Help with Rachmaninov Prelude in B flat, Op. 23, No. 2

[robbycanuck]

Hi all:

I am just beginning to learn this Prelude and am having trouble coming up with a workable fingering for the opening figure in the left hand.  I have average sized hands (can handle at 10th).  Could anyone give me some suggestions that may work?

Any other suggestions for tackling this work (either technical or interpretive) would be appreciated.

Many thanks.

Rob

[m1469]

Hi Rob, welcome to Piano Street 

I also have a reach of a tenth, and this is the best I could come up with :

(1) 5321 4(1)34 124 31 321 4(1)34 124 (1)...
(5)          (2)                      (2)          (5)...


I would be interested to know how it works out for you   

m1469

[mwf]

Hi, be warned this is a difficult piece, probably one of the hardest preludes he wrote I think, I have not attempted it yet, but I consider it a great piece with the most beautiful middle section involving the theme in the left hand with all those double notes in the right, sublime music.

The left hand needs a lot of attention yes, but so does the right hand to master the double note semi-quavers, not easy. I heard from the famous english pianist peter donahoe (not sure about spelling) that this piece requires huge virtuoisty. I hate those left hand runs throughout, you need to just go for it.

[ramseytheii]

Hi all:

I am just beginning to learn this Prelude and am having trouble coming up with a workable fingering for the opening figure in the left hand.  I have average sized hands (can handle at 10th).  Could anyone give me some suggestions that may work?

Any other suggestions for tackling this work (either technical or interpretive) would be appreciated.

Many thanks.

Rob

Here is the fingering I use.
1 5 2 1 5 4 1  3 4 1 2 4 5 3 2 1 etc.
(45)           (2)
(I usually double on black key octaves)


A variant could be, (just the top fingers),
1 5 2 1 5 4 1 4 5 1 2 4 5 etc.

I hope that is some help to you.  I don't have any problems playing this left hand figuartion, with this fingering, a tempo.

Walter Ramsey

[tds]

ive played this piece many times and will be performing it again in an international piano competition in europe. yes, as one has suggested, the middle section is extremely difficult. every pianist must work hard on this part to really master it ( both technique and memory ).

ok. my fingering is similar to mayla's ( but different ). here it is:

BAR 1:
1 5321  5134  1235321  54134  123
5             2                          2


BAR 3, 3rd and 4th beats:
5321   54145  125
               2

the space represents the shift of hand position. i find this fingering works great. all the best, tds

[jim_24601]

My fingering is very nearly the same as tds': (14) 5321 4(12)34 1235321 54(12)34 123. Last beat of bar 3: (12)45125.

Good luck!

[darkthrone666]

Well it seems I have a little bit bigger hand size seeing as I can reach and 11th.  But this is the fingering I use for the opening line:

1 4 2 1 4 3 (1,2) 3 4 1 2 3 5 3 4 1 4 3 (1,2) 4 3 1 2 3 1
4                                                                                 4

if you use this fingering make sure that you are playing legato to the Bflat triad, and are not hopping up to it. 

P.S. make sure to keep you hands relas