R. Schumann: Symphonic Etudes op. 13

[prongated]

From a recent competition. Needless to say, I didn't win it was performed with repeats, but I edited them out. It's on one of the 3 brand new Steinway D's that arrive in NSW/ACT, Australia earlier this year

[iumonito]

Good job, mate.  I would love to hear it with the repeats.  Why did you take them out?

I liked it no less that Kobrin's, so there: I think you play great.

[gerry]

Excellent performance. I don't know what you meant by "needless to say, I didn't win" - must have been a tough competition. Anyway, thanks for sharing, it was nice to sit back and enjoy Schumann. Best wishes for your career.

[daniloperusina]

It lacks control. It's not the occasional wrong notes, it's the way you often loose the quality of your voicings, and it's gets muddy. The rythms too, sometimes beautifully manipulated, sometimes they stray off and the ritardandi and accelerandi are too sudden or too much. That is, the musical idea is not really clear. I'm sure you can keep to your interpretation, because many things you do are exciting and beautiful, it just needs some tidying up.

Or, could one say: you are not the one who's supposed to get emotional and loose control, the audience is..

Anyway, lot's of very good pianoplaying!

[rachfan]

This is an outstanding performance of the Etudes.  I like the interpretation, the sweep, and the individuality that comes through your performance.  This is a major undertaking and achievement.  Congratulations, prongated, on your wonderful playing of Schumann!

[prongated]

I would love to hear it with the repeats. Why did you take them out?

...some of the repeats were horrendous ><...hahaha they were quite bad, but I understand that, at the same time, I'm removing quite a bit of the music, especially since I did plan the repeats differently.

Actually, the reason is, I was thinking of putting this into a tape for an audition of a sort, which I didn't do in the end. Plus, it gave me a chance to muck around with Audacity...so, did you notice the splices? ^^

I don't know what you meant by "needless to say, I didn't win" - must have been a tough competition.

...hahaha...maybe I just wanted to say it was a fantastic experience because I've never done anything like it before - I had a ball that night!

It lacks control.

Thanks for your critical appraisal! Much appreciated! The importance of controlling each and every note is something I started considering only recently - before, I used to 'skim over' any notes that I consider as 'accompaniment'. I think it explains (at least partly) those observations that you made, especially regarding rhythm. I will definitely work on this - and my temperaments >< - when or if ever I get the chance to work on it again.

This is an outstanding performance of the Etudes.

...most of you guys are too kind but thanks

[daniloperusina]

I will definitely work on this - and my temperaments >< - when or if ever I get the chance to work on it again.

Glad you liked my criticism! It's alway difficult to know whether to be perfectly honest or polite. I choose the former
That's the thing, isn't it? You have temperament, and to learn how to use it artistically..
About the splices, yes occasionally I heard them. The trick is that the starting section at the splice must contain the echo of the preceding sound. Say for example that you ended the repeat softer than the first round. Then you cut just before the repeat and paste in the next variation. Then there will be a bumb because the sound carried into the next variation is not corresponding to the end of the first round. There are tricks around that, though, just a little more cumbersome, but it's usually possible to make it perfectly smooth and inaudible.

That also means, NEVER trust professionally released CD's, and think that the artist can actually play so perfectly!

[schubertiad]

Excellent! Certain variations are a little patchier than others (I get the impression that you the first variation a little quicker than you intended) but some are great. No.2 is absolutely brilliant. Where did you place in the competition? Also, any chance of hearing the unedited version? There is no reason to feel embarrassed about any mistakes (particularly when you can play something as tough as this)...

[prongated]

Glad you liked my criticism! It's alway difficult to know whether to be perfectly honest or polite. I choose the former

...hahaha...if I were afraid of honest responses (not that the other ones here aren't ><), I definitely wouldn't upload it here ^^

(I get the impression that you the first variation a little quicker than you intended)

...I think it's more the case of...um...I just had no idea ...to be more specific, having finally heard how I played, I think it's more about how I played those dotted rhythm - I tend to play the semiquaver before the dotted quaver is over...hence it sounds rushed.

Where did you place in the competition?

...finalist, as it were. No placings - just the one winner out of four finalists who went away with a relatively big gong