Poulenc's Improvisations, No. 15 and No. 5

[jgallag]

Okay, I've got a question on the directions in this one. At the beginning of the improvisation it reads: Tres vite: surtout sans trainer (dotted quarter note = 92) exactement (Please don't translate the French, I've got a dictionary for that). A few bars later we get Ceder un peu and then Lent, followed by a Tempo subito. Now that I'm writing this, it seems obvious that Tempo subito is directing me to go back to dotted quarter note = 92, however, the recording I have of this piece is much slower, so I wanted to make sure. Is Lent the main tempo for the piece, or 92?

Also, my edition of the improvisations (Salbert) has very minimal pedal markings (barely any). Invention No. 15 sounds (to me) as if it requires pedal, as does 7 (another I am working on). However, I would like to start No. 5 and I'm not sure about pedaling. There is no indication not to use pedal, but it is marked clair. Should I use pedal and trust my judgment to keep the sound clear or try and play it using finger legato and perhaps "glue" pedal where necessary?

[jgallag]

One more question, Improvisation No. 15: I'm right after the key change to C major, in the bar that reads "Ceder beaucoup". In the Right Hand, beat 3, I have a B, and then three eighth notes where there should only be two: an F, a B, and an E. The B is closer to the F than it is to the E, but not directly lined up as a chord would be. There's no triplet or any such marking in my score. Can anyone tell me what I should be seeing here?

[quirky]

you should use the pedal as you see fit, but judiciously of course. What I find helps alot when I want to use pedal is to use the left mute pedal to reduce the sonority of the pedal giving a half pedal effect adn then to make up the dynamics required I jsut play a degree louder.

[jabbz]

One more question, Improvisation No. 15: I'm right after the key change to C major, in the bar that reads "Ceder beaucoup". In the Right Hand, beat 3, I have a B, and then three eighth notes where there should only be two: an F, a B, and an E. The B is closer to the F than it is to the E, but not directly lined up as a chord would be. There's no triplet or any such marking in my score. Can anyone tell me what I should be seeing here?

A re there time signatures? It is most likely a Tuplet which hasn't been defined.