Piano Forum

Piano Board => Repertoire => Topic started by: pianoperfmajor on October 12, 2005, 02:41:23 AM

Title: Another Ballade in G Minor Thread
Post by: pianoperfmajor on October 12, 2005, 02:41:23 AM

I'm wondering if anyone can tell me how important it is to actually hold those whole notes while playing the octaves on the fourth page?  Also, a couple pages later when the left hand has the octaves and the right has the broken chord patterns with the 3rd and 5th eighths marked as quarters, indicating to hold them for the two eighth notes.. (sorry I don't have my music with me to refer to exact measure numbers).  Should those quarters actually be held?  That makes it a lot more uncomfortable to play... Thanks a lot.

Title: Re: Another Ballade in G Minor Thread
Post by: quantum on October 12, 2005, 04:00:14 AM

Regarding the whole notes:  If you can hold them, by all means do so - it requires supple fingers.  More importantly however is to hold the sound.  Maybe try holding them half way, then let the pedal keep the sound for the rest of the bar.  Obviously the melody notes will be more prominent in this passage, so don't get too caught up in holding. 

RH quarter holds with eighth notes broken: because this passage is going quite quickly I'd say bringing out the melodic line shown by the quarters is more important than holding for the full value.  Try playing this passage as solid chords along with LH bass.  The harmonic progression will be come much clearer, and this will hopefully help you direct this passage. 

Title: Re: Another Ballade in G Minor Thread
Post by: chopiabin on October 12, 2005, 07:03:10 PM

I agree. There is a lot of precedent for it too.

You know in op.25 #12 when the piece changes to a Cmajor chord and you have the melody note at the ends of the runs? Well, those are marked as quarters, but people just make sure they are heard as the melody - there would be no way to play it and hold the notes.

Also Rach's prelude in C#minor has whole notes that you can't hold while you play the rest of the measure.

Title: Re: Another Ballade in G Minor Thread
Post by: allthumbs on October 12, 2005, 10:13:51 PM

Quote from: chopiabin on October 12, 2005, 07:03:10 PM

Also Rach's prelude in C#minor has whole notes that you can't hold while you play the rest of the measure.

Try using the sostenuto pedal for the whole notes. This may apply to the G minor although I not familiar with that one.

Cheers

allthumbs

Title: Re: Another Ballade in G Minor Thread
Post by: chopiabin on October 13, 2005, 07:06:58 AM

I was just pointing out that there are times when a whole note means you have to just hold it with the pedal while playing other melody stuff on top.

Title: Re: Another Ballade in G Minor Thread
Post by: allthumbs on October 14, 2005, 03:47:51 AM

Exactly. :)