Learning Scarbo

[mahavishnu]

I have to admit the Gaspard de la nuit is my favorite.   I am learning Scarbo at this point and was told that it will take 15-20 years to really mature this one.  Hmmmm.... Anyways, I am curious who has learned this one and if they have any pointers about learning it or advice that will help make learning this piece easier.  I am really determined to learn this but......help would also be appreciated!

Pat

[rachfan]

Scarbo is one of the pinnacles of the repertoire.  I've taken it out and looked at it, and played through portions of it  numerous times over the years, but invariably decide on undertaking less virtuosic pieces, as it's probably beyond my capabilities.  I'd rather play an easier piece well than to play Scarbo poorly.  So for me it remains a perpetual but elusive  dream.  Maybe tomorrow....

[trunks]

Get a score that is legible!

Funnily but frankly one thing I find Ravel difficult is the near-illegibility of the printed scores. Most Ravel publishers chose to print his works in somewhat diminished size thus making the already small, packed cascading notes almost unreadable to the naked eye without the help of a magnifying glass - if not a microscope.

To rub salt on the wound, oh those staggering ledger lines (as contrasted starkly to the infinitely more convenient and reader-friendly octave notation), double-flat and double-sharp notations! The sheer time taken on deciphering the scores accounts for a significant portion of the legendary difficulty of Ravel's piano music.

[Nu-Steinway-Player]

Peter HK -- I think your comments are ludicrous... anyway.

Yes, I've learned it and performed it several times. 

Hints -- you can never play this piece enough slow. 

Start immediately on the most difficult passages; the two intros of the main theme were very hard for me because those left hand arppeggios are like lightening -- and they must not bog down the melody; the repeated note section -- dig in and learn the two pages with repeated notes, and then the couple pages that follow; then go to the semiquaver runs towards the end leading down the keyboard to the beginning of the big finale; work out those last few pages right away.  You must also understand there is no skimping on the importance of the rhymthical figures -- it's what creates the entire mood, it creates the little devil and brings him to life

Memorize the piece immediately so you can practice looking at your hands, where they are going, and you can focus more on the physicality of the piece. 

if you are just starting this piece on your own, I would not suggest it.  I did and had so many bad habits by the time I started seriously studying it I almost cried during some of my practice sessions.  My teacher was very patient, though, and we both saw it to the end -- which is very exciting!!!!

Gosh, good luck!!!

[Nu-Steinway-Player]

One additional comment.  I would not suggest studying this piece with a teacher who has not played it and played it well.  They will have no insight as to what it takes to truly pull it off.  Be careful!

[SteinwayTony]

Peter HK -- I think your comments are ludicrous... anyway.

Be nice, or go home.

[lostinidlewonder]

Err, the guy posted the message in 2002, i doubt hes still waiting for responses lol