Chopin op.10 nr.12

[hakki]

I would like to hear comments and advices about the recording that I made today.

Hope you enjoy.

[onwan]

You're halfway there. It sounds like you've technically mastered the etude, but I really miss some spirit. The impression from listening the recording is like you haven't started working on an interpretation. But again, technically you've done a good job.

[awesom_o]

Bravo!

I agree with onwan that the you have learned the Etude well from a technical perspective and can now begin to develop the interpretation.

It sounds to me like you treat the piece too much like a study in finger control.

I think of it as a study in how to convey extreme drama and emotion through the keyboard!

It seems in many places you favour speed over good-quality legato, and I think that is a mistake.

In many places, particularly climactic spots, your tone lacks sufficient "mass" and the music tends to RUSH.
 
I would like to hear a deeper, more powerful tone in those places, instead of a fast, shallow kind of tone.

I think the spirit of this Etude is more serious, more tragic. It sounds flippant under your hands.... too trivial, too easy!

We must hear the anguish that Chopin experienced as a result of the November uprising being crushed by the Russians!

[hakki]

Thank you onwan and awesome_o.

Part of the reason that my interpretation is rather different is that I am firstly motivated by Chopin's indicated tempo and I am also trying to mimic the period instruments. Hence the articulated and less sustained playing. I believe Chopin had to use speed instead of of the lacking sustain of the period instruments for the torrent effect.

Yet, I agree that there can be more drama with the use of dynamics, rubato and phrasing.

Thanks for the feedback and I will sure try to improve those points.

[awesom_o]

I am also trying to mimic the period instruments. Hence the articulated and less sustained playing. I believe Chopin had to use speed instead of of the lacking sustain of the period instruments for the torrent effect.

Have you listened to this recording by Tatiana Shebanova, made on an 1849 Erard?

She makes the torrent sound brilliant and sustained, much as it would sound on a modern grand under the right hands.

I don't think Chopin would have ever sacrificed quality of legato for speed.

All I'm saying is, it shouldn't be a trade-off between brilliant articulation and sustain. You should be able to get both.

[hakki]

Of course I have listened to that recording. But that recording has a heavy reverberation effect and special equalization has been added to over power the bass.

[awesom_o]

You are right, a commercial recording obviously will have certain advantages over a home recording.

I listened again, and many things are wonderfully smooth.

Still, the feeling of momentum seems a little uncontrolled at times, which I don't see as befitting the character of this Etude.

I also thought your final chords were a little too casual-sounding.

[hakki]

I don't have the tools to make a pro recording, but here is how drastically the sound of my original recording is changed by a simple reverb effect.

It is as if this is performed in a large room with high ceilings. Typical palace ball rooms of Chopin's time.

[ronde_des_sylphes]

My initial impression is technically, in the fingerwork aspects, very good. Musically, hmm, a bit glib and lacking in drama and expansiveness. I agree with awesom, the last chords sounded almost perfunctory when they should be more like hammer-blows.

[hakki]

Thank you for the comments.

I will give it another try and post again.

Hopefully next time it will be more expressive, dramatic and I will try to play the left hand more legato, also probably with a little bit more pedaling and with little rubatos where appropriate. Of course I will try to maintain my current overall tempo, with little ritardandos and expansiveness  in pace with the harmony.