Beethoven Tempest Sonata Mvt.1 advice??

[lyd1432]

I'm playing the first movement of Beethoven's Tempest Sonata for a competition in a couple of weeks. If anyone knows any tips for certain parts of the song, please give me some advice! I can't upload a recording, but I thought someone who might have played it before could tell me some things to work on. Only reply if you actually know the song really well, please :) Please use measure numbers :) Thanks!

[birba]

You're learning the tempest for a competition, and you call it a "song"?  Something doesn't  smell right, here.  You ask for tips - maybe you could be a bit more specific and we can tell if you're really a legit pianist.  You're really quite vague, here.

[bacchus1224]

What exactly are you having a problem with though? The tremolos?

[49410enrique]

i would love to see someone sing this in a competition, that'd be really really something.

[lyd1432]

You're learning the tempest for a competition, and you call it a "song"?  Something doesn't  smell right, here.  You ask for tips - maybe you could be a bit more specific and we can tell if you're really a legit pianist.  You're really quite vague, here.

Sorry, I'd like some help on this "piece". I'm uploading a recording now, which should help clear the air though I don't know why I'd want to lie about being a legit pianist? The recording is pretty choppy, so I can understand any harsh comments!! Actually, that would really help right about now I know the ending is really unclear, I had to record it on my iPod.

[starstruck5]

Where is the recording then -

[lyd1432]

Well, never mind about the recording, this won't let me upload it.

What exactly are you having a problem with though? The tremolos?

I'd like some advice on the pedal usage during the tremolos. In measures 21-38, each chord has two notes that are staccato in the bass, so I know I can't hold the pedal all the way through; but then there are whole notes almost every other measure, so I know I can't lift the pedal after those. Then there is a staccato sforzando in all the chord through 29-38, so...? Some pianisits have told me to lift the pedal at every note in the bass during those measures, but I really hate the sound of that. Advice?

Also, same kind of thing I'm having trouble with in m. 103-122, where the entire bass is staccato except for the half note at the beginning of the measures.

In m.123-125, with the Gmaj and then Bbmaj triplets in the left hand, I cannot seem to make those clear. Any ideas of how fingering or pedal could help with that?

Thanks! - Lydia

[bacchus1224]

Well, never mind about the recording, this won't let me upload it.

I'd like some advice on the pedal usage during the tremolos. In measures 21-38, each chord has two notes that are staccato in the bass, so I know I can't hold the pedal all the way through; but then there are whole notes almost every other measure, so I know I can't lift the pedal after those. Then there is a staccato sforzando in all the chord through 29-38, so...? Some pianisits have told me to lift the pedal at every note in the bass during those measures, but I really hate the sound of that. Advice?

Also, same kind of thing I'm having trouble with in m. 103-122, where the entire bass is staccato except for the half note at the beginning of the measures.

In m.123-125, with the Gmaj and then Bbmaj triplets in the left hand, I cannot seem to make those clear. Any ideas of how fingering or pedal could help with that?

Thanks! - Lydia

OK, for the pedalling, I mainly rely on the book I have and how it sounds.
So in measures 21 onwards, my score shows sustain from the first bass clef D to the A (so 3 accented notes), lift, then sustain again immediately until last 2 A's in the 24th bar. The same for the next sequence. So it's a lot of sustain....sometimes, I press the pedal for the first D and lift it till the end of the bar, then follow the usual marking. Because the left hand melody is marcato, it comes out even without staccatos (IMO).

For the bars with the staccato sforzando note, I lift the pedal at the notes, but if you don't like the sound of it, I think you could keep it sustained till the end of the bar (again that's the marking on my book).

As for bars 123-5, I'm not quite sure what you mean. When I play it with the pedal (once for each bar), the triplets aren't crystal clear, but I like them kind of fuzzy. But again, if you think it sounds too sustained, just play it without the pedal. The fingering I use is 1-3

Ultimately, during the tremolos, I play the left hand extra marcato and with light to no pedal so even if sometimes its not a crisp staccato, it works out.

As for the recording, if it doesn't work out as an mp3, you can always put it up on youtube and post the link here.