Bartok - Two Rumanian Dances, Op.8a - Lorenzo

[emill]

Rumanian Dance 2

Rumanian Dance 1

Recently played in a recital and will also be using this for auditions.
We will be so grateful for any comments or observations.
THANKS!!!!

btw:  BIRBA IS BACK!!!!!

[costicina]

What to say? BRAVO!!!! I'm not very fond of Bartok, but you make him too enjoyable. ANd your repertoire is getting awesome..

[birba]

Very sensitive playing.  The finale of the second dance still needs work, of course, but the colors and nuance in enzo's playing is adtounding.

[perfect_pitch]

Okay... here's my observations.

This whole piece generally needs to be faster I think. The tempo marking I have above the piece is crotchet = 160... at best Enzo starts at about 120.

0:37 - Try to feel the first semiquaver of each crotchet beat, rather than the last quaver of each beat. This still helps establish the solid pulse, and by accenting the quaver - puts the beat off.
0:46 - My edition starts putting in pedal just two crotchet beats before the theme comes back in E flat Major (0:46). If you're playing at 160bpm, then I don't think the first page and a half really needs any pedal.
1:01 - I believe you're missing a bar. The phrase F#  F   D plays twice in the bass clef, before advancing the octave higher.
1:21 - 1:24 - Check your accidentals. I heard a D#, instead of a D natural. Check 1:39 - 1:42 also, I believe a whole crotchet beat worth of notes was omitted. Where it was an accident, I don't know.
1:53 - Lento section - it appears you're doing some of the tremolo notes with the right hand - why? It can be easily done with the LH alone.
3:26 - 3:35 - to me this needed a little more cleanliness in terms of the sound - there was a lot of pedal, and the rhythm seemed a little mashed together. Yes it's agitato, but I wouldn't destroy the pulse. Also you accent the quavers so hard it almost establishes them as on the beat, when they're off the beat. Careful.
3:56 - According to my edition, the top note should be G natural, not G sharp.
4:13 - 4:18 - rather messy in sound. Make every note clear as well as keep the agitato feel.

Unfortunately I've never played the 2nd dance, so I can't offer anything there, but I hope that helps you for the 1st dance.

[candlelightpiano]

A spirited and lively performance, Enzo.  I could envision the dancers in their gay and colorful costumes dancing as you danced on the keys.  I enjoyed this performance very much and love to watch you do your magic on the keys.  Thank you.

Birba:  WELCOME BACK!  You were missed.

[starstruck5]

A spirited and lively performance, Enzo.  I could envision the dancers in their gay and colorful costumes dancing as you danced on the keys.  I enjoyed this performance very much and love to watch you do your magic on the keys.  Thank you.

Birba:  WELCOME BACK!  You were missed.

Couldn't possibly say it better myself!

[fnork]

this is solid and colourful playing. In my own opinion however, the first dance does need to be faster overall - not just the score indicates it, but in this case we also have a performance by the composer himself that gives an idea of what he had in mind. We do not need to copy his fabulous performance, but it's worth taking into account. Agreed regarding 0:37 which was pointed out already - there's always a risk here that one perceives the beat in the wrong place depending on whether the performer accents it right or not. Right after that section, there's a crescendo that leads to a subito piano. I wouldn't take time before the subito.

[emill]

THanks to everyone!!! .... Birba for the PM ...... P_P for the specifics ..... fnork .... Choo ..... Margh .... and Starstruck!!!

My son takes suggestions here seriously and often generates a good amount of exchange with teacher.  I am sure he will be more confident during auditions this month and next.

best wishes,

emill