Rachmaninoff - Prelude b minor op. 32 no 10

[verqueue]

Here is my recording of Prelude b minor op. 32 no 10 by Rachmaninoff. Recently I posted Ballade f minor by Chopin and received some great remarks from members of this forum. I hope to get some advice about this piece too.

I tried to play it without co-contractions, which usually happend when I played in piano dynamics. I think I avoided tension in spots in which I could. I hope this time my technique was more natural, because I feel something has changed in it...

What do you think?

PS sorry for that my piano is out of tune. It's hard to get piano technican where I live. He will come only next month.

[pianowolfi]

I like your passionate approach. But I get the impression that you are trying to handle everything as one single tune, whereas there are at least two completely different "persons": Melody and bass. Try to treat them completely independently!  Usually we are trained to mark the right hand as "melody", and the left hand as "bass". But here we actually have to imagine that we have four hands: two for the melody, two other ones for the bass! The famous prelude in c sharp minor is quite similar.

[verqueue]

Thanks, it's a good remark. I didn't play c# prelude, so I didn't know about it. I was wondering about how to treat these chords and especially left hand in chord section and you gave me and answer.

[cbreemer]

Good work ! Needs more polish but it has impressive weight. I'm not sure of your pacing in the L'istesso tempo section (but I always found these bars maddeningly difficult rhythmically and never properly sorted them out so I am no one to criticize). My two cents here would be: don't rush, e.g. in the repeated chords. Take your time. It seems to me that the Tempo I
is much too fast (or else the opening lento is too slow).

[verqueue]

Thanks cbreemer.
I'm struggling a bit with the tempos in this piece. I just can't decide about them - especially in the L'istesso tempo - the pacing there is hard for me, and I should work more on that. I tried to play the chords section in tempo primo, but I don't want to strangle it. Now, I think I should try start  faster - it's alla breve, so Lento it's not as slow as I thought.

[hakki]

This a commendable playing of the piece. Congratulations!

You have to practice the figuration part a  bit more and give that part the bursting character though.

But, really, what would make the big difference, would be a nice grand and good recording equipment. Currently we really can't hear your real performance.

I enjoyed your performance. Thanks for sharing.

[verqueue]

Thanks hakki. This figuration part I think is the hardest one in this piece, because it's not obvious how to play it. I wanted to vibrate these figurations, but I don't know how to do this yet. The vibration problably would help with maintaining the bursting character.

And the grand, yeah... After I graduated I can see grands only at rehersals before recitals and at recitals . And I don't have portable equipment yet. But I'm working on this and I hope I'll have money for this in a few months.

[cbreemer]

I'm struggling a bit with the tempos in this piece. I just can't decide about them - especially in the L'istesso tempo - the pacing there is hard for me, and I should work more on that.

I can sympathize with that. The piece is not so terribly hard technically but to make it hang
together conceptually and rhythmically is very difficult.
Personally I would open the lid of the piano when recording to get a fuller sound - unless it gets
you into trouble with your neighbours. And yes, better recording gear (and a tuned piano)
would be great. A modern mp3/wav recorder (e.g. Edirol, Zoom, Tascam) will give very
decent sound and not cost you an arm and a leg. Your playing is worth it.

[faulty_damper]

The thing that bothers me the most is that the repeated motive has this shape, > (fades in dynamics), but it's performed ^  ^^ ^, accented.  This sounds harsh and doesn't capture the idea.  This harsh sound is prevalent throughout.

Also, it sounds as if your piano doesn't allow for gradations of piano.  It seems like you are really struggling to get color at this dynamic level.

[verqueue]

faulty:
Recently I practiced on a grand for a while and I thought about your remark about the accents. It was easier on a grand to don't play them, because the sound better resonates and even in piano dynamics it's just longer. Thanks for your remark, I sometimes get lazy in listening to myself. I'm so sad that I can't practice on grands so much as I used to.

[amytsuda]

You are always so musical! I didn't realize you had this post. Definitely, the piano is out of tune, so I am not sure if you are sometimes hitting the wrong low bass notes or it's piano. The balance of repeated chords, not sure if it is also because of the piano and recording. But I feel the middle section lacks the attentions you always give to every note, every phrase, every detail, rather just trying to get sounds out of the piano - as you mentioned, you need a grand - I don't think Rachmaninoff composed any of his music with an upright piano in his mind.... Otherwise, your performance is always so inspiring! Rachmaninoff is just not a good friend with me, but I am inspired to give a try. I hope you will find a way to practice on a grand... How do you adjust so quickly for a concert? Do you feel your upright piano sometimes cause habits that make the adjustment difficult? Please share a video of your concerts!

[verqueue]

But I feel the middle section lacks the attentions you always give to every note, every phrase, every detail, rather just trying to get sounds out of the piano - as you mentioned, you need a grand - I don't think Rachmaninoff composed any of his music with an upright piano in his mind.... Otherwise, your performance is always so inspiring! Rachmaninoff is just not a good friend with me, but I am inspired to give a try. I hope you will find a way to practice on a grand... How do you adjust so quickly for a concert? Do you feel your upright piano sometimes cause habits that make the adjustment difficult? Please share a video of your concerts!

Thanks amytsuda!
Yeah, I was struggling with this chords section. I practiced it with feeling the bottom of keys - on grand this approach gives my control over every chord, on upright the hammers don't go down so fast. My upright has Renner mechanics, so it isn't so bad for pracitcing purpose. But it's still an upright, so definitely I can get bad habits from playing at it. Still better than digital. I nearly stopped playing when I had only digital!

I wouldn't say that I fully adjust to grands quickly, but I have no choice. Also my technique has changed recently and I play more with my body, so it's easier to switch to different action. The biggest issue is always a pedal and accoustics.

I had a break down when I finished my piano studies, so I stopped playing recitals. Now I coming back to it, I'll see if I'll stick with playing live, I'm looking for piano-jobs. Recently I had this Chopin recital, I asked my husband to record Ballade with my phone and he forgot. I was too nervous to record my rehersal . I've to buy some proper equipment to be able to set it up before playing, but I still don't have enough money. I think my recital wasn't bad, because they asked me to play again in May .

[amytsuda]

That's exciting to be invited back! Will you be playing the Ballade 4, or another repertoire? I think you would do great to be performing. There are many good pianists, but it's rare to find one who plays music. You really play music which I really appreciate.