Pathetique 1st audition help for a newbie

[lamadoo]

Update: Fixed it all up and got in with excellent results, thanks guys    

[maitea]

Hello!

First of all, congratulations on taking such an adventurous step forwards! You have lots of energy in your playing. I've made some notes that hopefully help. But first of all, I would say, seek advice of a teacher. Apart from in very seldom cases being self taught has many limitations. Also, working with a more experienced pianist is always enriching, not just pianisticly, but musically!

Here are my notes:

In general, you need a stronger pulse. You need to feel the heart beat of the piece ticking in you and express with the colours, not with changing rhythm or pulse, or both.

b1 listen after the chord for the voicing, your crotchets every time this motive appears are too long, you are  counting 3 instead of 2. Is probably a mistake in the right direction, since is an important chord, but you desestabilize the structure. also, in the resolution you played b flat instead of natural.

b5 the forth beat, the rhythm is again unsteady, and careful not to overpedal in the beginning of next bar

b9 I would make more difference in the articulation, let the portato notes breath more and then respect all the rests, whilst still having the sound in your head.

b10 g-eflat interval, more legato, sing! you've really studied the scale, eh ?

The Allegro is great, I can hear you love it, but there are many more piano markings! All the first page only p with the rf and sf, more subito, going back to p!

Left hand could be a bit quieter and more steady.

b27 left hand rhythm! same 31. No rush. Hear each chord.

b49 50 I would not rit, it weakens it

The next section, you have work a lot on it,well done! there is more time in the leaps, no need to rush, specially b 75 and 79, and as much as you can, work towards the three layers, your base line (double bass e.g) the thirds (celli and violas?) and the upper part maybe flutes and basson.. ? Or violins and celli? But more voicing!

b88 Again, I think the rit spoils the effect, and in the next section feel more like hugging the keys, feel the difference in texture

b113 Don't rush! You know the passage very well, but it has to be part of the piece. More lyric

b134 thrid beat, left hand b flat

b136 hear your 4th and 5th finger, top line singing a bit more, and feel the syncopation of the left hand

b139 Rhythm!

b175 pp!!! More mysterious, listen to the intervals of the right hand, somehow it doesn't feel as if it's comfortable in your hand, and then b179 it seemed to struggle more than in similar passage previously.

I think you've made a great start in the piece. Sorry for all my pedantic notes, but since you said you had no teacher, I thought I'd give you something to think on! You might not agree with what I say though!!!! No problem My only concern, is that in exams I have been too, cutting a piece short has never been an option! Have you checked that stopping there is something that is allowed for the purposes of your exam? It is a very frequently performed piece too, maybe it'd be nice to surprise the panel a bit more with something else? I wish you very good luck, and go to see a piano teacher/s!

Maite

[lamadoo]

Thank you very much maltea for your wisdom, ive written your notes down on my sheetmusic, perfect!. thanks for the great infomative tips! im amazed you can spot them, espicially them incorrect flats/naturals, perfect pitch? sublime!  i think it will be a while until i am able to finance a teacher, they sure a pricey at 60dollars an hr, i feel i am progressing quite well alone atm though, but im a subject of my own world

[p2u_]

@ lamadoo

I don't want to add too much to what Maite said. She has given you very solid instructions.

What I'm going to say is with kind intentions only:

Can you imagine? I stopped listening right before the end of the first bar and refused to continue. Any idea why?

You should check the whole movement for the right chords, if necessary with the help of a friend or with the help of a YouTube recording by a master you like. For example, at the end of the first phrase/motive, you end in Gminor (G-Bb-D) while you SHOULD play the dominant G major (G-B-D). The natural sign (♮) before the B lasts the whole bar. Misreadings that change the piece so dramatically will not be forgiven!

Paul

[lufia]

  nice spot on the natural. Even if you don't have perfect pitch, usually after dissonance there is bound to be resolution.

perfect pitch?

[p2u_]

nice spot on the natural.

There's another problem: "authorities" who hear this will almost automatically judge lamadoo more severely for other parameters too, something our player does not deserve, because from that first bar I still felt that the right dedication IS present. Work on the indicated problem, lamadoo, and you'll be OK. No perfect pitch needed, just a little more attention...

Paul

[lufia]

Sound advice from the elites here.

Just a note, for your chromatic, you treated it as a massive land slide (something that i've done before and have been told explicitly not to do), you might be chastised by the elites for this however i think it is appropriate in an audition to show off to the judges that you got some technique. Run that train wreck down, they will mark you in virtuosity!

[p2u_]

Sound advice from the elites here.

Neither Maite nor me pretend (or pretended) to be "the elites" here. We're just lamadoo's friends/colleagues, trying to help with constructive advice. I think that for the time being, virtuosity should NOT be the focus. First the music in all of its facets.

Paul

[maitea]

Thanks Paul! xx

[lamadoo]

Thanks again guys

[chopin2015]

Thank you very much maltea for your wisdom, ive written your notes down on my sheetmusic, perfect!. thanks for the great infomative tips! im amazed you can spot them, espicially them incorrect flats/naturals, perfect pitch? sublime!  i think it will be a while until i am able to finance a teacher, they sure a pricey at 60dollars an hr, i feel i am progressing quite well alone atm though, but im a subject of my own world

If you fix all that maitea told you to do you will learn more about the piece. Maitea, that was really nice!