Was I crazy enough to actually do it ?!

[lisztarian]

 Greetings dear pianists!!!!!


       On January 11th, 2012 I had a solo piano recital. I received the offer just TWO weeks before the concert. I decided to play This program, which was ready and already played in a piano competition in Italy last December where I won 2nd prize is:


   Beethoven Op.2, No.3

   Chopin Mazurkas Op.24

     This program is already about 45 minutes. So, I needed some piece to end the program. I had some ideas of a Liszt transcendental etude, a Chopin Etude, or SOMETHING of virtuosity, and showmanship. However, all what I had in mind was suitable for an encore due to the length of the pieces, and the general image of the program. So, I decided -along with my private piano teacher (a professor) in Kuwait to play Chopin's Polonaise Op.53!!! I couldn't agree with him in the beginning, especially the concert is in only TWO WEEKS!!!! However, he promised me that I can DO IT. Moreover, I am 21 years old, and I started to play the piano when I was ONLY 16! So, I believed in his words and started to work on the piece. So, I would like to see what do you think of the performance of this heroic polonaise:

PS= I know that there are mistakes, and I hope that these are not the biggest issue you focus on. I'd like to get more insight as to the structure, tempo, dynamics, syncopation, and anything not related to playing wrong notes because that could be fixed with practicing. I thank you deeply in advance for your generosity of viewing and -hopefully- commenting on this post. Let us hope we all contribute as much as we can for this lovely forum of this AWESOME website ! Greetings from Kuwait!

[megadodd]

Did you learn this from scratch, into playing it in a recital- in two weeks? I'm amazed.

[lisztarian]

Yes I did ! But I practiced it 5 hours for everyday not counting the other pieces. Thus, I practiced about 11 hours a day for 12 days before the concert. Thank God I have had holidays for 20 days starting from December 30th from my University. Otherwise, it would have been impossible to make such a program for a concert with my horrible English Literature studies!

[arielpiano]

Hi Faisal,
Preparing this polonaise in two weeks is certainly an accomplishment, but the practice is not to be encouraged. Despite your excellent concept of the piece and your amazing talent, many times one can sense your insecurity, not so much about hitting the right notes but about just how to do it. Over the 50 or 60 hours that you practiced this piece your fingers have evidently learned it, but I don't think you have spent enough time thinking about what exactly you want to make of it. For example, do you really want to emphasize the bass ostinato in the trio to the point where at times you can barely hear the melody of the right hand? The other thing you may want to give more thought to is the consistency of the general tempo or pulse throughout the piece. There is a drive through this polonaise that must be kept up at all times, but on several occasions you seem to lose steam. All these are, I believe, mental issues. You have now practiced this piece long enough. It is probably time to give it a break, play it at most once or twice a day, VERY SLOWLY, and for the rest play it in your head, thinking about how you would like it to sound. BTW, you should know it well enough to be able to play it in your head from beginning to end, note for note.
In the meantime can we see some of the mazurkas?
Ariel

[jpahmad]

I think that sounds pretty decent Faisal.  You're only gonna get better and better at it.  Just out of curiosity.  You said you started at 16.  What was the first piece you worked on at that age and how did your teacher approach teaching you?   I'm asking because it is obvious that you had a lot of musical ability when you first started.

jp

[lisztarian]

Dear (arielpiano)

         Thank you for your great insight! Regarding the (ostinato) in the left hand, the thing is that the microphone was inside the piano and the bass of this piano sounds much louder than the higher register of it. This D model Steinway is also very new in the concert hall and is about 4 months old. I guess this explains many things regarding the sound production. About the pulse, what many pianists do is play the introduction MUCH faster than what it should be. For example, the piece is marked (Maestoso) from the beginning of the work till the end. However, many play the 1st page (presto) or something close to it and when the main theme starts they go back to the original tempo marking. And YES, I should probably let this piece take a rest for some while and not give it the utmost attention. As to the mazurkas, I have explained the recording problems and I have found a video recording with a normal handheld video camera with short excerpts from both Beethoven and the Mazurkas. Let you enjoy them:

Beethoven Op.2, No.3 2nd movement's ending:

Chopin Mazurkas Op.24, Nos. 1+2:

[lisztarian]

Dear (JPahmad)


  Yes. I unfortunately started late at the age of 16. Back then, I started to play the piano alone and I was self-taught for the first three years. The first piece I started was Liszt La Campanella!! Of course there were plenty of mistakes. I kept playing Liszt for the first two years. Apparently, God has blessed me with easiness in playing MOST of his works. Within the first three years alone I played Paganini Etudes #1+3+5, and Rhapsodies #7+8+14. Along with some minor pieces here and there from other composers. Currently, I have (thanks be to the Lord) a big repertoire for Liszt and Chopin.

   My current piano professor is an amazing pianist and I have been working with him for about 6 months here in Kuwait. But Internationally, my major piano professor and the person who has changed my playing 180 degrees from Hell to Heaven is (Stefan Kutrzeba), you can Check his website which has plenty of very VERY useful information regarding everything related to piano, and music in general. Here you are the link to his website https://pianoeu.com/

[pianowolfi]

Like the other commentators, I am also amazed, especially I think that you capture the Polonaise feeling very well! You are living the music that you play! Of course your interpretation of the piece will grow with you, and with time. But I really like your unconstrained way of making music, don't ever change that, just try to add to it!

[lisztarian]

 Thank you (pianowolfi) for this lovely comment. I also hope that the future holds a better place for the music I try to make effortlessly, and without any exaggeration of both mental and physical energy !  I hope everyone achieves their dream ! Truly nothing is impossible except raising the dead!!!

[pianowolfi]

Thank you (pianowolfi) for this lovely comment. I also hope that the future holds a better place for the music I try to make effortlessly, and without any exaggeration of both mental and physical energy !  I hope everyone achieves their dream ! Truly nothing is impossible except raising the dead!!!

...and even that...might be possible for a musician

[jpahmad]

Lisztarian,

   That's kind of like me.  I started playing when I was 21 and my first piece was Chopin's fantasie impromptu (although nowhere near the demands of the Lizts etudes).  This was mostly because my roomate in college would play this song over and over, but only the first 6 measures or so.  So, one day I decided to just sit down and try to pluck it out.  Well, that started me on a journey that changed my life really.

The first teacher I had was very encouraging and I enjoyed him as both a teacher and a friend.  He was maybe around 60 years old and acted as sort of a mentor as well.  Unfortunately he died too soon and I was then thrust into the despicable situation where some of the faculty members who didn't like him too much were asked to take on his students.  At that point I was told that "I had no technique"  "I'm musically underdeveloped" etc...etc..  and then subsequently I was forced to play Czerney and Hannon!  This was at a well known conservatory in the States.  I quit that place pretty soon and eventually found someone elso at a state school that was wonderful for me.


I guess I'm just curious to see if you ever had similar roadblocks.  Considering your unique ability, did you ever come across individuals who tried to "put you in your place?"



jp

[arielpiano]

...and even that...might be possible for a musician

... especially for someone like, say, Lazar(us) Berman...

[pianowolfi]

... especially for someone like, say, Lazar(us) Berman...

Oh yes! You got the point! 

[johnmar78]

Hey Listarian, I listened to your op53 ONLY ONCE, because I studied this piece for 10 years, no to say you have the potentials.....
But for your standard as a profesional pianist....I have listed the time where you should be look into.
1)1.03;2.4;3.06;3,09;3.11;3.3;4.17;4.43;7.23;6.29;6.45;7.12;7 to 7.10, and the ending chord(s).

I think for industry standard, normally it allowed 1-2 slips at all. 

Your tempo varies a bit from section to section, its fine for the slower section that you have chosen to played taht way., sometimes you may need to practice all piece slower than you think to hear the (third, double chords....) I noticed some note did not appear to be audiable . Anyway, good luck with your performace in 2 weeks time,,,pressure is on....I hope you enjoy your music career.

Thanks

[lisztarian]

Lisztarian,

   That's kind of like me.  I started playing when I was 21 and my first piece was Chopin's fantasie impromptu (although nowhere near the demands of the Lizts etudes).  This was mostly because my roomate in college would play this song over and over, but only the first 6 measures or so.  So, one day I decided to just sit down and try to pluck it out.  Well, that started me on a journey that changed my life really.

The first teacher I had was very encouraging and I enjoyed him as both a teacher and a friend.  He was maybe around 60 years old and acted as sort of a mentor as well.  Unfortunately he died too soon and I was then thrust into the despicable situation where some of the faculty members who didn't like him too much were asked to take on his students.  At that point I was told that "I had no technique"  "I'm musically underdeveloped" etc...etc..  and then subsequently I was forced to play Czerney and Hannon!  This was at a well known conservatory in the States.  I quit that place pretty soon and eventually found someone elso at a state school that was wonderful for me.


I guess I'm just curious to see if you ever had similar roadblocks.  Considering your unique ability, did you ever come across individuals who tried to "put you in your place?"



jp

 Yes!! This is very similar!!! Bravo Dear friend! Fortunately, I did not have so many (know your place) in my very short experience!!!! I would suggest you take a greater look to this website I have shared in here just before about my Professor! I am sure you will enjoy it, and maybe even attend his masterclasses in Poland during the summer. I will write a special post about this course in the future to see who is interested in such a thing. All the best in your future my friend!

[lisztarian]

Hey Listarian, I listened to your op53 ONLY ONCE, because I studied this piece for 10 years, no to say you have the potentials.....
But for your standard as a profesional pianist....I have listed the time where you should be look into.
1)1.03;2.4;3.06;3,09;3.11;3.3;4.17;4.43;7.23;6.29;6.45;7.12;7 to 7.10, and the ending chord(s).

I think for industry standard, normally it allowed 1-2 slips at all. 

Your tempo varies a bit from section to section, its fine for the slower section that you have chosen to played taht way., sometimes you may need to practice all piece slower than you think to hear the (third, double chords....) I noticed some note did not appear to be audiable . Anyway, good luck with your performace in 2 weeks time,,,pressure is on....I hope you enjoy your music career.

Thanks

  Thanks a lot Johnmar78! I see you have looked at the technical issues into a greater depth. As to the pressure, it is gone already, this recording was the recording of the concert where I have already played this two weeks old piece! Clearly there is no pressure now at all with no concerts coming until February the 14th where I'll play Chopin's 2nd piano concert with a string quartet! Let us hope that concert goes well enough to be uploaded in here ! Greetings from Kuwait!

[emill]

Hello!

11 hours a day for 2 weeks .... may be not a good idea; but under your circumstances it must be done to beat a deadline.  In general however, the efficiency of the learning process declines proportionately with the number of hours of continues practice.  The actual performance also greatly depends on ones ability to leash ones nerves and anxieties, knowing you had only 2 weeks.

Personally for 2 weeks it is GOOD, but one can sense the good number of hesitations in the performance perhaps the result of the short period of time given to learning the piece.  I am sure with a little more, this will be much better. Congratulations.

[gn622]

I  hope you check your PM lisztarian 

[koopakool]

Terrific control, love how crisp you sound, not too much pedal, you don't rush things. It's beautiful really! My jaw really dropped when I read it took you 2 weeks, wow! Btw, around 4:32 does your left wrist start to burn?