Kreisleriana

[moderatocantabile]

Hi everyone

I'm almost finished learning this piece and am trying to memorise it. It seems Brahms and Schumann's compositional language is completely different from Chopin or Liszt, and the slow passages are always harder than they look. So I have a big problem with the opening theme of the second piece (Sehr innig und nicht zu rasch). It has multiple voices so the overall sound is not reliable. And the fingering is SO uncomfortable..when I follow each voice it's fine and melodic, but when they join together it fails to flow.  

anyone who has learnt the piece please give some tips! or comments on Kreisleriana in general are also welcomed.

[martinrdb]

I am certainly no expert but do try to play this set from time to time.  For the 5th and 6th full bars in no.2 Sehr innig, I play the inner part in thirds or sixth with my left hand (I am sure I saw that suggestion in an edition somewhere).

I have also given up trying to play the Noch schneller ending of no. 3 as written and redistributed the notes between my hands so that they do not get in the way of each other.  This means that the phrasing (as shown by the slurs) is emphasised; the descending octaves at the end, I no longer play in one hand, but with the lower note of all except the first octave in my left hand.

It is certainly easier to get the musical effect this way.

Others might object, in which case, I too would be interested to hear their point of view.

[j_menz]

So I have a big problem with the opening theme of the second piece (Sehr innig und nicht zu rasch). It has multiple voices so the overall sound is not reliable. And the fingering is SO uncomfortable..when I follow each voice it's fine and melodic, but when they join together it fails to flow.  

What do you mean by unreliable?  The fingering here should be comfortable; if it's not, you're using the wrong ones.

Do you have any experience with polyphonic pieces generally?

[mousekowski]

For No.2 Sehr Inning, I take the bottom notes of the last three RH octaves in bar 1 with my left hand. This allows my RH to play the top notes much more legato.

The sf at the beginning of bar 2 is a weird effect. I try not to overdo it.