Chopin Scherzo op.31

[schubertiad]

Hey pianostreet!

Here is a recording of Chopin's 2nd Scherzo, performed by me. I am preparing it for an upcoming concert, so any and all advice welcome.

Sorry about the tuning issues with the piano, and hope you enjoy it.

Please please comment!

Ben

&feature=plcp

[schubertiad]

Sorry to bump my own thread, but it would be great to get at least some feedback before this gets buried on page 2 (and before my concert!)

schubertiad

[costicina]

Hi Ben,
I think your performance is brilliant: not too rushed, with a great technical control, and 'spicey' enough to do justice to the 'Scherzo' mood. Bravo!!!! I'm sure your concert will be a success, and the audience will appreciate your playing. Good luck!!!!

Marg

[49410enrique]

this is my fav scherzo, i think it's 'done cooking' between now and the final public presentation, i'd just 'let it simmer on the back burners on low heat' that is keep practicing the 'performance' of it, i e record more, find small audiences to play for, find a pinao in a public place and play it, get as many full runs nonstop in front of 'audiences' as possible, that will help things continue to settle in.

sounds great. congrats and job welldone. please record and post the final performance if possible.

[jesc]

You've inspired me a bit to play this piece more... delicately.

[danhuyle]

Good work. Look forward to your performance recording.

[schubertiad]

Thanks for the encouraging words!
I also like the slightly more measured tempo. Many people have a tendency to rush their way through the piece, and I feel they miss out on some really special moments. The A major section is one of the most beautiful and delicate melodies that Chopin wrote, and it seems a shame to race through it.
There are still a few things to work on (not least that crashing fist full of wrong notes at the 8:15 mark  ) but I hope to have it all ironed out by my next concert. Not sure when it will be though, as the one I was planning on doing fell through. Barring any cataclysmic disasters I'll post up a recording of the concert.

Ben

[emill]

Sorry to bump my own thread, but it would be great to get at least some feedback before this gets buried on page 2 (and before my concert!)  schubertiad

hehhe !!  YES, often it gets discouraging to slide into 2nd page without a comment. The Audition Forum is sometimes counterproductive to posting comments especially from those who have posted pieces for audition, as posting comments on other's playing it will hasten burying one's post to 2nd page. 

You play this very well, expressive, good control and phrasing.  One can feel and better appreciate the music intended in contrast to the rush often in other's playing. Well the recording could be better .... but the music still comes through! THANKS!!

[scherzo123]

Great playing! How long did it take you to learn it? I'm currently on and off on this piece, so I was just curious on how long it will take me to finally finish it...your reply would be appreciated.

[schubertiad]

Thanks!
This took a while to get totally under the fingers, although of course some bits came together much easier than others. Two problem areas were the left-hand figure throughout the bel canto section, which is very hard to get fast, even and sotto voce. The other bit was the rolled chords section before the return to the main theme, which can end up a train-wreck of wrong notes if you're not careful. Try jumping an extra octave up (or down) to make the reall version seem more manageable.

As to how long it will take you to learn, it's impossible for me to say. If you have mastered the hardest bars of each section, then the rest of the piece should fall into place pretty easily. Until then, good luck!

Ben

[scherzo123]

Thanks!
This took a while to get totally under the fingers, although of course some bits came together much easier than others. Two problem areas were the left-hand figure throughout the bel canto section, which is very hard to get fast, even and sotto voce. The other bit was the rolled chords section before the return to the main theme, which can end up a train-wreck of wrong notes if you're not careful. Try jumping an extra octave up (or down) to make the reall version seem more manageable.

As to how long it will take you to learn, it's impossible for me to say. If you have mastered the hardest bars of each section, then the rest of the piece should fall into place pretty easily. Until then, good luck!

Ben

Thanks!