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Topic: Rachmaninoff's Prelude No. 4 in D, op. 23 (video)  (Read 6040 times)

Offline bach_ko

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on: March 13, 2010, 06:16:50 PM
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Offline weissenberg2

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Re: Rachmaninoff's Prelude No. 4 in D, op. 23 (video)
Reply #1 on: March 13, 2010, 06:37:44 PM
I enjoyed your performance.

Congratulations on graduating, from where did you graduate?
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Offline rachfan

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Re: Rachmaninoff's Prelude No. 4 in D, op. 23 (video)
Reply #2 on: March 13, 2010, 09:25:44 PM
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!

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Interpreting music means exploring the promise of the potential of possibilities.

Offline bach_ko

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Re: Rachmaninoff's Prelude No. 4 in D, op. 23 (video)
Reply #3 on: March 14, 2010, 03:00:22 AM
Quote from: weissenberg2 on March 13, 2010, 06:37:44 PM
I enjoyed your performance.

Congratulations on graduating, from where did you graduate?

Thanks for appreciating the music~!

I graduated from UCSI university in Malaysia.
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Offline bach_ko

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Re: Rachmaninoff's Prelude No. 4 in D, op. 23 (video)
Reply #4 on: March 14, 2010, 03:14:31 AM
Quote from: rachfan on March 13, 2010, 09:25:44 PM
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.
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Offline birba

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Re: Rachmaninoff's Prelude No. 4 in D, op. 23 (video)
Reply #5 on: March 14, 2010, 09:22:10 AM
You're right.  The piano - mezzo forte was a beautiful sound, despite the piano.  It didn't sound muffled at all.  It might have been your impression sitting at the keyboard.  Never try to go beyond a piano's possibility.  It will only fight you back. 
But you have a natural instinct for Rachmaninov, I think.
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Offline gyzzzmo

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Re: Rachmaninoff's Prelude No. 4 in D, op. 23 (video)
Reply #6 on: March 14, 2010, 09:47:58 AM
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
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Offline bach_ko

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Re: Rachmaninoff's Prelude No. 4 in D, op. 23 (video)
Reply #7 on: March 14, 2010, 04:36:50 PM
Quote from: birba on March 14, 2010, 09:22:10 AM
You're right.  The piano - mezzo forte was a beautiful sound, despite the piano.  It didn't sound muffled at all.  It might have been your impression sitting at the keyboard.  Never try to go beyond a piano's possibility.  It will only fight you back. 
But you have a natural instinct for Rachmaninov, I think.

ya, it didn't sound muffled at all when I performed, it's because of the way I approached to the key ;D I have done quite some experiments on this piano thus I managed to cope it, other wise it would have sounded that way still. Ya, never gone beyond the piano's possibility, but for those Asian like me who does not have a long & strong fingers and great stamina like all of you do, we really need to work a lot on the tone projection.

Quote from: gyzzzmo on March 14, 2010, 09:47:58 AM
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?
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Offline gyzzzmo

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Re: Rachmaninoff's Prelude No. 4 in D, op. 23 (video)
Reply #8 on: March 14, 2010, 08:05:00 PM
Quote from: bach_ko on March 14, 2010, 04:36:50 PM
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.
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Offline point of grace

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Re: Rachmaninoff's Prelude No. 4 in D, op. 23 (video)
Reply #9 on: March 14, 2010, 10:10:35 PM
hey! congrats for your graduation! where can we see other videos of your exam??
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Learning:

Chopin Polonaise Op. 53
Brahms Op. 79 No. 2
Rachmaninoff Op. 16 No. 4 and 5

Offline bach_ko

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Re: Rachmaninoff's Prelude No. 4 in D, op. 23 (video)
Reply #10 on: March 15, 2010, 02:48:06 AM
Quote from: gyzzzmo on March 14, 2010, 08:05:00 PM
I mean by playing it with abit different timing than the accompanying notes wich distincts them as the melody.
oh alright. Thanks! :)
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Offline bach_ko

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Re: Rachmaninoff's Prelude No. 4 in D, op. 23 (video)
Reply #11 on: March 15, 2010, 02:52:18 AM
Quote from: point of grace on March 14, 2010, 10:10:35 PM
hey! congrats for your graduation! where can we see other videos of your exam??
hey.. Thanks. They are all in 'audition room' or you can go to my youtube profile. My account is bachkochuanli:)
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Offline point of grace

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Re: Rachmaninoff's Prelude No. 4 in D, op. 23 (video)
Reply #12 on: March 15, 2010, 12:47:00 PM
cool!
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Learning:

Chopin Polonaise Op. 53
Brahms Op. 79 No. 2
Rachmaninoff Op. 16 No. 4 and 5

Offline prongated

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Re: Rachmaninoff's Prelude No. 4 in D, op. 23 (video)
Reply #13 on: March 15, 2010, 11:02:02 PM
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? ;D

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!
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Offline bach_ko

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Re: Rachmaninoff's Prelude No. 4 in D, op. 23 (video)
Reply #14 on: March 16, 2010, 02:45:44 AM
Quote from: prongated on March 15, 2010, 11:02:02 PM
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? ;D

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 https://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.
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Offline prongated

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Re: Rachmaninoff's Prelude No. 4 in D, op. 23 (video)
Reply #15 on: March 16, 2010, 04:46:32 AM
Quote from: bach_ko on March 16, 2010, 02:45:44 AM
I have listened to Ashkenazy's one, I like his interpretation too but it's a bit slow for my taste...

...Ashkenazy's is MUCH too slow to my taste ;D that's why I asked you if you were at all influenced by it ;) [Ashkenazy of course has his own way of playing, and for him it works...I appreciate what he's doing, but I'd NEVER attempt to play it like that! For the record, one of my favourite performances include one by Van Cliburn. That recording you linked is also very good!]
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