1-5-4-21-3-4-1-2-4 then 5-4-2-1-5-4-21-3-1-2-3-5 -51

This fingering is so easy... 

To practise to get use to the thumb turing position, exagerately emphasize the thumb.