Chopin op 10 nr 2

[fnork]

Just picked it up again - clearly, a practicing version so far in other words.

https://speedy.sh/C8hFj/CD2I1400-1.m4a

[j_menz]

Just picked it up again - clearly, a practicing version so far in other words.

Hope we get to hear the finished one. This almost makes me like it.

[furtwaengler]

Great clarity in the legato, great musicality and variety of touch. What a beast of a little piece this is! How do you stay so free?

[fnork]

thanks for the comments. its a piece I like coming back to for shorter periods of time, but I wonder if I'll ever be able to play it satisfyingly up to tempo. I've worked on pretty much all of op 10 by now though, so it'd be pretty nice to nail this one too, haha!

[fnork]

How do you stay so free?

slowly...every day...make sure 1-2 are relaxed all of the time (if you take it too fast, they can get tense when they're not playing anything). When practicing slowly, I often play the upper voice mezzo forte or so.

[ajspiano]

its a piece I like coming back to for shorter periods of time, but I wonder if I'll ever be able to play it satisfyingly up to tempo.

I can relate to that.

I enjoyed listening to your recording, I don't mind it at this tempo actually. I find I play it about there myself because I can't manage it faster through the middle section. And of course even in the opening there's a few niggling spots.. things like beats 3-4 of bar 7. Its not overly audible but I can feel it and I know there is limited control there should I want to alter the dynamic much.

..and then I listen to a professional recording and begin to cry thinking about all the hours and intense technical assessment its taken to not be able to play it at tempo. 

make sure 1-2 are relaxed all of the time

This is very relevant yes, if I push the tempo I find my 2 gets a bit locked up in quite a few places.

[furtwaengler]

slowly...every day...make sure 1-2 are relaxed all of the time (if you take it too fast, they can get tense when they're not playing anything). When practicing slowly, I often play the upper voice mezzo forte or so.

I find this advice helpful, something good on which to build.