How would you play this?

[invictious]

Just a question about transcription/paraphrasing.

I spent some time transcribing Ryuichi Sakamoto's Wuthering Heights for piano. The trio version can be found as follows:

There exists a piano transcription already, which is:

Now, I would like to show you an excerpt of my transcription, as below:


I have completed the transcription for the piano, and I have tried to find a middle ground between the two performances in terms of structures, as there are clearly some differences, i.e. some sections omitted, or some repeated.

As you can see from the excerpt, the piece is quite simple. A simple melodic line, with block chords as accompaniment.

I would like to paraphrase it, or somewhat write a fantasie on it. In other words, I just want to make it fancier - think Liszt. For some reason, which could be due to my weaker theoretical background, I cannot come up with any ideas about what to do with it when trying to improvise with that theme.

I feel that the simple melodic line gives it a lot of the 'feel' for this piece, along with the simple chordal accompaniment of the left hand. That is why I am in such a dilemma. It is a balance between capturing the original emotions of the piece, and the 'flashy' factor, which the piece wasn't meant to be.

I also want this to be mainly my own effort. I am just seeking some advice from you fellow forum members!

Thanks a lot in advance.

[invictious]

Any takers?

[becky8898]

Hi Invictus. I wish I where better at explaining these things.  But Ill try.  First think about the ways you could change things. Rhythm . tone color, same notes but different places on the keyboard, filled in answering phrases , inversions, etc. Ok first rhythm. All the block chords are on the beat. Try messing around with that.  Off beat, one chord slighter longer than the next . Also I take it the piece is in C minor so E flat is really really important as a tone color.  Try inverting your chord or if your hand is big enough  play the e flat on top instead of inside.  Lets see what else.  oh , at the end of each phrase like where the first half note is, have the left hand drop down to a low F played as an eight note and them up to the inverted F chord as written.  Lets see the right hand. Hmm. how about once the main theme is stated instead of just playing a single melody note you role a triplet up the piano in octaves. Take the start of the piece. You begin with a doted quarter note C. Role the hand up the piano playing C with the thumb and then the next higher C with the pinker , subsititue the thumb for the pinky and have the thumb finished on the next higher  C and subsitute with the pinky again. 

I hope you get the idea. I told you im not good at explaining this. Anyway hope that helps.

Cheers, Becky