VIDEO: Chopin Etude op. 10, n. 12 (Revolutionary)

[urska_babic]

This is a video of me, recorded back in February. I didn't like the sound of that Steinway too much (very loud and aggressive). It's also not the best version (or let me say final  ) I could play, but I still wanted to share it with you and hear what's your opinion! 

[mike_lang]

Good sound, clear phrasing, and -- very free and willing fingers!

Two suggestions:
1) When you have a syncopation, try to feel it more and clarify it to the listener by providing stable beats (not punched, just stable) in the bass.
2) When you drop to piano in the A sections, and resolve Ab to G, be careful that you do not play the G louder; otherwise, it becomes part of the following phraselet.

Again, congratulations!

Best,
Mike

[krystellle]

You can say that again!  Very willing fingers.  With  apparatus like that at your service, you should be able to get more musical intention out of this etude.  As it stands now, it's not much more then finger excercise.  I don't know why, but your dotted rythms, which is the muscial foundation of this etude, have no dramatic impulse.  It's not "DAH -dee- DAH", but DAH-DAH-DAH, if you get what I mean.  That 16th note is too flippant.  It needs more weight - more impetus.
But you certainly have very facile fingers that permit you to play this at a top speed.  I envy you!!!! 

[urska_babic]

Thanks for your advice! You are right-the rhythm isn't exact and when resolving Ab to G, G should be played softer. The overall musical structure could also be much better. The fact is that I played this piece in my youth and I picked it up again, practiced it for 2 days and made a recording. Unfortunately I didn't have time to record myself before and listen to how I play and to play it to my professor. But he told me all those things later... I have some problems with my speed ( as you noticed  ), because I find it ver very hard to play things in a moderate tempo. On the other hand, I've always had the inclination to play slower parts very slowly. But I'm working on it! 

[pianowolfi]

Yes, you definitely have very good fingers, and a lot of passion ! But to me it's too much of an overall approach. There is a huge cloud-like bass sound and a (more or less precisely) played melody, and that's it. I miss the structure of the left hand, I miss the melody of the left hand, there's just a huge pile of sound and velocity, but you can't even hear the velocity because it's covered through a lot of pedal. I miss the rocky, scary contour, the precise articulation!

[mike_lang]

Thanks for your advice! You are right-the rhythm isn't exact and when resolving Ab to G, G should be played softer. The overall musical structure could also be much better. The fact is that I played this piece in my youth and I picked it up again, practiced it for 2 days and made a recording. Unfortunately I didn't have time to record myself before and listen to how I play and to play it to my professor. But he told me all those things later... I have some problems with my speed ( as you noticed  ), because I find it ver very hard to play things in a moderate tempo. On the other hand, I've always had the inclination to play slower parts very slowly. But I'm working on it! 

Let the record show, though, I really enjoyed your performance.  Very well thought out musically and with clear ideas, just a few clarifications of "musical diction" to be made :-)

Looking forward to the next audition room offering!

Cheers,
Mike

[starstruck5]

   Amazingly tinny for a Steinway - but you play wonderfully!  It is easy to find things that could be improved about almost any performance - but you clearly enjoy playing this and I enjoyed listening to you.

[littletune]

Živjo!  You're from Slovenia right? I am too.  You should post more! 

[smoothsound]

Very very nice. I agree with what most of the others said. Of course you said this wasn't your best. Would be great to hear your best.

Mitch