Liapunov Nuit d'ete (Transcendental etude no.5)

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Here's a video of me rehearsing it for a recent concert - feel free to take a look and comment.

I think the Liapunov set are terrific etudes; it's a shame they don't get played much. I've really become attached to this particular one and I'm planning to put in a lot more work on it in the coming months.

[imbetter]

gorgeous. i really enjoyed it thanks!
 

[rachfan]

Hi ronde,

Thanks so much for posting this beautiful etude!  I think as pianists, many of us become so focused on Rachmaninoff and Scriabin, that other Russian late and neo-romantic composers like Liapunov, Liadov, Arensky, Medtner, Catoire, etc. seem, regrettably, to get lost in the background.  This Liapunov etude is absolutely ravishing--lush and chromatic with ever-shifting tonal centers, enharmonic changes, deceptive cadences, etc.  You play this piece with a marvelous technique and make every note of it expressive.  Your phrasing is superlative.  From listening to the accoustics, I believe a big challenge for you was the hall itself--it has a very "live" sound, but you compensated for that well.  I'm sure that this is not an easy piece to learn, but adding this one to your repertoire will turn out to be a fine musical "investment", I'm sure.  Great music and a great performance! 

Were you playing a German Steinway or a Bechstein?  I couldn't quite tell. 

6/12/07:  Just had a chance to watch the video again.  I should also compliment you on your ability to maintain the melodic line, despite the accompanying figuration in the same hand.  Great!

[pianiststrongbad]

I have only listened to these pieces a few times before, so my knowledge of them is limited at best.  Regardless, I agree with the previous posters, that this is an excellent performance.  I particularly liked your voicing.  You had the ability to keep all the different lines clear which is challenging in works like this.  Your phrasing is very effective also. 

Great job!

[dnephi]

I actually just heard 11-6 with a decent interp and I've decided that it's awesome.  It's a very russian and unique flavor, and he does a good job on his debt to Liszt.  The others, so far to me, feel a bit odd, but I think they'll grow on me. 11-6 is more interesting to me than Vision, and its experimentation with thicker textures is interesting and exciting.


Any others you recommend in terms of SHEER FURY??  (Melodic and Harmonic invention a must )

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Thanks everyone for the nice comments; I think it's a beautiful piece and I'm glad it seems to have come over well. It has a harmonic opulence that I for one find most appealing.

Rachfan, the piano is actually quite an old Bluthner. It wasn't the easiest to control, but I liked its tone.

Dnephi: if you want to look at the fury side of this set, the prime examples would be:

no 2: Ronde des fantomes (check this vid, awesome)

no 4: Terek

no 10: Lesghinka (pretty much a reworking of Islamey - it has the subtitle "Style Balakirev").

no 12: Elegie en memoire de Francois Liszt (this is in effect a Hungarian Rhapsody seen through Russian eyes).

I shouldn't forget no 11, of course as that's Ronde des sylphes, which is Liapunov's answer to Feux Follets.

[dnephi]

Thanks then.  Is 6 a weaker oneof the set?

[mephisto]

Thanks then.  Is 6 a weaker oneof the set?

I think it is amazing.

[dnephi]

That's what I was thinking, Meph.  I actually was thinking that Terek was weaker.  And the epic song?  What do you guys think of that?  Its length is imposing to listen to :p.

[dnephi]

Actually, sorry to spam your thread, but further investigation Demonstrates that RDS covers not only vast leaps, double-notes, arpeggios, and general passagework, but also its last 8 bars give what may be a great opportunity to develop ones chord execution .  It's set up so that the wrist has to execute each chord but at the same time be pp.  While it may not be as exacting or developing in 'chord execution' as the Mazeppa, it would actually solve all other problems with that piece... or about any other piece. 

Definitely worth it, I'd say.

[ronde_des_sylphes]

My favourites, for what it's worth, are the one I played here and Harpes Eoliennes (no. 9). No. 12 is great fun to play, though perhaps it is a little long.

[etudes]

Thanks everyone for the nice comments; I think it's a beautiful piece and I'm glad it seems to have come over well. It has a harmonic opulence that I for one find most appealing.

Rachfan, the piano is actually quite an old Bluthner. It wasn't the easiest to control, but I liked its tone.

Dnephi: if you want to look at the fury side of this set, the prime examples would be:

no 2: Ronde des fantomes (check this vid, awesome)

no 4: Terek

no 10: Lesghinka (pretty much a reworking of Islamey - it has the subtitle "Style Balakirev").

no 12: Elegie en memoire de Francois Liszt (this is in effect a Hungarian Rhapsody seen through Russian eyes).

I shouldn't forget no 11, of course as that's Ronde des sylphes, which is Liapunov's answer to Feux Follets.

Have you ever tried RDS? it is really good piece (and seems to be pretty tough) I would like to tackle it sometimes later... 

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Have you ever tried RDS? it is really good piece (and seems to be pretty tough) I would like to tackle it sometimes later... 

Yes, I've looked at it. A bit hard for me just now, I'm afraid - it would take a lot of work to get it to an acceptable level, and I've got a lot of other projects on the go. But, you're right, it's a good piece.