Beethoven: Waldstein 1st mvt.

[rohansahai]

Here's my humble rendition of this monumental killer...

[tds]

mom liked it. me sister said it was ok. i'd say you pretty coo. tds

[pianohopper]

I am probably not qualified to judge this, but I will offer a few suggestions. 

Measure 12:  Keep your eight notes in time.  You slow down much too much, it breaks up the flow.

M 31 - 34:  Your eight notes are not stacatto.  They should be more detached and bouncy.  Don't slow down coming into measure 35.

M 37:  sf - be louder and fade quieter

M 80 - 84: don't slow down!

M 98 - 99:  Gradually crescendo, there doesn't seem to be enough contrast in volume here.

M 100:  piano sustained until measure 102, then crescendo to end of 103. 

M 165:  I'm sure ou know it; your left hand got mixed up. 

M 167, 169:  Again, do not slow down there.  Perhaps pause a little longer before the Ab and Bb, for surprise. 

M 171 - 173:  Take it easy here, it sounds like you sped up a lot and this made the notes sloppy. 

M 193:  Again, staccato. 

M 261:  Don't slow down!!!!

M 273 - 275:  I think you are leaving out important notes in the left hand.  Is this intentional? 

M 284:   Make the fermata chord bigger, just as loud as the one in the previous measure. 

M 303:  don't hold the final chord so long.

I may have counted the measures at the end off by one, my score doesn't have numbers, so I did it by hand. 

Overall, a fair interpretation --But keep in mind do not slow down unless it is specifically noted in the score. 

[sonatainfsharp]

I only had time to listen to 1 minute and 12 seconds of it, but let me tell you that I CAN'T WAIT to hear more of it!

Very mature and musical. A few technical things, but you have a great start on what I heard (so far) and again I can't wait to hear the rest!

 

[Jacey1973]

It's lovely - well done! A sonata i'd love to try sometime soon, it certainly sounds challenging but overall i think you do a good job - especially technically. How long have you been working on it? Do you play the whole sonata?

I was also wondering - how do you make such a clear recording? What equipment have you got? Is it on an electric piano?

[sonatainfsharp]

I already had a chance to listen to the whole thing and take some notes.

Overall, good start, the piece suits you, but don't schedule a performance just yet...


You exposition is fantastic for the most part! I was quite pleased.
*I thought your use of the pedal in the opening was quite effective.
*Make sure you know where the RH motive is going, though.
*12-13: Your rit. is understood, but maybe a little TOO much for the style, but that is completely up to you and your education about the piece beyond the notes.
*14-20: Slow practice; your hands are NOT together, not even close.
*Going into 35 was great and very effective; I liked your sostenuto feel regarding the choral section. One of my favorite parts of your performance.
*61-67: This section needs a lot of slow practice, but nothing 15-20 minutes can't solve.
*81-89: This section didn't do it for me. I am not sure what the deal was, but I didn't like it at all. I am sorry I couldn't be more constructive. I am very curious what others think.

Like I said, your exposition was very strong and I liked it a lot.
Unfortunately, after the repeat, things took an unexpected turn. I was really rooting for you, but my  turned into a    after the double-bar.

Since I was so nice in the beginning and because I know you could have this thing ready to perform in a few months or less, I am going to be very candid here:
*112-139: This was the best fake job I have ever heard. Please slow waaaay down when you practice this part.
*The same goes for 142-150 or so.
*I LOVED 167-170. Very effective.
*171-174: I don't understand what you were doing here.
*Overall tempo of the piece: You can certainly take liberties with your tempo here and there, but you have some sections that are so far off from your original tempo, I couldn't keep track of what was going on. For example, the first time you introduced the choral theme, the flux in tempo was actually very nice, but then your liberties with tempo during other sections started making the piece sound more like a fantasy than a single movement of a sonata.

Again, overall I was pleased with it and extremely pleased with certain other parts. You have put too much into this already to not polish the thing up. There are some places that need a lot of polish (maybe 2 or 3 bottles), but it isn't anything you can't do in a very reasonable amount of time.

I am very curious to hear what the more seasoned teachers have to say about this. And I am curious about what your own teacher has said to you in the past regarding this piece.

Have you started the third movement yet? Generally, when learning a sonata, I think it is a waste not to learn all the movements at the same time--they are meant to go together anyway.

[rohansahai]

Thank you so much for your comments ...... very helpful , since my teacher isn't here at the moment. I'll definitely go through the music once again and try out all your suggestions .... maybe even post a recording after its done. I am supposed to perform this end of november and early december , so I guess I have some time to chalk out these pointers.
Where the recording is concerned, I recorded this in a pro studio on a Grotrian Steinweg 7 ft(or maybe 8 ..but not 9). Its supposed to be my screening piece for all the conservatories I'm applying to.
Yes I've done the 3rd movement too and will be posting it soon ..... Keep the tips coming.. thanks !! 

[rimv2]

The intro was too sl*w. Fix it and all will be forgiven.

[rohansahai]

Hey, keep the tips coming guys !!!....slyly puts the thread on top of the board again.

[Dazzer]

well generally its not so much the piece then your technique

1) you need to fix your 8 notes... alot of them are very uneven.
2) phrasing. generally the musical sense is such that you should exit a phrase "gracefully".

[rohansahai]

well generally its not so much the piece then your technique
2) phrasing. generally the musical sense is such that you should exit a phrase "gracefully".

Can you expand a lil more on that, please? Thanks !

[zheer]

Its you again i think, you have worked hard on this sonata. It has improved a lot,
My god dont you find it hard playing on an electric piano.

[rohansahai]

Its you again i think, you have worked hard on this sonata. It has improved a lot,
My god dont you find it hard playing on an electric piano.

Er..the Grotrian Steinweg people would kill you for that ! It was recorded on an 8 ft semi concert grand ! I think you are mistaking me for someone else...this is the first time i've put this recording up.

[zheer]

Sorry, you are not pianohoper she playd this sonata on a electronic piano, that piano sounds so much like an electric piano. Trust me listen to pianohopper play this sonata its on the same page.
     Did you play this sonata in a very small room.

[pianohopper]

Sorry, you are not pianohoper she playd this sonata on a electronic piano, that piano sounds so much like an electric piano. Trust me listen to pianohopper play this sonata its on the same page.

Pardon me --- she?

[zheer]

I gess am in a no win situation.

[apion]

Nice job on the 1st mvt; can you play the 3rd movement?