my first Audition Room post

[chopin4life]

Hi all!

This is my first post in the Audition Room: Brahms op 118 no. 2
There are a few little mistakes, but I hope you can enjoy listening to it.

Please comment..

Chopin and Brahms for life! 

[awesom_o]

Very well played, chopin4life! Well-studied performance containing some lovely nuance!

You manage to convey quite a deep sound, which is wonderful for this piece.

I wouldn't mind hearing it 'flow' a tiny bit more... not in a faster tempo... but with a little bit more forward-motion at times.

In this piece, there are some incredibly beautiful shenanigans that can be accomplished through skillful manipulation of the inner voices. You have done pretty well in this regard, but still, there is more magic to be had, I'm afraid.

I don't particularly like the way you play the  wonderful 10th in the RH (from F sharp to A) that keeps coming up in the opening theme. To my ears it sounded a tad clumsy.

Overall, an excellent first post in the Audition Room. I look forward to hearing more of your finely-conceived performances in the future! Thanks

[faulty_damper]

The first two motives form half of the phrase so the first leads immediately into the second; it's not a short phrase by itself.  Thus, by connecting them, it will sound more unified - play it faster.

[goldentone]

Chopin4life, I just came across your recording here.  This is lovely, and it calls to me out from Brahms' universal language he composes from in this later piece.  It reaches to my own depths.  You do bring a scholarly sound to the piano.  There is quite a maturity here that one does admire.  It's almost a new piece to me.  I think hearing your "voice" live would expedite what I feel.  This is definitely a blessing to hear, and I want to hear more output from your unique voice, something so easily performed.

[cbreemer]

This is very beautiful indeed, played with a fine touch and musicality. I agree with awesome_o
that it could flow and move forward a little more, if only to dispel the impression that it's on the slow side, which it really isn't, except perhaps in the middle section. I have no problem with these tenths though, they sound to me like the way they ought to be played. My only criticism is that
you could have made more of that most magical of moments at 1:45 (and in the reprise) where things suddenly get a bit too timid and careful. To me these moments are the highlights of the piece, where Brahms really sings his heart out.

I find it amusing that someone with the nickname Chopin4life chooses Brahms for their first audition. And good on you, having an open ear for other composers (not all Chopin buffs do).

Good sound too. What instrument is it ?

[chopin4life]

Thank you, goldentone, for your kind words 
This little recording was made during one of my lessons, just a while before my piano exam in may.
I'm now busy, practicing a bunch of new repertoire for next year, and I'll post a new recording, as soon as I have finished some pieces.

Also thank you cbreemer!!
I completely understand your criticism.
It is strange, but when I listen to this recording myself, right now, there are a lot of things I would do differently.. Things I didn't notice three months ago, when I was still playing it.
Chopin4life is just a nickname.. I love chopin's music, but it's not like he is the only one for me..
It is funny, but my first name is Frederik, just like Chopin's   

This was played on a revised, thirty years old, Bösendorfer grand piano (don't know which particular model), in the local music academy (Belgium).

Greetings 

[carl_h]

Hello Chopin4Life,

This was very enjoyable, it is a very sweet piece and you did it justice.
I agree with Cbreemer about the part at 1:45, but piano wouldn't be fun if we got everything good right away

I'm also from Belgium btw, which city are you from? I'm from Leuven.

Grts,

[chopin4life]

No, from Leuven?? You must be joking!! 
I'm from Aarschot, that's just 10 minutes driving from Leuven.
I go to the "Hagelandse academie voor muziek en woord"

Maybe we know each other?!
This means that we can communicate in our own language 

[quantum]

A wonderful recording you have share here. 

If there is any comment, it would be that some of your pickups sounded a bit hesitant.  This is most likely related to the comments about flow from other members.  It is possible to use hesitation at these points as a method of expression or contrast.  However, if it is done too much, it can make the music sound sluggish as there is no room for it to pick up momentum.  You can use hesitation at strategic points to break momentum and bring focus to a certain element, but remember you need to have momentum in the first place.