Brahms Intermezzo Op 118 No 1 & 2

[yiyiku]

appreciate any comments by the many insightful members on this forum

[prongated]

I didn't notice it before in your Forlane video, but I must say congratulations on your, I imagine, recent purchase of that beautiful black-series RX-2 or 3! Great instrument to play the Brahms on, which you did very nicely. The rits are just a bit too much too many for my taste, and I also personally prefer a steadier, calmer flow in the A section. The way the B section moves is extremely well-judged, though, and everything sings constantly - I suppose you really do like this piece!

[yiyiku]

thanks for the comments, Prongated. The piano is RX 2, but not the new blak series, i have had it for 7 years, and it is showing signs of wear and overuse (I teach on it too). I do love the RX series. I just had the hammers smoothed out TODAY, so that should help with my more subtle piano sounds.

I agree the No. 2 Brahms could flow more with less rubato. This has always been my weakness, i need to NOT over-indulge myself too much!

No. 1 sounds too loud to me now. i guess when i have time i could do another recording of both of these two pieces, now that my piano sounds completely different from before.

i do have a question for you: if I want to invest in a good quality recorder (one that does not break the bank), what should I get? right now I am recording everything on a digital camcorder which does not give the best sound quality. thanks for being so helpful always!

[birba]

Beautifully played.  I enjoy "meaty" Brahms.  You have a full rich tone that is never agressive, no matter how loud.  I especially liked the A major.  There was much more diversified colors to your sound.  The "chorale" passage was magnificent.
The only criticism I would venture is to look again at the score, especially in the first one, and decide what is melody and what is harmony.  When the left hand has only a harmonic function, lighten up.  Maybe playing those figurations with a slight diminuendo, if you know what I mean.  They tend to sound pedantic at times.
I enjoyed listening to you.

[yiyiku]

thanks, birba for your kind comments, especially about the LH being too pedantic, that is a great advice that I will absolutely take on!!!

[furtwaengler]

You play with a deeply felt, passionate lyricism, and I love hearing you play. I don't know if there is to much rubato. It's really a matter of space and freedom in the structure.

I'll focus on No. 1. I think it requires a certain freedom and time for the chords to resonate, and right now I think it's a little cramped, both vertically and horizontally. This is truly one of Brahms's most improvisational works (even above the other intermezzi) and should have a natural flow that is without bar lines. I agree with Birba on deciding what is melody and what is harmony. This should be more obvious in this first one, but the chords should produce a sort of other worldly resonance (an illusion of a crescendo after the theme). I thought you might be interested in Sviatoslav Richter's account from a recital in Brooklin, NY April 22, 1965, an in house recording which completely bowled me over when I first heard it.

But you do play so well and I hope you continue to share yourself!

[yiyiku]

thanks, furtwangler, for your once again very kind comments and for that recording!!! wow!! it definitely gave me lots of ideas. thank you for sharing this rare recording with me.

now i can not bare to listen to my own playing, it does sound so rushed! especially that first C octave....ahhhhh

i definately will post more recordings here; i am getting so much great advise! thanks everyone!