VIDEO Schumann Concerto 1st Mvmt (2 pianos)

[orangesodaking]

I REALLY wish I had learned the entire thing... This is an old performance from about a year and a half ago, and I hear many things I would do over, but this is what I have until I re-learn the piece.

Enjoy!

[thalbergmad]

Did not listen to the entire performance, but you are obviously a pianist with some considerable powers.

Well done that man.

Thal

[orangesodaking]

Thanks! And if you don't listen to the whole thing, at least listen to the fast part of the cadenza, hehe.

[scottmcc]

I don't think that thalbergmad is capable of listening to an entire performance of the schumann concerto (ref any of the thousands of anti-schumann threads on which he contributes).

I will echo his comments though.  I didn't get a chance to listen to the whole performance, as I am late to work as usual, but the parts i did hear are quite well done.  it's always weird to me to hear 2 piano versions of concertos, especially very familiar ones, but clearly your playing is first-rate.

[birba]

Well, I think your first approach to this piece is the right one.  Full tone, not too fast, and emphasis on the musical line.  Just a few comments-  I thought the middle part was way too slow.  But, like I said, this was probably your intention in this performance.  Now you have to look at the dynamics.  everything is pretty much F or MF.  For example after the opening statement (which was really wonderful!) you have to come down 5 notches in sonority.  The same for the "passionato" after the middle part.  You've got to make room for those big crescendos.  I find Schumann almost impossible to play.  There are always so many notes doing the same thing, if you know what I mean.  But you have a fine temperment for this piece - and the basics for a splendid performance.!

[thalbergmad]

I don't think that thalbergmad is capable of listening to an entire performance of the schumann concerto

Indeed I could not, but I love listening to performances posted here by many of our talented members, so sometimes i have to suffer a little. Some are so good, that i am a little nervous about posting some of my own feeble efforts that are near to completion.

Watch out for Thal plays Woelfl, Steibelt, Herz and De Meyer threads.

Thal
 

[birba]

I'm waiting on bated breath!

[ramseytheii]

I think this performance is capable but suffers from lack of discretion.  I allow that it could be the recording equipment.

In the opening solo, I don't actually hear the musical line; the chords descending all sound the same to me, and it seems a bit drained of drama.  Then the opening melody seems too much like a continuation, rather than a contrast.  We do have to seek a singing tone, but not at the expense of character.

In general more soft playing would help this a lot.  Or just slightly more sensitive.

Incidentally, about the middle section being too slow, I seem to remember reading somewhere that this movement was one of the models (along with the Wanderer Fantasie and something else) for Liszt's sonata, because Schumann compressed a three movement scheme into one first-movement sonata form.

That said, if you just slow down in the middle of the piece without adequate preparation beforehand, it will sound out of place.  From the start, we have to be aware that there are multiple characters going on.  If the first tune sounds too much like a continuation of the opening bravado chords, we just feel one thing, and the introduction of something so different feels too incoherent.

Walter Ramsey