Grieg Concerto & Chopin Etudes

[pianobabe56]

Okay. I've got a couple of questions for you fine people:

1) Did Rubinstein or Ashkenazy make a single recording of the complete Chopin Etudes? I can find a complete recording on one disc made by Pollini or Perahia, but I'm particularly interested in Rubinstein or Ashkenazy. If they did make the recording, could you tell me where I might find it?

2) On a completely unrelated topic: In Grieg's piano concerto in A minor (Op. 16), around m. 85 (give or take a few, minus the cadenza), where it goes into sixteenth-note chromatic octaves, and eventually into groups of seven (sevenlets?  ), I'm hitting a real speed-wall. I can play them fine slowly, and my teacher recommends that if worse comes to worst, we can just drop the bottom/top note off the octave, but I'd really like to keep the complete octave. Any advice on how to speed that up?

~Thanks tons in advance!

[rohansahai]

Okay. I've got a couple of questions for you fine people:

1) Did Rubinstein or Ashkenazy make a single recording of the complete Chopin Etudes? I can find a complete recording on one disc made by Pollini or Perahia, but I'm particularly interested in Rubinstein or Ashkenazy. If they did make the recording, could you tell me where I might find it?

2) On a completely unrelated topic: In Grieg's piano concerto in A minor (Op. 16), around m. 85 (give or take a few, minus the cadenza), where it goes into sixteenth-note chromatic octaves, and eventually into groups of seven (sevenlets? ), I'm hitting a real speed-wall. I can play them fine slowly, and my teacher recommends that if worse comes to worst, we can just drop the bottom/top note off the octave, but I'd really like to keep the complete octave. Any advice on how to speed that up?

~Thanks tons in advance!

1. Rubinstein did not record the etudes, ashkenazy did, try www.cduniverse.com or amazon.
2. With the octaves, try varying the wrist positions. It would be a good idea to raise the wrist a bit (but still keeping it supple). I'm not sure of the passage, but seeing that its chromatic, then, if you have big hands, maybe you can try the fingering 1-3 also. Practice the octaves, playing just the bottom note with the thumb alone , then  the top note with the 4th and 5th (or 3rd, if you find it comfortable). Build speed with the thumb alone and the pink/4th/3rd alone, then put them together. however, make sure that you have a regular wrist action, its crucial.

[viking]

I've got a suggestion on a practice technique for the octaves.  Try playing the first octave, then rest with your hands still on the keys, then go from the octave (G hypothetically) to the G flat as fast as you can.  So in time it would be like this  G.......................G..Gflat.....................Gflat..F....................F..E..............E..Eflat..etc...
This gives you time to rest inbetween the octaves but increases time in between playing the notes.  I probably didnt explain to well,  but its kinda tough on a forum.  Just try to make it a double dotted rhythm if you know what i mean.  Hope i could be of help.
SAM

[paris]

Did Rubinstein or Ashkenazy make a single recording of the complete Chopin Etudes?

Ashkenazy made recording of complete chopin etudes, except 'trois nouvelles etudes'
For Rubinstein i don't know