Brahms Rhapsody No. 1 in B minor, Op. 79

[davidjosepha]

Sorry, there's a bit of silence at the beginning that I forgot to chop off. I learned this piece a little over a year ago and just started playing it again last night. I thought I'd record it to see what people think. There are a couple technical errors, and the scales, well...haha. I play the piece quite a bit slower than Martha Argerich, although she plays everything (too, in my opinion) fast. I haven't listened to any other recordings recently, so I can't compare my tempo to theirs. I think I played it about Argerich's speed the first time I played it and just found that while I could technically play at that tempo, I was not able to be as musical as I would have liked.

Please, any comments appreciated. Don't hesitate to criticize...I'm surrounded by flatterers and the musically ignorant (and a whole lot of overlap). I could use a bit of honesty.

Edit: Also, what are people's thoughts on the tempo? I realized after listening to other recordings that most people play it at about 80 bpm. Argerich's is a bit above 90, and mine was 72-75, I think. I can definitely play it faster, if people think that's a good idea.

[bbush]

Great piece, no doubt!  Don't know if this'll be helpful, but as I was listening, I thought you sounded a bit rushed at the beginning.  And the piece overall could use more rubato.  Of course, it's just my opinion (what else?), but rubato in Brahms is a big part of the appeal of enjoying - and playing - his music.

I like that you don't overuse your sustain pedal, keeping notes sharp and clear.  And you keep the melody pretty distinct over the bass runs.  A little rough around the edges and could be a little more emotional, but all around, a very good performance.

Thank you,
Bruce

[davidjosepha]

Thanks for your comments and suggestions. When playing, I always am thinking about rubato and feel like I'm doing it, but then on a recording, I realize that what, as I was playing, I thought had been stretched significantly is barely out of time. I'll work on that.

Thanks for the comment about the sustain pedal. The first time I learned it, I spent a lot of time working to keep things from blurring together so it feels really good to hear it paid off! I plan to continue working on the piece, trying to be more consistent (almost all the wrong notes in the recording were one time things -- if I played it again, there'd still be wrong notes, just not the same ones), and I'll work on putting more heart into it. Glad you enjoyed it.

David

[davidjosepha]

Really, no one else has anything to say?

[musicluvr49]

I love this piece so much!! Just finished playing it for my senior highschool recital.

If you can, I think you should try to play it a bit faster. Also, try to keep a steady tempo, but put more rubato into the piece, if that makes sense. Basically, once you come back from a rubato, try to go back to the tempo you were playing beforehand.

I feel like you should just try to relax a bit I am the same as you with mistakes, I make quite a bit of them while performing (Though no one seems to notice for some reason). I have learned that by letting go and enjoying playing the piece with emotion and dynamics, people will enjoy your performing so much that they don't even notice most of your mistakes. Of course that is a general audience, and not your piano teacher or the people who actually know the piece

Also, I like that you don't use too much of the sustain pedal, but in certain parts I feel it gets a little hiccupy because there's not enough pedal. There were just a couple parts like that though.

Anyway, great job! I enjoyed hearing a different interpretation of the piece! Keep us updated on how you're doing with it.