Another video from my graduation performance =) this is one of the most often performed prelude by Rachmaninoff. Hope you guys enjoy it. and also, your comment is always welcomed! =)

Hi bach_lo,

I've recorded this prelude myself, so know the music well.  I believe you gave a lyrical performance, and made good choices on which voices to emphasize in your playing.  You also built and spent the climax very well in my opinion.  There were several minor slips onto wrong notes along the way, but they did not mar the performance overall.  A very good rendition!

One thing you could not help was the Yamaha piano.  The tone decay is very fast on that instrument, and playing a lyrical and legato cantabile line becomes a challenge.

Congratulations on graduating!

Hi bach_lo,

I've recorded this prelude myself, so know the music well.  I believe you gave a lyrical performance, and made good choices on which voices to emphasize in your playing.  You also built and spent the climax very well in my opinion.  There were several minor slips onto wrong notes along the way, but they did not mar the performance overall.  A very good rendition!

One thing you could not help was the Yamaha piano.  The tone decay is very fast on that instrument, and playing a lyrical and legato cantabile line becomes a challenge.

Congratulations on graduating!

Thank you =)

I was playing on the Boston piano, the only problem I encountered is the tone projection. Although this new piano has been played for more than 2 years, but the tone is still quite muffled, I really got to bang so hard when I reach the climax, to make it sounds explosive.

Overall a good performance i think. Only comment i could give is that sometimes the melody disappears abit in the diminuendo's, wich you can solve by getting ofcourse the other notes even smoother, or by playing those melody notes in a slightly different rythm than those accompanying notes.

Gyzzzmo

hey thanks, this idea seems fresh to me, but i still don't really get it "play it in a slightly different rhythm than those accompaniment"? Aren't we supposed to follow the rhythm as what it's written on the score?

I mean by playing it with abit different timing than the accompanying notes wich distincts them as the melody.

I mean by playing it with abit different timing than the accompanying notes wich distincts them as the melody.

oh alright. Thanks!

cool!

Congratulations on your graduation, first of all

A nice performance! The melody does come out very well, but I wouldn't mind a little less from the accompaniment. It generally provides harmonic support in the first page, but you play it as though it is a counterpoint. It'll be enhanced by more flow as well - although it's probably because I do prefer it a little faster. On that note, you didn't try to replicate Ashkenazy's recording did you?

Ah yes, the boston is indeed a hard piano to play on! The ones I've come across have hard keys, and the tone is generally darker (or duller if you like!) You managed it well indeed!

thanks for your compliment! yeah when i watch my video again, I also felt it's a little too slow, it is stagnant at certain places and it needs some flow. I have listened to Ashkenazy's one, I like his interpretation too but it's a bit slow for my taste, and also I don't quite agree with what he did in the 4th section. After the climax, he kinda died down the sound, where i think it should be played more extroverted - I would actually keep the intensity and play it broader. There is a good one in http://www.domenicocodispoti.com/Rach23-4.html, I quite like his interpretation.

haha, ya the boston's touch is very hard!! Although it has a very beautiful tone, but somehow i feel its too mellow and rounded.