Barber, Pas de Deux for 2 pianos.

[xhunterjx]

Hey,

My friend and I played this at a Chamber Music Camp, and I would like some feedback on how we did.

Thanks.

[xhunterjx]

no comments?

[pianistimo]

wow.  that's a beautiful piece.  beautiful playing and beautiful harmonies.  the thing is - to dance to that would be difficult.  can you both play it faster?  you sped it up in the middle and i could start seeing the dancers.  it gave some momentum to the idea of a pas de deux.

[wzkit]

I too have played a number of pieces from Souvenirs, and I like your playing! I think the tempo you've taken is just right. I would play it just as slowly if I were to play it. And you play it beautifully. I love your steadiness of rhythm and phrasing. You've got the feeling just right.

My own recording of the Waltz and Hesitation Tango can be found here.
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,11799.0.html

[xhunterjx]

Thank you wzkit,

I agree with you about the tempo, I dont not feel it is too slow at all.  One of the difficulties of performing that piece was the tempo.  Its hard not to slow down in the middle and get caught up in the moment.  I feel we did a decent job of keeping the tempo almost the same throughout.

[wzkit]

I think if you felt like getting caught up in the moment, by all means! There's no need to feel uncessarily constrained by an artificial need to keep a strict tempo. Just do what feels right. As long as in your judgement you are not overstepping the boundaries of good taste and are not violating the spirit of the music (and I believe you and your partner have good jugement), you guys should play with freedom and spontaniety to maintain freshness.

I always believe discipline with freedom is key in playing such music effectively. 

[xhunterjx]

Unforunately, Camp is over, so I doubt me and my partner will ever work on this again.

I love this piece!

Barber is by far, my favorite 20th century composer.

[paulmt]

I love Barber and you played this piece beautifully. I need to find the sheet music for this now

[jlh]

I think your tempo is perfect. 

You approached and performed this piece correctly IMHO.  I've heard this suite many times and never heard the pas de deux played any faster than this.  The two-step is the next movement and should be faster obviously, but this movement is adagio.  Yes, you could play it faster but I think the melancholy nature of the movement would be lost if you did.

Great job and excellent playing!

[fliszt]

great piece!!! does anyone has the sheet music for me? or knows where i can find it?

[xhunterjx]

I have the sheet music, just IM me and I will send it to you.

AIM= SeizeFate

[xhunterjx]

I think your tempo is perfect.

You approached and performed this piece correctly IMHO.  I've heard this suite many times and never heard the pas de deux played any faster than this.  The two-step is the next movement and should be faster obviously, but this movement is adagio.  Yes, you could play it faster but I think the melancholy nature of the movement would be lost if you did.

Great job and excellent playing!

What does IMHO mean?

[pianistimo]

in my humble opinion. 

i tend to watch too many skater and ballroom dancers.  there is an element of risk in the 'too adagio' tempo for them - but not necessarily for the pianist.  i tend to hear the 1 of the 123 - as the beat that is counted for adagio.  not sure if anyone else would agree - but in my mind's eye - i watch a dancer and see if they can complete a turn and feel the momentum kick them to the next movement.  i feel it in your playing - it's just that one or two (metronome) clicks more would seal it for me.

[xhunterjx]

I see what your saying, but I actually think we played it a bit faster than Barber's actually metronome marking.

Which was a dotted half note equaling 48.

[pianochild]

Very nice I FOUND THE TEMPO TO BE PERFECT!!!

[pianistimo]

she's probably right.  i haven't played this piece - but it was just sort of a 'mind's eye' thing.