Beethoven Moonlight Sonata 1st movement

[marsippius]

Recorded using a so called Netbook, with an external microphone.
Piano is a Cumberland upright, from about 1931, tuned recently.

This is the first movement of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata.

Everyone please enjoy, and comments welcome.  The performance
is still under development.  This particular recording is passing
my own smell test.

m

[goldentone]

I heard missing notes once in awhile, but I think it's the piano giving out on you.  Very nice expression on the last triplet in bar 8 at the upper B.  On the dotted sixteenths you want to make a smoother connection to the next notes.  Watch the pianos and pianissimos.  At the pp in bar 5 you got loud instead of soft.  And in the next to last bar in the piece, the 2nd beat is too loud.  These ending chords need to be very soft.  There was a point or a window where you were able to shift gears and really express the piece.  Really nice playing in bars 31-42, as well as when it returns near the end.

The expression is in you--keep working on this until all of it is seamlessly so.
I hope this helps.    

[marsippius]

Here it is again, after more work.
I have striven for improvements in the following areas: tempo, tone, making all
the notes play when they should, volume  phrasing and voicing.  See especially
measure 12, where the octaves descend.  Also towards the end,
kudos to Sonatina in G.

Same piano, same recording setup.
Enjoy.
m

[marsippius]

This version is more on the order of how I would like
to hear it being played.  Everyone please enjoy this one.
Comments are welcome.

m

[anne126]

I dislike the ritardando between phrases. A little is alright but the piece needs a more even pulse. And the melody is not clear enough. Each note on the upper voice needs to have a center—one volume without changing.

[aslanov]

im just listing these things as i listen to the recording

-when the upper melody comes in, you seem to rush the triplets ever so slightly.
-missing some notes
-too much rubato in some parts, and as a whole its used too often
-as i listen further in, i realize tempo is a definite problem that needs to be worked on
-really need to work on dynamics too, at times there are unnecessary shifts in volume
-I cant really tell on from this recording but pedal use is key in this as well, as well as how u press the keys, they need to be played more legato, and as for the pedal try holding it for longer if ur piano will allow it, but do not press it all the way down, maybe a quarter way or half if a quarter is not possible, and let the triplet melody just wash through the air

recommendations:

you need to practice this at a VERY slow tempo to get your triplets to play at a constant pulse. what i do is left hand plays normally, the triplets are played staccato and any other melodic line in the right hand is played normally. but when practicing staccato it should be done VEEERRRYYYY slowly, after doing this for a few days, move onto a moderately slower tempo. keeping in mind up to this point your playing just for the sake of building tempo into your hands, not dynamics, forget about it for now. once you have complete control at moderate tempo, you move onto w/e tempo is marked, adagio. then once u can play at that tempo, move onto your dynamics, and pedalling, accents, etc.
good luck. believe me especially the staccato practice is going to be EXTREMELY frustrating especially with this long and slow piece, it was pretty bad for the c# minor rachmaninov prelude, but just keep at it.

[winterwind888]

You are using too much ritardando at the end of each measure.. which makes it an obvious mistake.. A little bit of ritardando will do it.. In your case make a the articulation a little faster.. I think your still a beginner pledging to do this sonata.. Half notes need sustainment in the 4th and 5th fingers while triplets are to be played equally on the 1st 2nd and 3rd fingers, with the inclusion of the 4th finger in some parts.

[marsippius]

Thank you for your comments.  I appreciate each and every word.

Beginner? Yes.  This one takes it from the top and stresses all possible resources
to be used for musical interpretation at the piano.  Not too soft, not too loud, not
too fast, not too slow.  Don't slow down, don't speed up, don't get louder or softer, etc etc.

And all the while, compensate for the internal working parts where they are more worn
in some places than in others.  Boy what a load!

But I have committed myself to bringing it up to some form of overall musical standard.
The question that is being answered is, what is that standard, or differently, what do
listeners expect.  These questions are being answered -- or at least, answers are being
offered.  This is why I appreciate feedback so much.  Other people's comments are of
great help in solving the mystery.

The problem that keeps cropping up is, when I hear this being played by astute professionals
in front of huge audiences.  I have observed that it is played different ways.  Indeed, some
parts are faster, some are slower, some are louder, some are softer.  It is not played
monotone.

I scratch my wooden head.  I go back to square one and start over: play the correct notes
with the correct fingering and at the correct tempo -- in some places at about 48 and in
others, above or below that.  And with the correct dynamic -- but the working parts
betray the pp with a pft or a blank space, and this is what people hear and what they
comment on.  Which is perfectly alright by me because I am getting answers this way.

So thanks, everyone, for all the wonderful comments, and I continue.

-M

[giannalinda]

Is it just my imagination or is this in a different key than the original. Its not a critisism, actually, i really liked it, but it sounded different (in a good way). Nice job with it.

[marsippius]

How interesting anyone should ask.

No, it is in key of 4 sharps -- c#m.

Piano's most recent tuning has seen its better days though.  So, it is going flat.
Aside from that, it's normal.

Elsewhere on the 'net, there is info related to tuning at A=432, vs A=440.
It is said that the former is more soothing for the listener.  Maybe
this is what you are experiencing?  I do not know.

Yet because of its age and other factors, it was tuned to A=414.

Thank you for the comments.

[giannalinda]

Ok yes that is the key I played it in also. And again, nice job with it.
Best Wishes, Giannalinda

[matthew from florida]

I listened to the first recording, yes there is some fine tuning to do but it sounds good. I'm planning on starting this piece in the near future.

[giannalinda]

yes I think bring out the melody a little more and make everything else a little softer.