Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Piano Sonata No. 8 in A Minor, K. 310 Movement 1

[cometear]

Hey everyone,

I made an amateur recording of the Mozart sonata to get some input and see where I need to work. Be honest and be sure to tell me both POSITIVES and NEGATIVES.

[awesom_o]

Congratulations on getting this extremely challenging work under your belt!

Overall, you have a fine sense of style developing here. A few places need a bit more work, from a housekeeping perspective (the development and the final page, for instance).

You have some good articulation, but in general the melody could sing with more legato and the accompanying material could be a bit less clunky.

One thing that will help you stylistically is to really emphasize the dissonance on the appogiatura more, rather than playing the resolving consonance so loudly.

Fine work! I'd love to hear this one again when you've performed it a few more times.

[cometear]

Congratulations on getting this extremely challenging work under your belt!

Overall, you have a fine sense of style developing here. A few places need a bit more work, from a housekeeping perspective (the development and the final page, for instance).

You have some good articulation, but in general the melody could sing with more legato and the accompanying material could be a bit less clunky.

One thing that will help you stylistically is to really emphasize the dissonance on the appogiatura more, rather than playing the resolving consonance so loudly.

Fine work! I'd love to hear this one again when you've performed it a few more times.

Thank you so much for this constructive feedback!

[abielikesu]

Thanks for sharing, I liked it.

[dima_76557]

[...] get some input and see where I need to work. Be honest and be sure to tell me both POSITIVES and NEGATIVES.

How helpful any comments in this thread will be depends on what this audition is for. Is this piece planned for the competition in February, or are you merely showing us a stage in your development?

[cometear]

How helpful any comments in this thread will be depends on what this audition is for. Is this piece planned for the competition in February, or are you merely showing us a stage in your development?

Well I'm looking for your opinion in both the facts that this piece is a stage in development and it is being prepared for a competition. The competition winners perform in Carnegie Hall so the feedback related to the competition will probably be more direct. If you could give your opinion on my development and your opinion on what it needs for a competition that would be really helpful!

[dima_76557]

Well I'm looking for your opinion in both the facts that this piece is a stage in development and it is being prepared for a competition. The competition winners perform in Carnegie Hall so the feedback related to the competition will probably be more direct. If you could give your opinion on my development and your opinion on what it needs for a competition that would be really helpful!

You have done a lot already in terms of conquering the notes. My compliments, but it's now high time to dig deeper and read between Mozart's lines because the image needs enough time to grow until D-day. You can't put off "interpretation" till the very last week.

You could leave the tempo as it is, but I would want more character, more intensity, more daring articulation, more inner logic and development, more everything, especially more you. It's too neutral, too "faceless". Overdo the personal input into every minor detail until your teacher tells you that it's really too much. Even when you overdo it, before an audience and under pressure, it may be just right. As soon as your artistic image is ready, find as many opportunities as possible to play before critical listeners. Keep in mind that what seems like a simple accompaniment in this piece is actually a means to intensify the melody lines that would otherwise not "carry".

To understand what one can do in this sonata, you *have to* listen to this enlightening live recording by the great Emil Gilels (not for imitation, but for inspiration!):

Also, this info may prove useful:
Cadential Structure in Mozart's Piano Sonata K. 310, 1st Movement
Full List of Progressions for Mozart KV 310
Background info (under what circumstances this work was composed)

Good luck!