Chopin Scherzo no 2 B flat minor fingering

[cluey]

Hi,

I've been practicing this piece. I did have a question about fingering in the con anima section.

The running melody in the left hand, second measure after con anima starts.

Left hand:
D flat -> C flat -> D flat -> F -> D Flat -> C flat

Fingering that I play with: 5 -> 3 -> 2 -> 1 -> 2 -> 3

But I'm having difficulty with the 5 -> 3 stretch to maintain legato. I've seen several editions that insist using this fingering. I was wondering does it just come with practice?

[pbryld]

Hi,

I've been practicing this piece. I did have a question about fingering in the con anima section.

The running melody in the left hand, second measure after con anima starts.

Left hand:
D flat -> C flat -> D flat -> F -> D Flat -> C flat

Fingering that I play with: 5 -> 3 -> 2 -> 1 -> 2 -> 3

But I'm having difficulty with the 5 -> 3 stretch to maintain legato. I've seen several editions that insist using this fingering. I was wondering does it just come with practice?

If you are using the pedal it doesn't make any difference if it isn't perfectly legato.

[furiouzpianist]

I use 5-1-2-1-2-1-5 for this.

[schubertiad]

Hey cluey,

I use the 5-3-2-1 as is suggested in your edition. Attempting to play a physical legato between the 5 and 3 is not the way to go, and in fact up to speed would sound clunky even though physically unbroken. A slight clockwise movement of the arm (easy to show and difficult to describe) as you move through the passage results in non-legato touch but when combined with pedal gives a very smooth legato sound.

If you are struggling to find the right movement for this section take a look at Chopin's etude op.10 no.9. The movements between 5 and 3 and later 5 and 4 in the left hand are absolutely impossible to connect physically, forcing you to find the right approach.