brahms intermezzo in A, op118 no.2

[jehangircama]

today's rec. of my playing this intermezzo.
was having a bit of trouble with the softer notes, as the keys are a bit weak due to lots of rain yesterday. so i think i missed a couple. otherwise what do you'll think?
thanks
jc

[blackfrog]

Sounds good! This piece has a special place in my heart and I always enjoy hearing others' interpretations. This is pretty much how I play it, but I play with a little more rubato. My only suggestions would be to bring out the left hand counter melody a little more in the beginning of the B section, while subduing the counter melody when it switches to the upper register near the end of the B section, during the climax. Also the block chord section in the middle is a little slow in my opinion. Of course, this is just my preference and I thought it was a beautiful performance regardless.

Okay but I'm curious about one thing...
Do you leave your piano out in the rain or something? Or does rain and humidity normally affect pianos drastically? I've never noticed anything like that before.

[thalberg]

Lots of good playing.  You play this piece in a rather steady rhythm, which is uncommon considering many people use way too much rubato.  Some people prefer a straight rhythm and it's very nice here.  I myself use a slight rubato throughout just for interest.  But it's quite subtle.

Your block chord section is too slow.  But that is very easy to fix.  Overall I like your performance.

[eminemvsrach]

This is an impressive performance! It's also the first performance I've ever heard of this piece. I am glad that I didn't find an over-exaggerated interpretation as above said. Thank you for sharing this wonderful music.

P.S. That block chord section actually made me doze off a bit (please forgive me it's 11:54 pm). You coulud play it a bit closer to tempo 1 and it will sound much better.

[jehangircama]

thanks a lot for the comments. will fix the chord section and make it a bit quicker (but 'piu' means more- at least that's what's in the AB guide to theory, and that's the reason i've been playing it like that.)- i guess with the una corda and playing it that slowly, it can be off-putting....will correct it.

@blackfrog: i was actually trying to play the B section repeat quite loudly (the middle voice-counter melody)- somehow all the recs i've done make the treble sound louder than the bass-i don't know why..but will still try to get it clearer. and i did not leave the piano in the rain, God forbid! its just the humidity, its been quite awful for a month or so, its quite a common problem here for pianos.

thanks again -the first positive comments i've received here!