Liszt's transcription of Schubert's "Standchen" question

[zax102]

I got this piece yesterday.  It doesn't seem all that difficult, but I am a bit confused about one thing.

The accompaniment is written in both clefs, but is also in a different rhythm than the melody (the bottom notes are eigths, the top notes are sometimes triplets).  Now, I can play this one of two ways:

1) I can play all the bottom notes with the left hand, only.
2) I can play it as it's written and use the lower fingers of my right hand for one of the bottom notes.

It's totally doable to do it the second way, albeit a bit more confusing and difficult for, as far as I can tell, no real reason.  If you've ever played this piece, how do you play it?

Also, the bottom octave goes for a the whole measure, in the opening of the piece, which makes it physically impossible to hold.  Should I try the sostenuto pedal, for this or just try to half pedal it?

I'd really appreciate any suggestions that anyone might have.  Thank you.

[pianoplayjl]

This is a very good piece! I really recommend listening to Horowitz's recording as a guide. Perhaps the finest I can find, probably because of the excellent audio quality and the pianist.  ;DTry and listen to when he uses the pedal.
I assume that your hands are not big enough to play some parts. You can use the sostenuto pedal for the octaves. Hold the pedal for the octave and then release it as you play the middle part. if you are talking about bar 6-7 and etc, I guess it is appropriate to use your left hand to also play the bottom notes of the right hand, places you can't reach. I prefer that you use the 2nd option because in a way you have more control between your two hands.

Such a wonderful melody, I'm hoping to learn the piece one day!

JL

[zax102]

I have rather large hands, so it's not that.  I don't have, you know, Rachmaninoff hands, but that's pretty rare.

In any case, the problem with playing option two is, like I said, the awkward rhythm.  The sheet music I have is odd and places the last part of the triplet with the second eighth, which is of course incorrect, and ruins part of the charm of the piece if you were to play it that way.

I guess that's why I'm confused.  Is there anyone who's played this who can tell me what they do for the first page of the music?  Oddly, the further it goes, the more straightforward it becomes to me for how I would play it, it's just that first page.

Oh, and be the way, pianoplayjl, I love Horowitz's version.  It's wonderful.  Here's another that you might like:

[pianoplayjl]

I think I might know what you mean. I think you are misreading the score. I'm looking at the first edition from IMSLP. The score makes it look like that way but I would play like those:

E.g. Bar 5
   3
A B A  D
    D   F

SO you would be playing a cross rhythm. If my explanation is not what you are looking for, then I really don't know what the heck you are talking about. Mind if you post a jpeg of ur problem and highlight what the prob is?

JL