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Topic: chopin prelude No 4 in E minor  (Read 2667 times)

Offline 4pianomusic

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chopin prelude No 4 in E minor
on: December 31, 2014, 06:40:15 PM
A question about the stretto section:
what are the notes to be played for the gruppetto after the A sharp?
The upper note in the scale, E minor, should be B natural, and the lower note, marked under the turn sign with a double sharp, should than be A natural (G++). Is this correct?
Somehow it doesn't sound right. Maybe I am messing up. How do you play it?

Offline chopinlover01

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Re: chopin prelude No 4 in E minor
Reply #1 on: December 31, 2014, 07:09:54 PM
A roll of this particular kind would be played as C-A+-A natural- A+
Send us a recording when you're done :) I love the prelude but it's often played horribly. I'd love to see how you interpreted it

Offline 4pianomusic

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Re: chopin prelude No 4 in E minor
Reply #2 on: December 31, 2014, 07:21:37 PM
Thanks for the reply. I tried the C A+ A A+ sequence and it does sound better. It is also easier to finger. My confusion is about the C. If I remember well from theory, the upper note in a turn should be taken from the natural scale of the piece, so in this case should be B natural. Or so I thought. Maybe I should go and look at the theory again. I'll follow your sequence though. It does sound better.
Thanks again

Offline j_menz

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Re: chopin prelude No 4 in E minor
Reply #3 on: December 31, 2014, 10:37:17 PM
A roll of this particular kind would be played as C-A+-A natural- A+


Not normally; it would be B A# A (technically Gx) A#. Where do you get the C from?

Klindworth seems to be the only major editor (on IMSLP anyway) who spells it out, and he goes for the B.
"What the world needs is more geniuses with humility. There are so few of us left" -- Oscar Levant

Offline chopinlover01

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Re: chopin prelude No 4 in E minor
Reply #4 on: January 01, 2015, 07:04:08 AM
I was taught by another pianist that it is dependant on whole steps. As in, the note above is a whole step above, then a half step below. Of course, I could be wrong.

Offline j_menz

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Re: chopin prelude No 4 in E minor
Reply #5 on: January 01, 2015, 10:41:37 AM
I was taught by another pianist that it is dependant on whole steps. As in, the note above is a whole step above, then a half step below. Of course, I could be wrong.

It's certainly not what I was taught, nor what seems to be what is indicated anytime anyone writes it out or describes it that I am familiar with.

The rule, as I understand it is that it is the note above (in the scale), the note, the note below (in the scale) returning to the note. Any deviations from that are indicated by accidentals placed above or below the turn, affecting the note above or the note below accordingly (as in this case, the double sharp sign changes what would, but for the usual principle, be a G# to a Gx).
"What the world needs is more geniuses with humility. There are so few of us left" -- Oscar Levant

Offline 4pianomusic

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Re: chopin prelude No 4 in E minor
Reply #6 on: January 01, 2015, 06:51:02 PM
The sequence B-A#-A-A# is effectively what I started with. I rechecked my theory, and it seem to be correct. Somehow, playing it, it did not sound right to my ear (the other suggested run, with C instead of B, somehow sounds better). Also the suggested fingering in my edition (4-3-1-2, jumping then to 5 for the following G, seemed awkward at first. (Though after a few times it start seeming a lot more natural). From all that came my post.
I guess that my ear, among other things, needs improvement.
Thanks to all for the replies.
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