Problem passage

[theodore]

When a pianist learns a sonata movement, and the learning process progresses normally, quite often there is a passage which does not go as easily as expected. The sonata movement is finally learned  except for the one difficult passage.

The problem passage might be an outright flub or heard  by the audience as labored and clumsy. Should the pianist attempt to simplify this problem passage ??

[gyzzzmo]

No, the pianist is supposed to practise very hard on that passage only, and if he cant play it properly, he shouldnt play it at all.

[pianisten1989]

Agree with gyzzzmo

[teresa_b]

I agree that you should analyze why that passage is so difficult and figure out ways to master it, then practice it! 

That said, I had a performance of Mozart K271 last spring.  I thought I had all of it, but needless to say, there were some passages that were very difficult, and I do not perform often.  I simplified "on the fly" in one place only, and that was because I could tell I would trip as I approached it.  That was in one bar where there was a rapid 16th note bass figuration that was very hard to coordinate with the RH--so I blocked the chords in the LH.  This was for 2 beats in a transitional passage that was not particularly noticeable with the orchestra also playing.  It was not my choice of how to play it, but in the circumstances, it sounded better than a bobble would have. 

That's the only justification I can come up with for simplifying.  If you have prepared the piece well, but during the performance, find yourself feeling unsure, simplify rather than stop or make a glaring mistake.  But don't PLAN a simplification.  That's sacrilege! 

Teresa

[ramseytheii]

I agree that you should analyze why that passage is so difficult and figure out ways to master it, then practice it! 

That said, I had a performance of Mozart K271 last spring.  I thought I had all of it, but needless to say, there were some passages that were very difficult, and I do not perform often.  I simplified "on the fly" in one place only, and that was because I could tell I would trip as I approached it.  That was in one bar where there was a rapid 16th note bass figuration that was very hard to coordinate with the RH--so I blocked the chords in the LH.  This was for 2 beats in a transitional passage that was not particularly noticeable with the orchestra also playing.  It was not my choice of how to play it, but in the circumstances, it sounded better than a bobble would have. 

That's the only justification I can come up with for simplifying.  If you have prepared the piece well, but during the performance, find yourself feeling unsure, simplify rather than stop or make a glaring mistake.  But don't PLAN a simplification.  That's sacrilege! 

Teresa

That's a good answer!  A pianist has to be able to think on their feet.  If they know a mistake is coming, they should do whatever they can to avoid it.  If that involves simplifying a passage, there it is.  However in practicing, that's not acceptable!

Walter Ramsey