Revolutionary Etude... in Octaves!

[e60m5]

Hey guys. I haven't been to this forum in a while, as I've been overseas for a couple of weeks... it's nice to be back.

Earlier tonight, I read about Alexander Dreyschock's feat of playing the Revolutionary Etude in octaves.

Here's an interesting link, with an account of this feat and Liszt's response...

https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/notes/67086.html

Now... I think I've found my goal for the next year or so.  

Yeah, I'm going to try to be the second guy to play this etude in octaves. Do you guys think I'm insane for trying...?

I mean, it is possible, after all, that guy did do it...

What are all your opinions on this? I do know the piece, as I learnt it 6 years ago and still remember it fine. So, I don't have to learn the notes... just the technique...  

Have I finally gone insane?

[Diabolos]

Hi.

Nope, you're not insane. In fact, years ago a Russian composer edited every single Chopin etude so they would be more difficult, so this is probably his version; I don't remember this guys name, but I remember it reading in a book about Gieseking.

I also remember that Gieseking played the Revolutionary-octave version, too..

The question is whether one really needs to play that piece in Octaves - what would Chopin say? ;-)

However, good luck with it!

Regards,

[e60m5]

Heh... the Russian dude was Godowsky, if we're thinking about the same things.

It's not actually a new arrangement of the Revolutionary... what Dreyschock did was just take Chopin's version, and render the left hand all in octaves...

I just returned from the piano, and to do this, he had to raise the right hand up an octave, as the extra note has to be the octave ABOVE the written left hand - either that, or his pianos in the 1800s had a bigger range than ours. Well, that, OR I could perform on a Bosendorfer Imperial Grand. Only practising would be a problem with only a standard 88 keyd piano...

But, I definitely will give it a go! Thanks for the encouragement!

[chopiszte]

Go for it, but I'm sorry to say you won't be the second person to do so, Dreyshock wasn't the only person to do this.

[BoliverAllmon]

True, not the first but definately an accomplishment.

BoliverAllmon

[e60m5]

Well, that's pretty much a granted that I won't be the second.

But, if I ever manage... I'll have accomplished something to myself, which I guess is a bonus.

[dj]

sorry, excuse my ignorance but what exactly does it mean 2 play the left hand in octaves?

[e60m5]

Like... instead of playing single notes, play the note with the additional note above. Instead of playing just one C, play that C, and the C above it too with the same hand.

This is, however, seeming like quite a challenge... anyone have any advice? Beyond the normal advice regarding wrist usage and arm usage on octave technique, does anyone have any other practical advice? I do realise that there is more than one way to do anything; and that as everyone is built different physiologically, there is definitely no "miracle octave technique". But any tips in general - such as how to reduce tension build up, how to control dynamics with such fast octaves?

I know there are very knowledgeable and experienced pianists out there that can help me... I'm counting on you guys for advice...

[cziffra]

there is definitely no "miracle octave technique". But any tips in general - such as how to reduce tension build up, how to control dynamics with such fast octaves?

you tell that to gyorgy cziffra- have you heard is hungarian rhapsody no. 6 performance?  the RH octaves at the end are like 10 per second, at least.  

[Hmoll]

you tell that to gyorgy cziffra- have you heard is hungarian rhapsody no. 6 performance?  the RH octaves at the end are like 10 per second, at least.  

Cziffra "cheats" in this section. He only plays every other note as an octave. The reason I put "cheats" in quotation marks is I can't decide whether his way of playing it is actually more difficult or not.

[thracozaag]

Hey guys. I haven't been to this forum in a while, as I've been overseas for a couple of weeks... it's nice to be back.

Earlier tonight, I read about Alexander Dreyschock's feat of playing the Revolutionary Etude in octaves.

Here's an interesting link, with an account of this feat and Liszt's response...

https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/notes/67086.html

Now... I think I've found my goal for the next year or so.  

Yeah, I'm going to try to be the second guy to play this etude in octaves. Do you guys think I'm insane for trying...?

I mean, it is possible, after all, that guy did do it...

What are all your opinions on this? I do know the piece, as I learnt it 6 years ago and still remember it fine. So, I don't have to learn the notes... just the technique...  

Have I finally gone insane?

 Hey, man...whatever blows your hair back....good luck with that.  Don't wreck your arm, though.

[cziffra]

Cziffra "cheats" in this section. He only plays every other note as an octave. The reason I put "cheats" in quotation marks is I can't decide whether his way of playing it is actually more difficult or not.

are you sure?  it doesn't sound like it.

i'm trying to get a bbc video of him playing it, though...can't wait.

[erak]

What do you mean with 'playing every other note as an octave' ?

[Hmoll]

What do you mean with 'playing every other note as an octave' ?

Sorry, my post was not clear. Cziffra does something like this:

Code: [Select]

F G A Bb C Bb A Bb C C C C
F   A    C    A    C   C  

In other words, an octave followed by a single note followed by and octave, etc.

[erak]

Ok sorry if I'm being ignorant, but a C above another C is a C-C chord right? (I've never worked with letters as note names) Well if it is, I understand you:D.
Thanks for the 1337 code.

[BoliverAllmon]

You are correct

[Hilios]

Like... instead of playing single notes, play the note with the additional note above. Instead of playing just one C, play that C, and the C above it too with the same hand.

This is, however, seeming like quite a challenge... anyone have any advice? Beyond the normal advice regarding wrist usage and arm usage on octave technique, does anyone have any other practical advice? I do realise that there is more than one way to do anything; and that as everyone is built different physiologically, there is definitely no "miracle octave technique". But any tips in general - such as how to reduce tension build up, how to control dynamics with such fast octaves?

I know there are very knowledgeable and experienced pianists out there that can help me... I'm counting on you guys for advice...

well like my teachers every said, the hand position is everything, the must be higher than the fingers, and the fingers must be in the right positioning, for a fast play in octaves, u just need not move the space btween ur fingers try to remember and stay in the position of one octave, cause the distance between notes are the same, the rest is the similar tecniche u use to play fast song, alway remembering the positions of ur finger in the keyboard.

Man i will love hear u playing Revolutionary Estude in octaves, this will be a very difficult challange good luck, but with hard study u will do it. go for it!!!!

[cabbynum]

Sorry to bring up a post from the dead, but it's honestly a waste of time to do it in octaves. It's fun and excited for the first 2 pages and then just annoying.
I made it my spring break project last year and that endevour lasted about 3 days before I got bored with it and moved on.

[abel2]

Cziffra "cheats" in this section. He only plays every other note as an octave. The reason I put "cheats" in quotation marks is I can't decide whether his way of playing it is actually more difficult or not.

Yes, Cziffra does do that. I don't know why, he's an excellent pianist, although that recording was not to my liking. I believe the alternate octave technique was Liszt's ossia facilatate,so it's technicly not cheating, but those octaves aren't even that hard. Don't get me wrong, they're a pain, but not so much that someone like Cziffra can't do it. 

[maxy]

Sorry to bring up a post from the dead, but it's honestly a waste of time to do it in octaves. It's fun and excited for the first 2 pages and then just annoying.
I made it my spring break project last year and that endevour lasted about 3 days before I got bored with it and moved on.

BTW, this was a joke topic... TC used to play Islamey quite well, his octaves are fine. 

[cuberdrift]

I think the question would be for you to try playing Cziffra's "Bumble Bee" as fast as his Paris recording first. 

Good luck trying, though. I await your posting of a recording here so we could all take a listen.