Mendelssohn's SWW "Lost Illusions" op.67 no.2

[hodi]

any tips for this one?
it is quite tricky for me because of the very light touch and the legato and stacto in the right hand.. taking me a lot of time to perfect the first page, and it's 3 pages

[presto agitato]

Sorry Im afraid i cant give you any tip, the only thing i can teel you i that if you want to hear a perfect recording of this piece, try to get the disc of Ilse von Alpenheim.

[bernhard]

I suggest you break down this piece in three parts (rewrite the score in 3 parts): the RH legato melody, the RH staccato accompaniment and the LH staccato. Then practise each part separately. You do not need to learn each complete part (the whole piece): you can do this for phrase length passages.

Once you can do a phrase with each separate voice, join them like so:

1.   RH legato melody + LH staccato.
2.   RH legato melody + RH staccato
3.   Phrase as originally written (that is, all voices together).

When you play the complete score, do not concern yourself too much on playing one note staccato and another legato. Instead, concentrate on the sound you are aiming at. If you do that, and if you have done the above preliminary work thoroughly, you will find out that you are doing exactly what needs to be done.

The technique to achieve it, will probably be mastered after the first few bars (the structure of this piece is very repetitive). After that the main problem will simply be one of memory and familiarisation.

And presto is right, listen to Ilse von Alpenheim (Another two excellent versions you may want to check are Annie D’Arco and Murray Perahia)

I hope this helps.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.