Chopin Etude, Op.25 Op.1 "Harp Etude" video..

[jeff135]

It's still a work in progress (sorta), I am just putting the final touches on it.

It's almost note perfect (a few minor slips) but the tonal quality and cleanliness of the sound is due mainly to the poor recording quality -- it was recorded off my cousin's cell phone. The dynamics are also kind of messed up by it, but it is still listenable. =P

Any comments, praise or criticism, would be very much appreciated =)

PS: I have already recieved comments on a few beats that I skipped and I have dealt with those.

Thanks to all who watch =)

[virtuosic1]

It's still a work in progress (sorta), I am just putting the final touches on it.

It's almost note perfect (a few minor slips) but the tonal quality and cleanliness of the sound is due mainly to the poor recording quality -- it was recorded off my cousin's cell phone. The dynamics are also kind of messed up by it, but it is still listenable. =P

Any comments, praise or criticism, would be very much appreciated =)

PS: I have already recieved comments on a few beats that I skipped and I have dealt with those.

Thanks to all who watch =)

I disagree with the almost note perfect statement. Now, could have been nerves because the tape was running, but I really believe that the errors aren't because the piece is beyond your technical capabilities. Quite frankly, I believe that the errors are due to not knowing the music precisely. Restudy the music. Be able to play any one random bar of your choice perfectly. be able to stop at any point, and resume moments later. Engrain the music in your mind, not your muscle memory, and all the errors will dissappear for good. And STOP looking at the keys. The hands are very static laterally on this Etude, you don't need your eyes to target. Use your mind.

[cygnusdei]

That was an impressive cellphone. It even has a sepia tone filter ?
You play very well and the minor slips don't bother me at all. My suggestion would be to avoid abrupt tempo changes, which destroy the phrases. Try playing it with straight at a slower, steady tempo. I think immediately you will recognize the natural places for appropriate rubato at the end of phrases. In my experience, this much rubato is more than enough, and the piece will benefit from the singing, bel canto-like quality of the phrasing.

Keep up the good work!

[cloches_de_geneve]

That was an impressive cellphone. It even has a sepia tone filter ?
You play very well and the minor slips don't bother me at all. My suggestion would be to avoid abrupt tempo changes, which destroy the phrases. Try playing it with straight at a slower, steady tempo. I think immediately you will recognize the natural places for appropriate rubato at the end of phrases. In my experience, this much rubato is more than enough, and the piece will benefit from the singing, bel canto-like quality of the phrasing.
Keep up the good work!

Well done, I think you are almost there. I agree with cygnus about the excessive tempo shifts. More generally, I don't think you have to "do" so much with this etude; if you play it naturally, the music speaks for itself. A few additional suggestions: I think that the phrasing in the first eight bars and around the climax need some additional work. I wasn't sure that you always knew how you want your phrasing to be, exactly. In bars 15-16 you may want to work out the "second melody" a bit more.

[jeff135]

Thanks, I will be sure to try out the suggestions I have been given so far.

Any more comments would be appreciated. 

[teresa_b]

Very nice!    I agree with the comments about doing a bit of work on the phrasing and evenness of tempo.  I have no problem with your taking some rubato--this is Romantic music.  Maybe think a little more now in terms of unifying the atmosphere of the piece so it sounds like one continuous whole.

Great work!
Teresa

[el nino]

you are very talented! but,let it flow a little bit more. rubato is a beutiful thing but you are exaggerating. this is a very simple melody,dont play it as if it is a piece that will change the world. i think you have excellent possibilities.

[frederic chopin]

Well done and great work!

A few comments:
It may be the recording, but if not, be more careful with the pedalling to prevent too much smudging.
Bring out the inner voices more - don't just concentrate on the top line. There is a lovely inner melody for about one bar in the first page.
Try to keep the inner notes more subtle and less intrusive.
Don't hesitate between phrases too much in the middle - it spoils the effect leading to the climax.
As mentioned in previous posts, let the music speak for itself. Don't try to push it too much!

 

[gyzzzmo]

Decent performance. Read well what the previous poster wrote (fredric chopin).

Good luck.

[jeff135]

Yes, I will try to keep the rubato down a bit. Now that I listen to it, I see what you mean 

The loud inner voices that you hear are influenced by the quality, that has actually been one of my prime areas of work when I have been working on this piece. It is really much more subtle in person, though I can see why you'd be led to think that from the video.

Again I apologize for the poor quality 

That said, again I greatly appreciate all the comments 

[pianistimo]

i really like the lightness of your playing.  really enjoyed it.  perhaps the rubatos will be less - but keep the nice 'mood' changes that you do on the harmonic shifts.  they are impressive.   it's like some kind of kaleidoscope.  i really like the effort to different tonal shadings.

[jeff135]

Thanks pianissimo, I really appreciate your kind words 

I have decided to town down the rubato so it doens't influence the pace of the piece, though I try to make the phrases swell a bit, sort of soothing.

That's my interpretation anyway, but I tried to cut down on the excessiveness.

I'll try to post another video soon, but I don't have a camara and my cousin is away right now.

[frederic chopin]

We look forward to your next video.