chopin etude op25 4 and 5 and others metronome

[ignaceii]

I already opened this up in the students corner on moskowsky, and czerny.
Tempo in op25 nr 5 marked 184 per 1/4. Nr 4 is equally crazy.
I took gavrilovs performance (not to be accused of a slow player, i'd say on the contrary (see his goldberg variations)) and he clocks 144.
Also nr 4 he plays great at a much slower rithm.

I saw remarks on not to pay too much attention at it.
Ok, I do not, because i simply can't, and who can ?

The issue is, as a student learning on my own who has also himself as a guide and I like it that way, are these so called urtext editions correct historically, and if so, then I shut up, and first listen a performance and correct the urtext rithm myself. And I'll let short short or lang lang mess it up. If not, then it's a damned disgrace. Because utterly pedagogical dangerously misleading for autodidacts.

Lot's of success on keeping up with the metronome.

[gyzzzmo]

Try to play it at a tempo you think is nice and as you like to sound it, with keeping in mind that it is a  concert etude.

[ignaceii]

I thought perhaps someone could shed some light on the mystery behind these urtext figures.
Thanks anyway for your comment.

[stevebob]

One point often cited is that the pianos of Chopin's era had lighter actions and shallower key-dips; those characteristics would have facilitated faster tempi.

I, too, think it's an enigma that pieces marked Allegro should be played at the fastest speed possible.  But in the case of music intended for virtuosic display, as concert etudes generally are, that's what's expected of a virtuoso.

For amateurs playing for our own pleasure and benefit, I don't think it's anything to be too concerned about.  There's much technical benefit to be gained (and much musical value to be conveyed) at more moderate speeds.

[ignaceii]

Still, i'm glad the virtuoso gavrilov takes the moderate tempo in nr 5, and 4, so even he doesn't care about the indications. That's why i think the figures don't make sense to neither amateur or virtuoso, after all, we are all still musicians, and not robots.

Thanks