tackling the Infamous Hungarian Rhapsody no. 2

[dgk88]

I have 4 and a half days to learn this piece anyone got any tips on how to approach it cause it's pretty damn difficult and I need help

[allchopin]

Pray?

[thracozaag]

I have 4 and a half days to learn this piece anyone got any tips on how to approach it cause it's pretty damn difficult and I need help

 Don't sleep

[ilovemusic]

I have 4 and a half days to learn this piece anyone got any tips on how to approach it cause it's pretty damn difficult and I need help

Eat the score.

[erak]

4 and a half days... I'd say go on a trip and never come back?

[eddie92099]

Eat the score.

But not Paderewski's score - it's far too lumpy,
Ed

[liszmaninopin]

How did you get into that situation!?  I don't know how to help you, really.  That's an awful lot for 4 days.  How much do you already know?  If you're already at least somewhat comfortable with it, you could practice slowly.

[chopiabin]

Yeah, I'm just wondering how you put it off for this long. I guess you could run away from home, fake your own death, or tape the score to your face.

[dgk88]

lol thanks for your extremely helpful comments, i've been living off Caffeine and will continue to do so for the next few days.  I'm 3/4 of the way done and I didn't wait this long on purpose, I was asked to do a concert in a weeks time and one of the pieces I was asked to play was the rhapsody, I guess I just don't know how to say no but it's gonna work out fine.

[erak]

Ouch.. Well I can only wish you good luck, and a good rest afterwards.

[eddie92099]

I was asked to do a concert in a weeks time and one of the pieces I was asked to play was the rhapsody, I guess I just don't know how to say no but it's gonna work out fine.

What philistine asked for that?
Ed

[chopiabin]

Well, That's amazing. You should have just said "Are you f***ing crazy?!" I' m glad that you will be able to pull this off. Are you planning to use the score during the performance?

[cziffra]

what an amazing string of perserverance, to learn something like that so quickly.  my hat goes off to you.  

[e60m5]

I know I'm not the only one to find the notion that a 15 year old is claiming to have learnt most of the 2nd Hungarian Rhapsody in a matter of days to be questionable, at best.

[cziffra]

I know I'm not the only one to find the notion that a 15 year old is claiming to have learnt most of the 2nd Hungarian Rhapsody in a matter of days.

do you really like interrupted cadences or something?

[eddie92099]

I know I'm not the only one to find the notion that a 15 year old is claiming to have learnt most of the 2nd Hungarian Rhapsody in a matter of days.

I think you are missing some words here,
Ed

[e60m5]

That's the problem with leaving the keyboard mid-sentence. >_>

[IgnazPaderewski]

"I know I'm not the only one to find the notion that a 15 year old is claiming to have learnt most of the 2nd Hungarian Rhapsody in a matter of days."

Its actually not that hard. I learnt it in all by memory and could just about play it in a week age 14. Its very repetitive, so is not hard on the brain. If you harmonically reduce it, the lassan is easy to get in your brain. WATCH THE PASSAGE with scales and jumps at the end before the cadenza - VERY risky, if youre tired. Leslie Howard says it is one of Liszts nastier passages. Practice the left hand jumps with your eyes closed (I can still hit them after not touching it for a year). The scales in the right hand are risky, it is easy to bollocks them up. The trick I found (I play it very fast) is to play the scales lightly and not trying to make it legato, and whip it off at the end (Leslies method). The end of the F sharp major one, finger it 12345 so you hit the top on five. start the run with 123 then play nromal F sharp fingering.
 
Still, if you can play this piece well enough to perform it in 4 days age 15, I am very impressed. Bravo.

[dgk88]

Ok, first off I'm not *** 15, I'm 17 and I did it very well thank you very much, I did not use the score or digest the score to do it either.

[cziffra]

how did it go? presuming the concert has happened now?

[dgk88]

it went very well.  there was just one little section that i fucked up but hey it was bound to happen somewhere in that performance.  I got paid quite a bit which was nice but I'll never agree to do anything like that again.  I'm going to be catching up on sleep and schoolwork for the next 2 weeks though.

[scriabinsmyman]

Hey, if you ever get caught in this kind of situation again, find a simplified version of the piece, and add your own random notes (that sound good) to make it sound not-so-simplified...it works wonders!!