Project 27

[cygnusdei]

Something just came to mind - would you be interested in contributing to complete performance of Chopin Etudes Opp. 10 & 25, by pianostreet, for pianostreet?

The idea is to have 24 unique performers each contributing one's own performance of an etude of his/her choosing. There should be a rough timeline until completion, perhaps ~2 months should give ample time for preparation? Since I start this thread, I get first dibs - hehehe - we can always trade later. Anyway, I'm thinking of taking Op. 25 no. 6. I just recently started learning this, so I'm not cheating at all!

Here we go (I'll update the list as we go along):

Op. 10
1. pianowolfi
2. pianowolfi, furtwaengler, m1469
3. quantum
4. cygnusdei
5. fleetfingers, ted
6. mnmleung
7. furtwaengler
8. MachineMe, furtwaengler
9. ongaku_oniko MonstyMachine, pianisten1989
10. furtwaengler
11. MonstyMachine
12. pianisten1989, ted

Op. 25
1. m1469, fleetfingers, ted
2. cygnusdei
3. furtwaengler
4. furtwaengler, nanabush
5. roxyroo98
6. cygnusdei, m1469, ted
7. pianisten1989
8. MonstyMachine
9. MachineMe
10 m1469, nanabush
11. ted
12. Foxy, quantum

Nouvelles études
(Fm) 1. pianowolfi
(A♭) 2. liszt1022
(D♭) 3. MonstyMachine

Are you up for the challenge? Huh? Huh ...?

-------

UPDATE

Project 27 is now free for all (selection overlaps OK)
Deadline for submission is June 14, 2011 (for motivation, not "drop dead")
One rule: post *your own* performance

[m1469]

Two words:  "Bring it!"

So, here's what I'm thinking:

Op. 25
1.  Foxy
6.  Foxy 
10  Foxy
12.  Foxy

[cygnusdei]

Oh, it's been brought! 

Cool, why don't we put Foxy (?) first dibs on Op. 25 #1 - if no one else claims #10 & 12 you can take them too. Or do you want to change your first preference?

This is gonna be good .....

[ongaku_oniko]

Good idea. Pianostreet debut CD

I'd do op. 10 no.5, except I don't think I can play at a satisfactory level to be in the list...

I will be working on op. 10 no.9 starting in may, when it's summer break so I might be able to finish it in a month... and we'll see how that goes

[m1469]

Oh, it's been brought! 

Cool, why don't we put Foxy (?) first dibs on Op. 25 #1 - if no one else claims #10 & 12 you can take them too. Or do you want to change your first preference?

This is gonna be good .....

If I had to choose one, I'd rather go for Op. 25/12, but 25/1 is a little more safe.  I'm feeling risky!  I'm doing the others no matter what, though (I mean, in my personal life).

[thinkgreenlovepiano]

I will be working on op. 10 no.9 starting in may, when it's summer break so I might be able to finish it in a month... and we'll see how that goes

I LOVE that one! I think it's one of my favourites!

Oh and I'd love to participate except I'm not advanced enough for these etudes yet. What about including the Trois Nouvelles Etudes? Or could we start a pianostreet nocturnes project too?   Even though I doubt I play well enough to be a part of that either....

Anyway...   I think this is a really good idea, I can't wait to see how it turns out!

[cygnusdei]

Awesome - Foxy now takes dibs on Op. 25 #12, and ongaku_oniko on Op. 10 #5.

I also add the Nouvelles études - why not, it's gonna be complete Chopets!

Keep 'em coming guys, first come first serve  

[thinkgreenlovepiano]

Awesome - Foxy now takes dibs on Op. 25 #12, and ongaku_oniko on Op. 10 #3.

I also add the Nouvelle études - why not, it's gonna be complete Chopets!

Keep 'em coming guys, first come first serve  

Apparently there's some numbering issues on the nouvelle etudes... Sometimes #2 and #3 are switched =/ So maybe you should put the keys to avoid confusion. Just a suggestion
Oh and maybe setting a deadline. If life were perfect I'd love to join, I'm just nervous about the date
 

[ongaku_oniko]

I think it's a little safer to put me on the 9th or 6th right now... I'll post a recording of my black keys at the end of april and you guys can see if it's good enough then, but I highly doubt it.

Thinkgreen: You can start a sonatina project so littletunes can join in I like Beethoven's sonatina in G (I think it was?) It's in the 2001 Celebration Series Grade 5... can't really remember how to play it though

[cygnusdei]

Cool - ongaku now takes Op. 10 #9.

thinkgreen: good point about the numbering of the Nouvelles études - I added the key signatures. BTW the one in D flat looks rather difficult!

[thinkgreenlovepiano]

I think it's a little safer to put me on the 9th or 6th right now... I'll post a recording of my black keys at the end of april and you guys can see if it's good enough then, but I highly doubt it.

Thinkgreen: You can start a sonatina project so littletunes can join in I like Beethoven's sonatina in G (I think it was?) It's in the 2001 Celebration Series Grade 5... can't really remember how to play it though

Neither do I... After I learned my last sonatina (Grade 6??) I quit piano lessons. (Well actually I didn't quit, my mom just canceled them). So that was years ago.
But that is a good idea! But then would the sonatinas be by 1 composer? I don't know what littletune is learning. And I'd still have to learn.. fast. Classical period= my weakest period. I always score lowest on that for exams. I'm more of a Baroque girl  

@cygnusdei... sorry for spamming your thread! I'm going to leave now, and try out that Nouvelle Etude, and see if its even possible for me to learn in 2 months.

[thalbergmad]

We did something similar with Beethoven Sonatas, but that never got off the ground.

Regretfully I am studying the Thalberg Etudes so I cannot contribute to this.

Thal

[pianisten1989]

I had a plan to play all op 10 before autumn. Hopefully I'll nail atleast one :´P

Right now, I can contribute with op 10/12 and op 25/7

[cygnusdei]

Very good - pianisten1989 now owns Op. 10 no. 12. If no one claims Op. 25 no. 7 you can take it as well, or do you want this as first preference?

[pianisten1989]

The op 25/7 is mine!

[littletune]

Thinkgreen: You can start a sonatina project so littletunes can join in I like Beethoven's sonatina in G (I think it was?) It's in the 2001 Celebration Series Grade 5... can't really remember how to play it though

Thanks Ongaku Oniko for thinking about me! Well I still play just really easy pieces    Maybe  someone should start a "baby pieces" project and then I would sure join in! 
I hope you guys will really do this! It sounds really cool! 

[pianowolfi]

I'd be happy to contribute with op. 10,2. I can't promise anything, since I have a load of other things to do, but I'll give it a try.

[m1469]

I'd be happy to contribute with op. 10,2. I can't promise anything, since I have a load of other things to do, but I'll give it a try.

YIP!

Yeah, I've got loads, too (in my opinion), but this is part of my load anyway.  Mine is not a promise, but rather a chance to catch my buns a little bit onto fire!

*displays make believe appropriate emoticon*

[fleetfingers]

I just recently started learning this, so I'm not cheating at all!

Does this imply a rule that everyone participating has to start now (roughly) in learning their etude, as opposed to submitting one they've already mastered?

[stevebob]

Does this imply a rule that everyone participating has to start now (roughly) in learning their etude, as opposed to submitting one they've already mastered?

I'm glad you asked that, especially as the only concrete time frame mentioned (that I'm aware of) was approximately two months (in cygnusdei's original post).  That's a generous amount of time for recalling, polishing and recording a previously-learned piece, but a very limited period in which to learn a completely new one.

[m1469]

Yes, I've had the one I've committed to as part of my sea of current projects for awhile, but my repertoire is such (for me) that it's too often been shoved to the back burner for much of the time.  As of making this commitment, I am making Op. 25/12 a regular part of my prax routine everyday for nearly the first time ever (for 20 mins. -- I'm setting the timer again in my prax routines).  I'm definitely not willing to commit my whole efforts to some new project at the expense of everything else I'm doing.  As of yesterday and today, I've got Op. 25/12 at exactly half tempo.  So, if me getting that up to tempo and truly aiming at a professional level of artistry in two months, amongst everything else I'm working on (and aiming for the same with those), is somehow "cheating," then I guess I won't participate if that's somehow against some "rule".  But, believe me, I've got my work cut out for me!  

Otherwise, game on!

(PS -- Well, I've put all my Chopets in my daily routine, actually, per a smarter approach).

[pianowolfi]

YIP!

Yeah, I've got loads, too (in my opinion), but this is part of my load anyway.  Mine is not a promise, but rather a chance to catch my buns a little bit onto fire!

*displays make believe appropriate emoticon*

Similar here

[m1469]

Thanks Ongaku Oniko for thinking about me! Well I still play just really easy pieces     Maybe  someone should start a "baby pieces" project and then I would sure join in!  
I hope you guys will really do this! It sounds really cool!  

Oh, Littletune,

I would love to start some project of "baby pieces" and record them for here.  I've in fact considered that all on my own in the past couple of months, actually, simply because I feel I need that experience in some way, and this might be a perfect setting for me.  So, if I would be allowed to join you, I'd love to start something like that with you (well, or I might start my very own ... hee hee).

[cygnusdei]

I guess pianisten1989 just upped the going rate to 2 etudes. Bring it! 

As far as 'rules' go I guess the only rule is that you have to post *your own* performance, hehehe. Other than that, do your best, have fun, and show us what you're made of!

The 2 months thing is just a rough timeline, first we need to finalize the list of pianostreet chopet hall of fame.....

pianowolfi: you're on!

[perfect_pitch]

Damn... I'd love to record one of these pieces, but since I broke my G string on the piano - it's sounded like crap since I got it replaced. And this is despite having it tuned only a week ago.

[m1469]

I guess pianisten1989 just upped the going rate to 2 etudes. Bring it! 

What are you talking about?!  I put FOUR up there to begin with and now, suddenly, we can have two because somebody whose post I can't even see must have said something?

Then I for sure want 25/1, too.  But, I'd like to compete for 25/6  -- why not have two recordings?  And to really put one heckova bonfire under my bum, I'd like 25/10, too  .  I want a bonfire (dances all around)!!  And, I've just been slightly and secretly funnin' around with 25/9 -- but I don't want that one yet.

[cygnusdei]

Hmmm,  a little competition, eh? Be prepared to be crushed! Okay, let's make it free for all then. Foxy aka m1469: you're on!

Let's give it until a week from today (04/13) for the open invitation. Then on to the practice/prep period (2 months?), then we'll probably need Nils' help to move the thread to the audition board where we can post recordings.

Now I'm on the fence about taking Op. 10. no. 4 ....... hmmm .....

[liszt1022]

If you're counting the Nouvelles Etudes, shouldn't it be Project 27?

If so, I'd like to be included with the one in A-flat. #2 on your list, #3 in my Paderewski edition.

[m1469]

Hmmm,  a little competition, eh? Be prepared to be crushed! Okay, let's make it free for all then. Foxy aka m1469: you're on!

I'll tell you one thing, if I do go down, at least I'll go down in flames!!  Haha.  Right now, I'm okay with that possibility!

*crawls into bed early*
*drifts deeply into 'training' mode*
*has Rocky theme music playing in mind and considers drinking raw eggs in the morning*

Now I'm on the fence about taking Op. 10. no. 4 ....... hmmm .....

Do it!   Woooooooooooo, yeah, woooooooooooo!

[cygnusdei]

Well, now it's officially Project 27, cool!

I can't change the original thread title though ....

[littletune]

Oh, Littletune,

I would love to start some project of "baby pieces" and record them for here.  I've in fact considered that all on my own in the past couple of months, actually, simply because I feel I need that experience in some way, and this might be a perfect setting for me.  So, if I would be allowed to join you, I'd love to start something like that with you (well, or I might start my very own ... hee hee).

That's soooo cool that you want to join too m1469!!      Well I saw that Onkagu Oniko already started a thread for "baby pieces"  So... I guess we can start with that     (I guess we just have to decide which pieces we will be playing). 

[quantum]

Hmmm.  10/3, 25/10 or 25/12 are possibilities.  Not promising a recording though, as I am swamped with work.

[cygnusdei]

Hi quantum - I'm giving a little nudge by signing you up for Op. 10 no. 3 .... nudge nudge ...

[cygnusdei]

Has everyone been practicing? Well I have, and my fingers are getting a good workout!

My Op. 25 no. 6 is coming along pretty nicely - I feel that the sparse texture allows ample pedaling, which in turn allows some 'fakery' i.e. mushy passages. I'm trying to avoid that though.
I just started revisiting Op. 10 no. 4 - I'm gonna start slow and steady to secure my fingering.

Anyone else have practice stories?

[m1469]

Practicing stories ... sure, LOTS!

Well, okay, but about the etudes.  I've definitely got my work cut out for me, but I am enjoying the push and I'm appreciating the severe kind of focus I feel I'm developing.  Nothing is at tempo yet, but my ideal would be to have everything actually up to tempo by the time we are supposed to have these posted.  I started the 25/6 at tempo today and could do it for the first 4 measures, as well as a few other measures, but there's a looong haul between doing that for a few measures here and there, vs. getting the whole thing completely up to tempo.  For now, I have to live in some alternate reality where I talk myself into believing that I can pull this all off.  I tested a couple of measures of 25/10, too, at tempo and had success.  Loooonnnngg way to go .

But, it is helping me re-evluate my practicing in general and hopefully bring everything I do into a whole new sphere!  That can't be a bad thing!

[liszt1022]

Are you still trying to get new pianists to cover the remaining 17 etudes, or do you think we'll end up repeating performers on some tracks?

About MF A-flat, I work best with a deadline, so I've done some preliminary work on it but no memorization yet.

[cygnusdei]

Anyone is still welcome to join, but you're right, we should set a deadline. So, 2 months from today will be June 14!

One thing came to mind - what if we post "before" and "after" recordings? Wouldn't that be interesting to hear how much 2 months make a difference?

I'm willing to post the "before" for Op. 10 no. 4, warts and all.

[countrymath]

I'm learninng Op. 25 N. 9 (Butterfly Wings)

Im getting crazy with it, and i need help. I've learnead only 4 bars in 1 week.

[m1469]

I'm learninng Op. 25 N. 9 (Butterfly Wings)

Im getting crazy with it, and i need help. I've learnead only 4 bars in 1 week. :-

Well, I have recently realized that there is a point where we actually know a piece (at least much of how it can be "described"), and if you spent the week with the four bars and actually know it now, that's a good step! 

Today I'm going to plan to post "before" recordings of each of the etudes I'm working on.  I'm not going to lie, there's going to be some pretty seriously unfortunate things about it but, I think the point is to be able to hear the progress that happens throughout the 2 months and by the end of it.  I actually considered doing it myself, and so now I will! 

[m1469]

I almost posted in the audition room, but I'm posting here instead.  Here is Op. 25 no. 6 the best I could do today without letting it take over my whole practice day.  I will have my piano tuned by June 14th .

[m1469]

phwuuuu ... yikes.  Well, this is my first take of this one and my entirely first run-through of the day, too.  As I would be able to do a few things better, but not enough to rationalize taking the time to record it all over again for this purpose, my first take is what I'm posting.  So, here is Op. 25/10.  At my first page turn I encountered a sticky note posted right where I needed to be looking, so there is a pause there where I had to deal with that.  hmmm.  That's all I'll say.

[m1469]

Okay, here this is.  It is my second take.  With all of these, I haven't actually played through them entirely for awhile until today, which I guess is good to do anyway after working sections for a time.  I am actually incredibly amazed what I am discovering in this process of recording and posting them today.  Things I never would have suspected I would learn, and very important lessons, at that!  Thanks for the opportunity, Pianostreet!

[m1469]

This was my second take and it is from memory.  I speed up part way through ... haha.

I feel like I have a much better idea of where I'm at now, not just with these pieces but in my overall pianistic and musical progress ... between posting these today and the past couple of weeks here.  I also feel as though I have a much better idea of what I'm aiming at, too!  Well, onward .

[cygnusdei]

m1469, kudos for posting the recordings. You seem to have a lot of practice time - I envy you!

Anyway, here is me faking through Op. 10 no. 4. It's obvious that I need to slow down and relearn it note-by-note, especially the left hand passages. Check back with me in 2 months!

[ongaku_oniko]

wow... how'd you do that, cygnusdei?

I tried learning the 4th, played the first line, a bit faster than you even, but it sounds NOTHING like what it's supposed to sound like..

How'd you get it to sound properly when it's played so slow?

[pianowolfi]

Very cool! This project is fun!
I might post my before version tonight or tomorrow.

[m1469]

m1469, kudos for posting the recordings.

Thanks!  At first I was extremely nervous because they are not performance ready, etc..  But, I began to lose my inhibitions and there is some definite element of that needing to happen!  Obviously, though, I would like to have the pieces in great shape so I can present them in great shape without inhibitions! 

You seem to have a lot of practice time - I envy you!

You seem to have plenty of practice time, yourself! 

I think I'll plan to post a progress set of recordings on May 14th, as well.  Happy practicing!

Very cool! This project is fun!
I might post my before version tonight or tomorrow.

I'll look forward to hearing .

[cygnusdei]

Well Op. 10. no. 4 is marked Presto, so playing it slow will break the momentum and it's going to sound strange. What I notice though, not necessarily this piece, that there is such a thing as too fast! - that's when the pulse of the music is lost and articulations are not effective anymore. Minute difference in articulation can dramatically change the character of the music.

It's that, or my piano is better than yours ....

BTW ongaku, are you still interested in Op. 10 no. 5 & 6?

Thinkgreen: how about them Nouvelles études?

[thinkgreenlovepiano]

Thinkgreen: how about them Nouvelles études?

I don't think I can do them, unfortunately... I mean it's not going to be ready in a month.  I have really important school exams in May and June, as well as a piano recital in May and 2 in June. So I don't really have the time I've been trying the one in d flat major and it sounds... not like music at all.
If only I'd listened to my teacher when she suggested I learn the D flat major one a while ago... maybe it'd be ready now. but I picked another study instead.
Sorry... maybe liszt1022 can just play them all ?
I'm still going to keep practising, if a miracle happens and no one has taken etude no. 3 by then, I'll let you know

PS: I listened to the recordings and it sounds like its going well.... good luck with the practicing I'm excited to hear everyone's "final" recording, even though I won't be a part of this project.

[ongaku_oniko]

I am doing no.5 atm, but I'm not sure if I will ever be able to get it up at an acceptable standard. there's no way i'll be able to make no.6 in two months, however.