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Topic: Rachmaninoff Prelude Fingering :S  (Read 7382 times)

Offline nanabush

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Rachmaninoff Prelude Fingering :S
on: August 02, 2007, 05:57:26 AM
I'm starting the Bb major prelude op 23 #2 and I have a book of the preludes with MINIMAL fingering.  I've found several versions online that have no fingering, and this prelude happens to have no fingering in my edition (it has some, but in obvious places that don't really need it indicated)  I noticed instantly the left hand span is HUGE and found this fingering works for me:

1&5 (on the octave Bb's)  4 - 2 - 1 - 4 - 3 - 1&2 - 3 - 4 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 5 - etc, etc...

Is this correct?  I'm not sure if this is the intended fingering at all, but I've tried a couple things, and this one seems to work, it's just awkward playing anything at all after the octave Bb's.  How legato does the left hand have to be, and in this part is pedalling a necessity in keeping the left hand legato?  Generally, what do I have to do to make the left hand keep the sweeping motion in the initial fingering.  (more questions will come later when I get further in the prelude :D)
Interested in discussing:

-Prokofiev Toccata
-Scriabin Sonata 2
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Offline pianistimo

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Re: Rachmaninoff Prelude Fingering :S
Reply #1 on: August 02, 2007, 09:03:06 AM
i've not worked this with a teacher - but i like to use this fingering in the lh:

51, 421 54 21 34 124...  the reason i use 54 is to reach the third easily and quickly.  the crossover of the pinky isn't that hard.  it's a sort of sweeping movement just naturally moving your hand up the keybaord as you play.

Offline pianistimo

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Re: Rachmaninoff Prelude Fingering :S
Reply #2 on: August 02, 2007, 11:54:57 AM
in measure four on the third beat, i use:  35 (together) 421 (accent on 1) 543212  then chord.

Offline nicco

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Re: Rachmaninoff Prelude Fingering :S
Reply #3 on: August 02, 2007, 12:53:25 PM
From the start I would use:

1 - 4 - 2 - 1 - 5 - 4 - 1 - 3 - 4 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 5 - etc
5                              2
"Without music, life would be a mistake." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Offline nanabush

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Re: Rachmaninoff Prelude Fingering :S
Reply #4 on: August 02, 2007, 05:42:37 PM
Ah! K thanks for clearing that up; puts a little less strain on my hand.
Interested in discussing:

-Prokofiev Toccata
-Scriabin Sonata 2

Offline rob47

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Re: Rachmaninoff Prelude Fingering :S
Reply #5 on: August 16, 2007, 06:26:07 PM
Don't worry, I'm here now 8)

Heres a good one for the opening

1-5 on the octave then: 5,3,2,1,4
(pause, relax)
1-2 on the third then: 3,4,1,2,3

5,3,2,1,4,3
(pause, relax)
1-2 on the third then: 3,4,1,2,3 (or 4 maybe)

I think it's important to practice going up and practice goin down as two separate phrases (starting on the oct going up, n then starting on the 3rd goign down, which is why i wrote pause relax in between them; only for practicing though)

also helpful is two have an even 6 beats ready to go in your mind so you're not bashing out the octave pausing then starting the rest of the figure, so use the metronome for that.

"there is no escape -- we pay for the violence of our ancestors"

ROBBAH out


"Phenomenon 1 is me"
-Alexis Weissenberg

Offline pianowolfi

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Re: Rachmaninoff Prelude Fingering :S
Reply #6 on: August 17, 2007, 02:12:26 AM
True da robbah. I mean the fingering 8) I use the same.

Offline classical pianist

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Re: Rachmaninoff Prelude Fingering :S
Reply #7 on: August 28, 2007, 07:13:23 PM
Here is the magic fingering.... please observe the different between two groups.

51- 4-2-1-5-4-21-3-4-1-2-4 then 5-4-2-1-5-4-21-3-1-2-3-5 -51

This fingering is so easy... 

To practise to get use to the thumb turing position, exagerately emphasize the thumb.
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