Fledermaus

[pianovirus]

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Still lots of rough spots, but I made this recording today to see where I currently am with this piece, to keep me motivated, and maybe to get some good advice as well.

So any kind of comments would be welcome....suggestions, secret hints how to never miss these leaps, merciless bashing, whatever.....  

[ronde_des_sylphes]

You're pushing the tempo a little (out of nervousness?) at points; you would find it easier if you thought more about the piece's innate elegance and adopted the slower tempo throughout.

3.02 it looks like you're jumping from the left hand end of the thumb to the right hand end of the pinky, which is how I would do it as it reduces the overall distance travelled, but try keeping your hand much nearer the keyboard (skimming over the top of the black notes). It's jumping up into the air, meaning you have to travel more distance than necessary, and destabilising the hand position.

3.20 it looks like you've got it into your head that you can't do this. Think economy of movement; it's only an octave jump and it's about as pianistically natural a jump as you can have. Relax! It's not a speed contest, nor the 6th Hungarian Rhapsody, and the tempo you use from 3.37 is much more the way to go. Again your right hand seems to be flapping about and higher above the keyboard than necessary during the jumping process.

5.21 they may well be 2-octave jumps in the score, but you should only need one octave's worth of movement, if you conceptualize it as 15 jumping to 15 an octave higher but without the lower 5 and the higher 1. Also, I'd experiment with doing the jump to the 4th finger. When the jumps exceed 2 octaves, I think it's both allowable and musical to make a little discreet rit.

[thalbergmad]

A bit of ironing and polishing old chap and you are just about there.

I think you finished better than you started and personally i would take the beginning just a little slower. Your work on Thalberg showed in the Cantabile sections that i thought you played very well.

I hope you play some of the other Grunfeld transcriptions. I failed to play this one myself, but did use to have the Kaiser Walzer in my rep, which i think is somewhat easier than this.

Damned good show.

Thal

[thalbergmad]

I think Ronde makes a valid point about the jumps.

You were sort of giving the impression that you knew you were going to miss it.

I adore Strauss transcriptions and hope you play many more.

Thal

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Thal's certainly right about the cantabile parts; get the jumps nailed down and it will be very good.

[pianovirus]

Hi thal and ronde, thanks for listening and for the feedback!!

You're pushing the tempo a little (out of nervousness?) at points; you would find it easier if you thought more about the piece's innate elegance and adopted the slower tempo throughout.

Ah I guess I have listened too much to Kissin!    (it's an irresistible interpretation if you ask me - this kind of piece is where he is most at home IMO).
But I fully agree, especially for the opening page. I have listened to Grünfeld's a bit more relaxed and charming interpretation, and yes it's good to keep that slightly slower tempo in mind. Btw, do you notice how he plays the slower parts faster than others, so that the total time is also just 5:30?

3.02 it looks like you're jumping from the left hand end of the thumb to the right hand end of the pinky, which is how I would do it as it reduces the overall distance travelled, but try keeping your hand much nearer the keyboard (skimming over the top of the black notes). It's jumping up into the air, meaning you have to travel more distance than necessary, and destabilising the hand position.

Good point. I still find my jumps and also the octaves accompanied by more motions than necessary.

3.20 it looks like you've got it into your head that you can't do this. Think economy of movement; it's only an octave jump and it's about as pianistically natural a jump as you can have. Relax! It's not a speed contest, nor the 6th Hungarian Rhapsody, and the tempo you use from 3.37 is much more the way to go. Again your right hand seems to be flapping about and higher above the keyboard than necessary during the jumping process.

Hehe, frightening capability of mind reading, ronde...     It's true, I goofed up completely here, and it happened too often so that I've become a bit frightened of this passage. I need to secure this, and also stop thinking too much that I'll miss the next jump while playing..

5.21 they may well be 2-octave jumps in the score, but you should only need one octave's worth of movement, if you conceptualize it as 15 jumping to 15 an octave higher but without the lower 5 and the higher 1.

I never thought of it like that. It's a good conceptualization for decreasing the apparent distance.

Also, I'd experiment with doing the jump to the 4th finger.

Yes, I'm actually doing this whenever the target is black.

When the jumps exceed 2 octaves, I think it's both allowable and musical to make a little discreet rit.

Agreed. A little rit might sound more musical & allow for better control, too.