Chopin Etudes op. 10 no. 3 and no. 4

[awesom_o]

Here are a few more of my favourite Chopin Etudes!

The entire album will be available soon for anyone interested!

I hope you enjoy and thank you for listening!  

[dima_76557]

Music speaks what cannot be expressed,
Soothes the mind and gives it rest,
Heals the heart and makes it whole,
Flows from heaven to the soul.

Great playing, awesom_o! Thanks for sharing.

[ronde_des_sylphes]

The 10/3 is really nice; expressive without being overly sentimental. I must admit I'm not terribly fond of 10/4 as music (nor for that matter, to play) and I think you're maybe a little circumspect in it (studio caution perhaps?) There are also perhaps a few tiny imprecisions in it, but that's quibbling and it would be well-nigh impossible to get it absolutely perfect. In any case, the vast majority of the passagework is clear and articulate and the coda I really rather liked. Excellent playing!

[pianoman53]

The rubato in no 3 is a terribly individual thing, so I let that be, since it all made sense to me. What I would like, is a far warmer cantabile. To me, it sounds harsh, and very studioe.
For me, the clarity was a priority to the song, which, to me, isn't right.

The number 4 is more or less the same thing. It all sounds too safe, and the drama is sort of lost, due to the extreme clarity. I get the point to play clear, but not all the time, and not if the drama goes away.

But I know that this way of playing seems to be in fashion now, it's just not my cup of tea...

[awesom_o]

What I would like, is a far warmer cantabile.
For me, the clarity was a priority to the song, which, to me, isn't right.

The number 4 is more or less the same thing. It all sounds too safe, and the drama is sort of lost, due to the extreme clarity. I get the point to play clear, but not all the time, and not if the drama goes away.

I see a warm cantabile and great clarity of sound as being the best of friends in this etude. Likewise, in op. 10 no. 4, I view the clarity and the drama as being mutually complementary.

I wasn't aware this type of playing was considered fashionable.....very little pedal but quite a lot of legato with the hands.  I hear many recordings of these Etudes which tend to have faster tempi, heavier pedaling, and a lighter touch of the hand that is somehow sounding not as deep.

Thank you all for listening and commenting!

[johnmar78]

Here are a few more of my favourite Chopin Etudes!

The entire album will be available soon for anyone interested!

I hope you enjoy and thank you for listening!  

Awesome, yes, bring it on I buy your CD.

[awesom_o]

Thanks, Johnmar78!

Are you going to have another lesson with me soon? I would very much like to hear you play my piece and another Chopin Etude!

[johnmar78]

lets do live playing sometime tommorrow morning if not next day.

[swagmaster420x]

Here are a few more of my favourite Chopin Etudes!

The entire album will be available soon for anyone interested!

I hope you enjoy and thank you for listening!  

on your 10 -4, nice playing, it's much more expressive and musical than what i would play haha. i tried 10 -4 first page just for fun, played it for like 2 weeks just to see how fast i culd play it and i got it to like 160 bpm, except i couldnt play it quite so fast at this circled part, or it would be rreallly hit and miss: https://imgur.com/QY5fSS1
maybe cuz i used  1 -2 - 1 fingering? pretty hard

[awesom_o]

Many people play the Chopin Etudes too fast, imo.

They are all studies on the subject of expressive playing first and foremost.

The part you have circled is difficult in the extreme. Many pianist on recordings lack the brilliance of touch in the LH to match the quality of sound established by the RH's similar material in the very opening.

I use 1-2-1 to start that scale in the LH. I'm not sure what the valid alternative would be. It just takes insane independence of the hands.

[swagmaster420x]

Many people play the Chopin Etudes too fast, imo.

They are all studies on the subject of expressive playing first and foremost.

The part you have circled is difficult in the extreme. Many pianist on recordings lack the brilliance of touch in the LH to match the quality of sound established by the RH's similar material in the very opening.

I use 1-2-1 to start that scale in the LH. I'm not sure what the valid alternative would be. It just takes insane independence of the hands.

yeah, on that part it's really easy for your fingers to slip off the right notes/play the notes weakly, especially when ur playing fast. I actually think 1-3-1 would be better, like in chromatic scales.

and would you say that this is played too fast:

(possibly sped up?) but still prolly my favorite recording of that son g

[awesom_o]

I've always had a feeling that video was sped up. The movements just look slightly jerky and unnatural to me.

[dima_76557]

@ awesom_o

Here is what sounds like a Horowitz rehearsal before a recording session at RCA of op 10 no 4. Very interesting to hear such a virtuoso struggle and correct passages in certain places:

[awesom_o]

I've heard other recordings by Horowitz but never this take! Those passages he stumbles on are treacherous. I suspect he thought the take was going so well (and I agree with him!) that he just got pissed off when something unplanned crept in!

Such incredible energy and bite in his tone.... compared to Horowitz most pianist seem like milktoast in this Etude! 

[emill]

Hi awesom_o!!

I must confess that I have already listened many times since you posted these pieces about 2 weeks ago, but did not dare give any opinion as I am not a pianist.  But please allow me in the tradition of YT to say ... wow!!!! your playing was GOOD!!!

Lately for the last few months I have had an overdose of the Chopin etudes as my son has been trying to learn all of them in preparation for his BM in applied piano. FRankly I would have prefered the "No Other Love" etude to be more "romantic" .. perhaps an influence on how my son plays it. But in all likelihood you most likely play it as the piece dictates. Enzo often deviates and introduces his feel on it which sometimes "upsets" his teacher.  THe other etude is "right on". Though if you can pick up a teeny bit more on the tempo ... it would be great!!   THANKS for posting.

[awesom_o]

I certainly wouldn't object to the 10/4 being a hair faster, but the middle section is bloody tricky enough already for my taste and ability level at the 2'10 I play it in. I think it would perhaps be more feasible on a period instrument, with a much lighter and more shallow action. On a modern piano, I've never been able to blast through that middle section at high-speed without sacrificing good tone and potentially a correct note or three  

[gvans]

Beautifully done, expressive without treacle. Bravo.

[awesom_o]

Thank you! Chopin doesn't like treacle. Please be sure to check out some of the other Chopin Etudes which I have posted, and of course the video of my own composition!

[takomarose]

WOW! I feel humbled that you've even commented on my meager posts. Impressive stuff!

[awesom_o]

Thanks. Go listen to the piece i wrote!

[momopi]

Such beautiful music. Your username fits you very well.



Sorry, I cannot comment on anything technically constructive. It's waaay beyond what I can do. But I know good music when I hear it.

[awesom_o]

The user name is a good choice, but perhaps for different reasons than you might think.

Awesom_o is in fact a pretend-robot featured in an early episode of South Park.

That's kind of how you play the piano. When you sit down at the bench, you sort of have to pretend to be a musical robot. It plays musically but with robotic accuracy.


 

[swagmaster420x]

hi sir carlisle

[rachfan]

Hi awsome_o

Very impressive playing!  Thanks for posting your recording.

David

[awesom_o]

Thank you, David.

Please be sure to explore some of the other Chopin Etudes I've posted here, and have a wee listen to my original as well.

[thesixthsensemusic]

A very good pair of recordings. You told me that being a good pianist should be the basis for trying to be a composer. And you are a very good pianist judging by these 2 delicious treats you posted here. Apart from that you seem to prefer the easy-going approach regarding the op. 10-2. Which I can only agree with, you seem to have chosen between piano acrobatics and musicality and went the way I would have done myself. Please feel very proud of these 2 recordings, you earned it!

[awesom_o]

Apart from that you seem to prefer the easy-going approach regarding the op. 10-2. Which I can only agree with, you seem to have chosen between piano acrobatics and musicality and went the way I would have done myself.

Who says there is no piano acrobatics involved in playing Chopin Etudes musically?   

I used to be part of the race to shave the 10/2 down as close as possible to the 1:00 mark.

But then I realized that the only way to really win at the piano Olympics was to compose music that the "wham bam thank you ma'am" technicians couldn't play.

Thank you for listening to my musical offerings and be sure to give me your email address so that I can send you my score.

[awesom_o]

Cheeky bump number 2! 

[lisztmusicfan]

As Schumann very wisely put it, "Hats off ladies and gentlemen; a genius!" Superb!
But, as an amateur and an intermediate pianist, I have a question for you: these sound flawless to the ears of a listener like me, but are they flawless to you? Beacuase I've heard it said that there is never a truly flawless performance. But that sounded absolutely MARVELOUS!

[awesom_o]

As Schumann very wisely put it, "Hats off ladies and gentlemen; a genius!" Superb!
But, as an amateur and an intermediate pianist, I have a question for you: these sound flawless to the ears of a listener like me, but are they flawless to you?

You are too kind I'm still too novice in composition and cello to be anywhere close to genius-level, but I'd like to get there eventually.

I tend to think more in terms of musical expressiveness and effectiveness, rather than terms of flaws.

There is never a truly flawless performance, you are correct. The close you get to being able to deliver flawlessly, the less you care about little flaws.

[rachmanny]

I loved the 10/4. The climaxes were built up in a very nice way and this rendition definitely feels as if it is your own composition, very different from others in a very good way. Bravo!

[ted]

Cheeky bump number 2! 

Cheeky answer number 247

Although I have long since lost any affinity with the immortals your playing of Chopin studies contains many features I wish I could use for my improvisation. You do not try to interpret physically or impress physically, you do not play at a statutory ninety miles an hour, you do not thump, and your clarity of execution is streets ahead of most of the professional versions I have of these pieces - well, at least from my highly individual point of view. Always a treat in the audition room.

[swagmaster420x]

you have such a unique sound. i don't know how exactly, but for some reason your playing always seems much more rhythmic than other people's recordings. you have very special and very musical details, some in places i never expected and others in "conventionally detailed" places but noticeably different from the norm. i think you would be great on the drums or a deep sounding instrument because of the strong pulse your music has.

[awesom_o]

Thank you, swagmaster420x. Gieseking once said that most students of the piano would benefit from playing things more rhythmically. He was right.

I'm rubbish on the drums, however. My cello playing is getting better every day, though!

[awesom_o]

Although I have long since lost any affinity with the immortals your playing of Chopin studies contains many features I wish I could use for my improvisation. You do not try to interpret physically or impress physically, you do not play at a statutory ninety miles an hour, you do not thump, and your clarity of execution is streets ahead of most of the professional versions I have of these pieces - well, at least from my highly individual point of view. Always a treat in the audition room.

You are too kind, ted. Clarity of execution is good, although I don't like to think of myself as an executioner.

I think the most difficult aspect of interpretation is showing real structural awareness. It's something I'm much less concerned with when I improvise, but even in that genre it's something I need to work on.