Bach-Busoni Chaconne (first attempt!)

[furiouzpianist]

Dear all,

I never played the Bach-Busoni Chaconne in public, but I learned the notes last summer and then gave up on it because I thought it was unplayable. I came back to this in September, and here is the work in progress.

Please let me know what I can do to improve it. BTW, this piece is, to my surprise, much, much more difficult than it sounds. Very, very awkward (yet sonorous) piano writing.

P.S. I also attached the score if anyone wants it.

[evitaevita]

Hello furiouzpianist,

First of all, I want to say that I really love this Chaconne and the successful transcription of Busoni.

As for your performance, it's very nice job, I really liked many parts of the piece! It was clear (good for bach), powerful and sweet when needed and you showed it's romantical spirit.
Now, my opinion is that in the beginning (first two pages) of the piece you could add more pedal as well as in other similar parts of the piece. Of course, don't overdo it! You should avoid losing its power and style (baroque), but, at the same, you should keep the emotion, as the piece is written in memory of Bach's first wife. It's an exceptional work!
In addition, I think that you can use more rubato in the opening chords and, also, make them more beautiful. I'm not really explanatory... What I mean is that they are a little bit too straightforward and flat, and they seem to me unrelated to their context, which is nicely expressive.

I'll be back to comment on more(!), but, unfortunately, I don't have enough time to continue at the moment!
Evitaevita

P.S. If you improve some little things, I strongly believe that you could play it in public!

[emill]

I have always loved this piece so that when I went to see Giuseppe Andaloro (1st Prize of the 3rd Hong Kong International Piano Competition - 2011) last week, I was filled with much excitement. His performance floored me!!!

I will never dare comment on the technical aspects of your playing as I am not a pianist and there are great guys for that here, but allow me to say that I enjoyed listening your rendition and to thank you for sharing this.

[furiouzpianist]

thank you!

this is only a rough draft, btw...... I don't have this piece in a program for a recital until March 5, 2013. It is still awkward for me to play it, I think in a few months I will work out all of the problem areas.

anyway, thank you for listening and for the comments!

[faulty_damper]

You can try "pedal vibrato" during the opening sequence.  This means to depress the pedal to allow the strings to vibrate and then lift it to mute.  This gives the impression of vibrato and is really effective in the opening sequence where the chords are held for long stretches of time; it adds musical interest.

Pedal vibrato like a violinist would vibrato - slowly at first, then accelerate into the next chord change.

[furiouzpianist]

You can try "pedal vibrato" during the opening sequence.  This means to depress the pedal to allow the strings to vibrate and then lift it to mute.  This gives the impression of vibrato and is really effective in the opening sequence where the chords are held for long stretches of time; it adds musical interest.

Pedal vibrato like a violinist would vibrato - slowly at first, then accelerate into the next chord change.

ah, I see, I tried this. The only thing is, then the chords won't be lifted-off earlier than the legato melody in the left hand, as Busoni indicated. Maybe I can do just a touch of pedal, or hold the chords slightly longer with the fingers.

At any rate, in a few months I will post another attempt of this.

[faulty_damper]

If you are referring to m.9 and on, I just hold the chords because it sounds more continuous instead of choppy; I ignore the rests for the most part.  If you listen to your recording, you can hear how choppy it is when obeying the rests.

Pedal vibrato works really well for mm.1-8 and I use it in other parts of the piece to enhance musical effect, e.g. m.138, the dolce D Major section; also m.214 when it returns to D Minor.

[furiouzpianist]

thanks, I will try it!

[emrysmerlin]

My teacher is letting me take on TE 10. THEN I think she's gonna let me do the chaconne afterwards.

[furiouzpianist]

My teacher is letting me take on TE 10. THEN I think she's gonna let me do the chaconne afterwards.

good luck with the TE 10! As for the Chaconne, it is more difficult than it sounds, I think it would be a nice beginning to a concert. Also, you would have to re-distribute some passage-work between hands to make it sounds more fluent (without omitting anything). But you should definitely learn it. Some purists hate it, but I don't mind Bach as seen through Busoni's romantic approach. Besides, Bach frequently transcribed his own compositions! I would also suggest a couple of Bach-Busoni's Choral Preludes as well.

[cabbynum]

I got the brilliant idea of trying to learn this over the summer , mind you I've only been playing for about 2 years, the hardest piece I played before this was half of liszt TE 8, after about 2 weeks of solid practice I take it to my teacher. She said "so you really wanna learn it?"
I said "yes it's beautiful"
She replied "great! Tell that to your professor your junior year of college haha"

[emill]

x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x...  I've only been playing for about 2 years, the hardest piece I played before this was half of liszt TE 8, after about 2 weeks of solid practice I take it to my teacher. She said "so you really wanna learn it?"   I said "yes it's beautiful"    She replied "great! Tell that to your professor your junior year of college haha" 

And WHY NOT?!?!?!

And did you get your wish? did she agree to guide you with Liszt TE 8? 

I like your spunk and I understand your teacher's astonishment!!!

Reminds of of my son, almost 10, but only a few months into the piano. We brought him to a "name" teacher here and she nicely asked him what first piece he would like to learn? He answered without blinking - Liebestraume No.3 by Liszt!!! WOW!!  The teacher's jaw dropped and she almost fell off her stool. I wished there and then that I were swallowed by the ground under my feet!!! Anyway he got his wish and played it as his 1st recital piece 2 months later.

Keep it up and good luck to your coming auditions.

[cabbynum]

She did not, she didn't find it wise. But I finished it on my own because I'm a rebel! Haha!!
That's how it's been with a lot of pieces. I learn most of it on my own, take it to my teacher. She says no, I finish it on my own and continue with her. She found out last week that I can play most of la campanella and all of the Chopin octave etude. She was a bit surprised!

[swagmaster420x]

your pro a s fu q nig a?1!