Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22 - Saint-Saëns

[pianoperformer]

I am learning Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22 by Camille Saint-Saëns. I am on the first movement right now, specifically on page 16.

I have a few questions, though, about some things that are troubling me.

Somewhere in the first several pages (I have this memorized so can't remember exactly where, but probably around pages 4-5), there is a string of grace note chords in the right hand. They start with Eb and G, C and Eb, and G and C. It repeats this an octave below, and then a final Eb and G plays two octaves below our starting point. Fingers 1 and 2 go on the G and C, and then 3 and 5 on the Eb and G. This is my difficulty, because this is all supposed to be played rather quickly. I've been working on this for weeks now and have it fairly fast, but I'd like it to be faster. I mostly have trouble with this transition when the hand has to move, as I can't seem to get it fast enough. Any suggestions for working on speed with this?

Further, there is a section on page 15, just before the 64th notes come in in the left hand. The notes start with Eb, D, C#, D, F#, A, etc. Both hands have this an octave apart. The pattern up to this point for a good page or so has been the left hand has 32nd notes, and the right hand plays in between the notes, so that it is like there is a 64th note lag in the right hand. Well, this part is written strangely, so that it seems like the right hand has a 32nd note lag, but that definitely clashes, so that the Eb in the right hand plays with the D in the left, etc. This sounds very wrong, obviously. The recording seems to agree with my and my teacher's idea that the pattern is the same, but just written wrong, but I have two copies of the score and both are written like this. Does anyone know how it is supposed to be?

One more thing, while I'm at it. The remainder of page 15 and much of page 16 are all arpeggios, sometimes in one hand and many times alternating between both. They start with simple 64th notes in the left with a melodic line in the right hand. Then it goes cazy, and we have, in the left hand, 32nd note triplets to make up ¼ of the beat, then 4 64th notes to make up the next, then, get this, 9 notes (written as 64th notes but obviously not) making up the remaining half. Then the right hand takes over with 18 notes for the next beat. The next beat has 23 notes, followed by several beats of 21 notes each.

Does this have to be very exact? I've never encountered such varied and weird rhythm in my life in such a short span. My thinking on the matter is that it is to start out a tad slower (not slow by any means, just slower), and thus the 32nd note triplets. It is then supposed to gain in speed, to 64th's, then, well, a tad faster than 64th's (with 18 notes per beat instead of the conventional 16 as a 64th note would give us). Then it flies with 23 notes per beat in only the next beat, and calms down to a slightly slower but still insane 21 notes per beat, where it settles in for a while and makes us seasick with its goings up and down. Seriously, though, I can't imagine this is supposed to be very exact—just a guideline as to how fast each part is supposed to be in relation to the prior and subsequent beats. What are your thoughts on the matter?

I tried listening to the recording, but orchestra is covering the piano rather well so I can't really tell.

if anyone can answer any or all of these questions, that'd be much appreciated!