Chopin Nocturne in E minor

[sarahkw]

Hello all,

I've been playing this piece for about a month now. I have heard many different recordings of people playing it, each with their own rendition. I guess this is my interpretation of the piece but I am looking for ideas and comments on my phrasing, dynamics, and tempo.

Comments, questions, and criticism; any type of response is greatly appreciated as I will be performing this in about a month.

After considering your advice I will post another recording to listen for improvement   

Thanks!   

Sarah

[joegargiulomusic]

Sarahkw, I enjoyed your playing very much. It sounded to me like you know exactly what you want to say with this piece and you are very convincing in your presentation. Phrasing and dynamics make sense to me as the lines are well shaped and going somewhere. Tone, balance, pedalling all seem good to me. I am far from being an expert on Chopin but I am certain your audience will love your music at your upcoming performance.
Thanks for posting.
Joe Gargiulo

[birba]

You have a beautiful tone and I like your interpretation, though I think it's a bit on the slow side.  I wouldn't play it any slower than quarter note=63.  This might be difficult for you to get used to at first!
The left hand can make or break this nocturne.  It's one of chopin's pieces where it is definitely more important and crucial then the right hand.  Start practising with the metronome a couple of times, l.h. only.  Strictly in tempo until you feel that it's right for you.  You've got to get that plodding sensation out of your head!  Now, without the metronome, l.h. only, play it as if it were in 2.  It will naturally go a little faster, but this is so you hear the melodic line of this left hand. At the end of each group of 6 notes, a little diminuendo.  A rounding off, so to speak.  Really practise it a lot this way, until it becomes second nature.  That way, when you put your hands together, you can put everything you've got into the r.h. which you already do very well, and the left hand gives it that fluid running quality, almost like a barcarole.