Un Sospiro

[johnnyb76]

Hi, I'm currently learning this piece and am having some trouble with the alternating broken octaves in measures 13-20. I'm sorta... "getting there" but it's taking quite longer than I'd like. I've been playing through the rest of the piece and it's pretty straightforward, albeit a pleasant challenge.

However, the aforementioned section really makes me cringe

I don't see how I could possibly practice this hands-separate since there's so much involved and intricate choreography between the hands. Could anyone who has finished the piece shed some light on how they managed this part? Thanks in advance

John

[gyzzzmo]

Play that part more slowly and without pedal and try hitting that 'echo octave' on the right spot when watching your right hand make that arpeggio go down. Later you can get that speed up again and you'll be able to make actual triols of the octaves.

gl,
gyzzzmo

[classical88]

Are you trying playing the left hand octaves (crossed over the right hand) as an octave with 5-1 or 4-1.  I (and many other pianists) play both notes of these octaves with 3rd finger of the hand.  This way the angle of the arm crossed over the right hand is more natural, and the skip of the octave with the same finger is not really that difficult to hit accurately.

[johnnyb76]

Are you trying playing the left hand octaves (crossed over the right hand) as an octave with 5-1 or 4-1.  I (and many other pianists) play both notes of these octaves with 3rd finger of the hand.  This way the angle of the arm crossed over the right hand is more natural, and the skip of the octave with the same finger is not really that difficult to hit accurately.

Actually yes, I did the 5-1, 4-1 fingering once or twice just to see how it went when I started this section... but then quickly realized that Liszt's 3-2 fingering is obviously superior. However, I haven't yet tried hitting the second note with the same finger. I'll have to try that. 

What's really getting to me now though, apart from the sheer awkwardness of the passage, is hitting the right notes in the left hand once I've made the huge skip from the treble register. Any pointers on that as well?

[gyzzzmo]

Play slowly and without pedal. Many people tend to do the arpeggio's to the right correctly, but blur the arpeggio back to the left. If you pay close attention and train that as normal, you'll get the speed and acuracy at that place.