Liszt Mephisto Waltz (Amateur)

[grisell]

Hi! Started with this again after a few months' break. I try to remember it by heart, so that's one reason why I miss in some places.

Comments, please. I'm self-tought so I especially appreciate comments on how to move on.

[perfect_pitch]

Okay... I'm going to be as nice as possible...

YOU ARE NOT READY FOR THIS YET!!!!! (And that was the nice version)

I remember someone else posted a recording of Liszts Mephisto Waltz and they BUTCHERED IT, but this was several months ago. This piece is a very well known Liszt piece and is usually criticised very harshly due to the nature of it being quirky and a pianistic challenge.

But you will NEVER gain recognition or respect by playing an incredibly hard piece of music badly. I do not want you to quit and do not wish that you stop playing... but try to see that they only way to gain a higher level of playing piano is to learn pieces that are linearly slightly harder than the last instead of taking big leaps. I know this FOR A FACT! I never had a teacher who taught me properly up until University and the first year of uni I played like a complete tool - I had bad technique, bad voicing etc, etc...

It is know that I can begin to play with greater clarity and musicianship and the only reason I can do that is because I spent years doing the same level of pieces (never getting more difficult) - but choosing to play them to a higher level of professionalism.

I recommend you choose an easier piece of Liszts like his Liebraustram No. 3 (spelling???) or look at a couple of Chopin Nocturnes. You will in time be able to play the Mephisto Waltz properly, but it ain't now and won't come without hard work and care.



I hope you will not see my comments as discouraging, as I only say them as someone who used to be in your position... I know how hard it is wishing to play the great works of Classical music, but sadly enough - the only way to do them properly is... slowly. Keep learning, but progress slowly.

[grisell]

No problem. Thank you!

[rachfan]

Hi grisell,

I started to listen to your recording, but immediately heard so many wrong notes and other problems that I could not listen any longer.  Quite honestly, this is nowhere close to being an acceptable performance.  You need to put this piece aside and carefully select, hopefully with the guidance of a good teacher, suitable repertoire that will enable you to achieve steady progress and milestones in playing the piano.  The best advice I can give you is this: It is always far better to play a simple piece well than to play a difficult piece poorly.  This is not meant to discourage you, but rather to encourage you to reconsider your goals and approach in order to better develop your pianistic talent and capabilities.  I hope you'll take this to heart.

[grisell]

Ok, I expected nothing less. However, I just love to struggle with it. This is one of my absolute favorites, and lots of people (who are not in the "business") like to hear me tell the story about Faust and then play it, and I'm actually quite proud of my achievements here relative to my ability. Of course I know how it should sound and I would never even think about playing it in public!

And by the way, I play many easier pieces that I also like. Here is one example from Liszt's Années de Pélérinage. I omitted the tarantella section. You wouldn't have liked that...