Un Sospiro help

[jz_rach2]

currently i am working on Liszt's Un Sospiro and will need to have it beautifully learned and memorized for my next piano lesson this coming Thursday. i'm doing this because my coming lesson will be the last lesson i have with my piano teacher: i am moving on to a higher level with an university prof. but that's not my point, i just learned Un Sospiro about 2 weeks ago and i'm still having troubles playing the last 2 pgs without having to stop. does anyone have any suggestions on how exactly to practise it in such a short period of time?? i also have 2 music exams(history and counterpoint) coming up =( so it looks like i'll only have a few hours a day. this is important, though, that i play well on my last lesson. i'm doing this for my piano teacher and also myself. i love un sospiro. can anyone help??
thanks.. 

[happyface94]

If you have technical problems, play it slow and repeat the difficulties until your fingers really learn the position you need to take. Memorisation, do it by phrases.

[galonia]

Actually, Un Sospiro is one of the easiest pieces ever to memorise, because it is super-repetitive and if you can see where the melody is, and what pattern the harmony takes, you're most the way there.

That's how I did it - I just worked that out in each section.

[prettypianoplaying]

I played this for my final examination.  All the notes under the melody belong to a chord during the last 2 pages.  Figure out what those chords are and memorize the pattern.  At the very ending memorize how the chords change and move, and get used to the feeling.

This is how I fixed the technical problems on the last page: (my hands are small and cant reach all the notes all the time).  Make sure your arm is always lined up behind the finger playing!! and you dont have to play at top speed...... until you get closer and closer to the end (makes for excitment), then slow down again while you go through the last part!!!!  I 've heard lots of recordings where they dont play at top speed in this passage ALL the way through!

These last 2 pages are the esiest of the whole piece I think.  It shouldnt take too long to memorize.

Good luck!

[jz_rach2]

thanks~ prettypianoplaying
and everyone else:)
i find slow practising really helps but the most challenging part of the piece to me would be the variation where the left hand has the melody in 8ves.  my piano teacher adviced that i play the melody of the piece for a couple of times everyday before starting to practise easy part indiviudally. i'm not sure if everyone else finds that helpful in shaping the melody.