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Topic: Chopin Etude opus25 no2 and Beethovens Appassionata sonata 3rd MVT only.  (Read 8212 times)

Offline zheer

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  Ok i recorded this recently, the etude is only a minute long so it is grouped together with the Appassionata, needs some more time but am happy with it at the moment, any comments are welcome. :)
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Offline zheer

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           :'(
" Nothing ends nicely, that's why it ends" - Tom Cruise -

Offline counterpoint

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I think, both pieces have to be played in a very steady and very fast tempo (even when Beethoven writes Allegro ma non troppo, which is really weird)

Metronome will be very useful with these pieces.

In the Chopin, you play the bass notes (the 5th finger) too soft, I don't even hear some of them. It will sound much better, if you pay more attention on the left hand. The right hand leggiero, with a light accent on the first of every six 8th notes (not on every third note, that would sound too pedantic - perhaps others won't agree with me?)

You're on the right way, speed  will bring the sparkle to it  :)
If it doesn't work - try something different!

Offline teresa_b

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Hi Zheer,

I think you have a good start!  I agree with the above, some metronome practice will be helpful to even out the tempo on both pieces. 

On Chopin I would use less pedal, and really focus on where the phrasing and the movement is going.  I couldn't quite tell what was going on in the middle.

The Appassionata is SO difficult!  You are getting it down really well, but it does eventually need a faster tempo to get that "whirlwind" excitement.  I had trouble hearing what was going on in the lead-in to the coda, and the coda.  It felt like you sped it up but lost the clarity.   

Keep up the good work--these are challenging pieces, and you will play them great! :)
Teresa

Offline remezetti

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Hey,
I'll comment only about Chopin. Just like counterpoint said your left hand needs work. I'd like to comment on your right. I think it needs more work to improve what you've already done to it, and some more after that. It's not even. All the notes are supposed to be even. Try not to do so many tempo changes. You slow down in the places that are hard and then speed up at the places that are easy. Study the right hand all hard isolated and separate and slow. Then move on to very slow with your left, and listen to every note. Also notice that all of your fingers are "working". Soft touch but loud that you can hear every note.

For your left hand. Same thing, play it separate and slow and listen to every note you play. Don't skip the mistakes, if you do the same mistake 3 times and omit it, it'll become a habbit. When you play try less pedal, so that'll make your left hand a bit louder..I hope :S Good luck :)

Oh I listened to your other piece, it sounds very nice. I've never played it before so I can't comment on that.

Good Luck again.

-remezetti

Offline zheer

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You're on the right way, speed  will bring the sparkle to it  :)

   Thanks counterpoint, i know what you are saying about the left hand it is too soft and yes the tempo kind of slow , its funy because even though this etude seems very delicate and simple to play its actualy very difficult to play well.


   teresa_b, the tempo for the appassionat, am not sure possibly faster but definetly needs more clarity, anyway Beethoven does paint a very dark painting with this sonata. The thing about it being difficult , is true, the reason being it keeps on going non stop this sort of forward momentum .

    remezetti, will work on getting the notes more even.

  Thank guys for your comments :)
" Nothing ends nicely, that's why it ends" - Tom Cruise -

Offline counterpoint

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its funy because even though this etude seems very delicate and simple to play its actualy very difficult to play well.

It will get easier and easier the better you play it  :)

The problem with this sort of pieces (I'm talking about the Chopin) is, that you can't force a fast leggiero. It doesn't help to power it up with energy, as you could, if it was a loud piece. The only thing you can do is to hear to what your hands/fingers are playing and to care, that your hand/finger-movements are relaxed. Once again: don't use more power to speed the Chopin up, that would destroy the fragile piece.
If it doesn't work - try something different!

Offline pianistimo

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dear zheer,

the beethoven sounds like a run-on sentence.  of course, i write some of those, too.  in a few places, that is.  whenever you have repetitions - make them different from each other (dynamic wise).

i think the appasionata is a description of a passionate experience.  when you are at the beginning of the movement - you have to have something in mind (like an essay) that you are saying with then entire movement.  also, something unique about this is that you can watch the literal lines of the music make sort of sensuous curves.  i also hear the masculine and feminine side of beethoven come out in this piece.  it is taking mozart a step farther - in 'characters.'   i would show two different qualities of sound with the high treble and low bass.  you are excellent in the bass - but not quite delicate enough with the treble.  it's probably just a matter of time to practice it the way you want to hear it.

you have a strong touch and are getting better.  i think you'd learn 2x as fast with a teacher.  i could see you having these pieces in pretty good shape in two weeks with some more suggestions.  unfortunately, hearing a piece over the internet does not give a teacher enough to work with.   not that i am qualified to teach you - but i think whoever you do work with - will be able to guide your fingers and mental outlook towards the pieces.  sometimes at home we sort of 'fixate.'  it's like 'i only see this'  therefore 'this is the problem.'  whereas a teacher might have you focus somewhere else and automatically it solves the other problems, too.

Offline Kassaa

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The Appassionata is way too unstable, rhytmically and dynamically. You need to work on playing it even, without any accents that shouldn't be there, it's also very unclear, without any clear forming of the melody lines and without clear chords. The tempo you chose for the presto section is way too ambitious, slow it down, make sure everything is rhytmically clear and make sure you play the chords even.

For the Chopin Etude, same as for the Appassionata. The left hand in this piece is more important than the right hand, but you play it like it is less important than the right hand. Make sure you make a nice and light legato sound with the right hand, and make the bass lines in the left hand more clear.

I assume this is still work in progress, I'd love to hear a recording of the pieces when you are 'finished' with them :) .

Offline zheer

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dear zheer,

the beethoven sounds like a run-on sentence. 

  Am Glad you feel passionat about the appassionta, but am not sure what you mean by run-on sentence. As far as i know this sonata was composed in a time of political struggle and Beethovens own unstable and troublesome personal life, reason why its stormy in character.


   Yes thanks Kassaa though am not sure exactly by forming clear melody line, accents and clear chord you might have to be more exact, ie bar line . Thanks anyway.

  As for the Chopin, yes needs a make-over.
" Nothing ends nicely, that's why it ends" - Tom Cruise -

Offline gyzzzmo

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Sorry, but the chopin etude just sounds like a piece of sjit  :-X.
You better completely start over learning this piece, slowly, note by note and dont forget your LEFT HAND. I dont know why you recorded the piece because i know you can do alot better since i also heard the beethoven piece.  Though i havent played the beethoven piece yet, so i better dont give comments exept the obvious: A bit less and better timed pedal since it gets a little messy on certain places (chopin as well as the sonata).

i dont want to be nasty, but i really know you can do alot better than this ;)

gyzzzmo
1+1=11

Offline zheer

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  sjit,  :'(.
" Nothing ends nicely, that's why it ends" - Tom Cruise -
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Piano Street Magazine:
New Piano Piece by Chopin Discovered – Free Piano Score

A previously unknown manuscript by Frédéric Chopin has been discovered at New York’s Morgan Library and Museum. The handwritten score is titled “Valse” and consists of 24 bars of music in the key of A minor and is considered a major discovery in the wold of classical piano music. Read more
 

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