Chopin Waltz C#Minor

[starstruck5]

Sadly I have been forced to withdraw from the PS competition -because of lack of practise time -I was going to submit this beautiful Waltz -and my rendition falls short of the standard I had hoped for -let me know what you think -where improvements could be made -

[candlelightpiano]

This is one of my favorite Chopin waltzes and you captured the spirit of Chopin with your tender touch and brought out the deep longing and wistfulness, which is essentially Chopin.  I loved it and I'm sorry you withdrew from the competition.  It's a big loss (to the competition).  Maybe you'll change your mind?

[emill]

hello!

I am not qualified to comment on how you played it but I have to say this is something fresh .... tender, soft and more "romantic".  I fear though that some may not like the "slow" waltz tempo, but I love it.  Thanks for posting.

[ranniks]

So lovely!

This piece I am definitely learning someday!

I've listened to this one once before and it is a very nice piece. Chopin was truly a pianist at heart!

Thank you for capturing this wonderfull piece for my ears to hear.

[costicina]

A very personal interpretation: more a Nocturne than a waltz. It gives it a special, unusual flavopur that surprises...and force to listen.  Ergo: bravo!!!

So sorry for the competition, I'm sure your Tcjaikowsky would have benn superb!

[starstruck5]

Thank you  Choo -Rannicks-Emill and Marge -for listening and your kind hearted comments -helps make all the hard work worth it somehow! Of course playing this has its own rewards also!

I have never liked the way pros play this waltz especially -Yuja Wangs' rendition being closest to my heart -perhaps one day I will get close! 

[littletune]

Hi Starstruck! I really liked it a lot!!! Are you sure you can't be in the competition?  I'm sure you would do really good!! I will be playing Chopin's Waltz too (in a minor) even though my teacher said I still have a lot of work to do the last time I had piano lesson a week ago, but well... I really want to try it... I mean it's not like I have any chance of winning anyway with all the people who are competing and my piano is also not tuned, I was really hoping we could get a tuner before the new year, but looks like we won't be able to.... but well..... it's ok  it will be fun anyway! 
I really loved this! Thanks for posting!

[starstruck5]

Hi Starstruck! I really liked it a lot!!! Are you sure you can't be in the competition?  I'm sure you would do really good!! I will be playing Chopin's Waltz too (in a minor) even though my teacher said I still have a lot of work to do the last time I had piano lesson a week ago, but well... I really want to try it... I mean it's not like I have any chance of winning anyway with all the people who are competing and my piano is also not tuned, I was really hoping we could get a tuner before the new year, but looks like we won't be able to.... but well..... it's ok  it will be fun anyway! 
I really loved this! Thanks for posting!

Thanks for your comments -glad you liked the C# Minor -I wouldn't stand much chance of winning the comp either -but I don't feel that I've been able to prepare adequately -

I look forward to hearing your A Minor Waltz -it is very beautiful -Good luck in the comp -I am sure you will do just fine -I always love your playing -it is so engaging and musical.

[pianoman53]

I don't like when pianists complain about tempi, and I actually like this tempo and can see that it can be very beautiful.
Though, the danger with this tempo is that it will become heavy, and, frankly, it becomes a bit on the slow side (not tempo wise, but "walking in quick-sand"-wise).
Another thing with slow tempo, is that the stacatto can't be as short as you sometimes make them. They sound cut, and that's not a very good thing.

On the more detailed aspect:
Check the rhythm in the beginning. After listening, I still don't know who I would write what you play. Try to play it without the short note.
Many pianists forget to phrase the chromatic repeated notes, and this gets even more important in your tempo.
Also, be very careful with voicing the lh. The top voice of the chords should be dominant, together with the bass.

[49410enrique]

you are doing a more than fine job of handling this delicate work. you manage to give it a a 'bittersweet' flavor that i much enjoyed. you display a very appropriate understanding of the structure of the piece and command the keybaord with a confidence that  does not fight the natural 'hesitation' that i feel some of the waltzes have built in and that the faster tempos sometimes 'hide'.

i liked what you said here. i hope you'll keep working on it and playing it for yourself and us/others!

[starstruck5]

Thanks for your kind words Enrique -I will always play this waltz -it is my mums favourite -and when she used to play -she played it slower than most -as I feel it -we kind of have a link through this sublime music -

Thanks also to Pianoman for your technical advice -I think if you recorded Barenboim through a midi recorder -you would find the notes very different to the written score -I know what you are saying about the short notes -but in the end I just tried to play it in the moment -it is so hard when that flipping recorder is running! How pros cope with it I don't know -

[brendan765]

more of a waltz on the first five or so bars, (listen to concert pianist videos), pedaling on the right hand climb, descend needs work, should be about halfway down your first page of music and repeats a few more times.

play with more variety from p to sF which should me a little more than mezzo forte but I dont think forte. and work on the build of the right hand. understand dynamics a little more.

[starstruck5]

more of a waltz on the first five or so bars, (listen to concert pianist videos), pedaling on the right hand climb, descend needs work, should be about halfway down your first page of music and repeats a few more times.

play with more variety from p to sF which should me a little more than mezzo forte but I dont think forte. and work on the build of the right hand. understand dynamics a little more.

Thanks for your comments -I hate the way concert pianists play this waltz by and large -but I was a bit disappointed with the dynamics myself -but I do understand their importantance wrt contrast -no concert pianists I have heard actually make a decrescendo on the rising notes which repeat throughought the Pui Mosso section -I did try! lol

[brendan765]

Thanks for your comments -I hate the way concert pianists play this waltz by and large -but I was a bit disappointed with the dynamics myself -but I do understand their importantance wrt contrast -no concert pianists I have heard actually make a decrescendo on the rising notes which repeat throughought the Pui Mosso section -I did try! lol

It's fine, practice quality not loads and loads of practice time...as well as find the best teacher and town and tell her you are a dedicated student...if you are? be creative and open to composing as well !