Video - Scriabin Sonata No2 (complete)

[danhuyle]

I'm in the refining process of Scriabin Sonata no2 and what a wonderful piece to play.

1st movement

A few memory lapses and I just have to play it more until it feels normal.

The 12 against 5 toward the end of the 1st movement is still a worry. If you have any suggestions how to go about it, that would be appreciated.

2nd movement

Enjoy

[davidjosepha]

The playing is actually very good. The performance is horrendous. You know why? Because of those stupid ridiculous forced movements you do. You know how I know they're forced? Because you stop doing them when you get to a difficult section. If they were natural, you wouldn't be expending any effort to do them, whereas because you are consciously trying to do them for God knows what reason, you stop doing them when you don't have enough extra processing power to play and think about them. For instance, 7:00-7:50, very nice playing and very minimal movement. Most of movements you did there looked natural. And you know, it looked good. It looked how one should look while performing. Not rigid, but also not making extraneous movements just for the hell of it. Just stop doing whatever you did at 2:02-2:12, and 3:00, and especially what you did at 3:30...and please, never again do what you did at 7:55.

I have yet to listen to the second movement, will do so when I get home.

[zjazzchopin]

First movement was actually quite good, very musical. Small mistakes, but your passionate playing makes it very convincing overall. But STOP with the extra movements, they aren't necessary and only distract from the performance. I don't know why some pianists feel it's necessary to make huge sweeping motions when they play, but there's no reason for that. Unless you're moving in a  way that comes completely natural to you, then you should stop because those definitely aren't natural movements.

Second movement needs a LOT more work. I would suggest slowing it way down and making sure those notes are accurate. You're playing way faster than you have the skill to play it, and it doesn't come across very well.

[danhuyle]

Hey zjazzchopin,

Thanks for the comments for the 1st movement.

About the 2nd movement, can you be more specific about the accuracy?

1st part - 0:00-0:30

2nd part - 0:30-0:47

3rd part - 0:48 - 1:17

4th part - 1:17 - 2:38 (the whole middle section)

Everything else - 2:39 to the end.


The extra movements was an inspiration from Lang Lang after seeing him do it in Mozart/Liszt and Liszt Liebestraume. That was done to help prevent nervousness 

[johnmar78]

very good work Lee. It was a tiring day after watching your play and your EXTRA power charging moves, it really relaxed me. I laughted as usual, but no offense. You are one of the kind.
 My teacher once said what ever you play DO NOT COPY the MASTERS but rather find the music youself, or I should have had said find the music INNER itself. This is what we all strive for. Thanks for sharing.

[perprocrastinate]

I don't know why you guys hate extraneous gestures so much. I know they're slightly ridiculous, or moderately ridiculous, but should you really care?

Isn't it the music that counts?

[davidjosepha]

I don't know why you guys hate extraneous gestures so much. I know they're slightly ridiculous, or moderately ridiculous, but should you really care?

Isn't it the music that counts?

What counts is what the performer is trying to make count. If these gestures were natural and just a byproduct of being so engrossed in the music, I wouldn't care. But these are obviously forced and in no way natural. If the performer went up on stage and stood on his head while playing the piano, I'd include the fact that he is on his head as part of the performance, wouldn't you? Since it's clear that danhuyle is trying to make these ridiculous gestures a part of the performance, I will judge them as a part of the performance, and no, they ruin the performance. I can't help but laugh while watching, and I can guarantee that is not the effect Scriabin was hoping for when writing this piece.

[pianoman53]

The first movement was not bad. Just keep working on it and it will be fine.
But come on, taking That, of all things, from lang lang is plain stupid. He does a million things well, and you take one of the things that people hate about him. You have to learn what you should learn from pianists. Lang Lang's movements are not one of those things. Also, you say it is to prevent nervousness - why the hel-l to you do it in the end of a piece? And such an extremely overkilled and shallow one too. I've learned not to look at your videos, because of that. If you'd ever perform in front of a live audience, while doing those things, they would either think (really) that you're one of those "special school" kids, or just think you're compensating for your playing. And none of those things are really positive thoughts about someone.

The second movement, however, is clearly out for now. The octaves are clear, but the right hand is not there. You need to slow it down, and play every passage until it's good.