Rachmaninov, Prelude op 32 n 12

[costicina]

This one of the pieces I’ve learned last year that I’m planning to improve/refine  during the summer. Your suggestions, advice, warnings would be such a welcomed guidance  to work at it!!!!….
Thanks a lot in advance!!!

[pianowolfi]

I think that there are many good things in your playing of this prelude, to me it also shows clearly that your handspan doesn't really limit your playing!

I'd suggest to re-read the passage from 0:56 to 1:06, as you are not yet playing this correctly.

Further I'd suggest to play the tremolo-like pattern in the beginning (and all similar passages) in the right hand with a much more relaxed wrist. And I'd stay more in contact with the keys and try to "milk" the sound out of them rather than "striking" them!

The arpeggios in the left hand should not interrupt the flow of the melody. I think that this is one of the fascinating specialities of Rachmaninoff's writing. There are huge arpeggios underlaying a floating melody, and you have to play and discern them, sometimes with one hand alone, thinking and playing in two or more different, quasi polyphonic layers!

I think that you are at a point where you might start to connect the segments. I feel like you are still thinking a bit too much in segments, which is of course good for practicing, but not for (practicing up to) a performance. All those rubato elements should melt smoothly into each other. It shouldn't give the listener an impression of "now it's rallentando", and now it's "subito a tempo". All those elements should flow into each other like a river. Of course there are clear, strong rocks in the river bed, like a "subito a tempo" or "subito forte"! And we have to play them clearly and strongly! But the music-water can deal with them easily!

I wish I could post some instructional video "à la Birba" but I'm not yet there    

[costicina]

Thank you so much,  Wolfi, your advices  are so "treffend"!!!! The section you mention in fact  has been particularly difficult for me (those  LH arps  ); at one point I was thinking to give up altogether; but perhaps I know I can perfection the 'circling movment' required to play it.  The RH in the crescendo section (from 1.20 onward) needs still a lot of work from the techincalpoint of view
Then,  as you so rightly pointed out, the different sections oin such a varied piece are still 'disconnetted'... Well, I've to work hard at it, but somehow, when the bulk of the job is done, this ciselling process is the one I like the best.
I hope I'' be able to do justice to this wonderful prelude!!!!

[emill]

hello Margh,

Personally it sounds quite NICE already. As I have often observed, pianists remove 80% of the fun in playing a piece because of their knowledge of the technical and artistic requirements (of a piece) which often is still wanting in their minds.  Again from a regular audience perspective ... it sounds NICE.

btw .... is that a kitten in the sofa playing with a stocking?

[costicina]

You're so kind, Emil!!! Thank ou very much.....

The 'kitten' on the sofa is my daughter with her Linus' blanket 

[candlelightpiano]

It sounds very good, Marg!  I enjoyed it very much!  Keep up the good work! 

[costicina]

Thank you so much, Choo, your are always encouraging!!!!

[costicina]

Thank you so much, Choo, your are always encouraging!!!!

[starstruck5]

Is there any composer better than Rachmaninoff for writing sensuous wistful melodies? Your playing just made me focus on how beautiful the music is -all the technical terms we pianists use to describe how we actually make sound fell away from my mind -bravo

[costicina]

  Thank you soooo much, Starstruck, this is one of the best compliment I could hope for!!! So often there is such a big iatus between the pure beauty of the music I try to learn and the akwardness of my efforts  If I was able to convey a tiny spark of that beaty here I'm HAPPY!!!!!

[hakki]

Very nice  I really enjoyed listening.

One tiny suggestion if I may. At around 2.21, I think you can play the big arpeggio  in a more broad and relaxed manner. Maybe slowing a bit.

Thanks for sharing.

regards,

Hakki.