Mazurka in Ab Op.41 no.4 / Chopin

[arensky]

I recorded this Mazurka this afternoon after eight months away from the piece. Except for a glitch at 1:21 I'm fairly pleased with the results of this impromptu session. Heh, the next four takes were not nearly as good. I'm glad to have acheived this level of spontaneity in my playing.  I wonder what some of you think of it! 

[mephisto]

It's definetly good, especially under the conditions that you mention. I do feel that you hesitate a bit to much. That way it loses some the charm that this piece ibviously needs. Have you heard master Ruby play this piece?

[arensky]

It's definetly good, especially under the conditions that you mention.

Thanks. 

 

I do feel that you hesitate a bit to much. That way it loses some the charm that this piece ibviously needs.

Hmm, I always get two reactions when I play mazurkas; one is yours, which is disturbed by my emphasis on the syncopation and the other where the listener feels that it's not enough syncopation and that I play them like waltzes. Hopefully some other comments will shed some light on this.

Have you heard master Ruby play this piece?

No. I should get his complete Mazurkas; I believe he only recorded all of them once, in the late '50's or early 60's. I wonder if it's still in the bins at the local bookstore....

[mephisto]

No. I should get his complete Mazurkas; I believe he only recorded all of them once, in the late '50's or early 60's.

Actually he recorded all of them three times! One from the 30's, one from the 50's and one from the 60's.

http://www.amazon.com/Rubinstein-Collection-Vol-Fryderyk-Chopin/dp/B00004ZD5E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1199221873&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Rubinstein-Collection-Vol-Fryderyk-Chopin/dp/B000054278/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1199221873&sr=1-8

http://www.amazon.com/Rubinstein-Collection-Vol-Fryderyk-Chopin/dp/B00005426Y/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1199221873&sr=1-11

But I am going a bit off topic