Chopin Ballade 3

[pianoman98]

Here's a recording I'm considering to submit for competition applications. Any comments and critique are appreciated!

[verqueue]

Overall you play it well.

I think sometimes you don't listen to ending of phrases. Of course you hear the sound, but don't truly listen, you just finish them. The other thing is that in ff you have a bit harsh sound. Also there is lack of kind of elegance and softness in the mood of your performance. But it's a matter of sort of maturity - it comes with an age.

But even with this issues it was nice to listen - you understand this piece and you builded its form. Congratulations!

[pianoman98]

Thanks for the comments. I completely agree with the listening to the end of the phrasing; after you pointing it out and listening back, I can clearly hear how I did that.

About the harshness of sound and lack of elegance and softness- I do need to work on that (like always), but I feel that part of it is the piano I played on. It was very hard to get that type of tone on it. My channel has other videos of me playing the ballade on a different piano, in which I feel I did a much better job with the tone and musical elements.

[chopinlover01]

Not bad overall. The beginning is your hook, remember this (like in an essay- your thesis statement has to catch the reader, or in this case, the listener's, attention)! With the forte A flat octaves in the beginning, it should not be a harsh tone at all. In fact, if I were Chopin I may have made the marking of maestoso.
Still a good performance. You play this ballade well, which is not always the case with young students wishing to play the "easiest" of the ballades.

[pianoman98]

Thank you for the comments and the compliments. I have worked very hard at the beginning, but I always feel like it needs to be better. I completely agree with your A-flat octave comment: I actually winced when I listened back to this recording....

[chopinlover01]

Haha, no worries. This ballade has frustrated me more than the 1st has, so I stuck with the latter... (Confession: I like this one better)
Do post another recording when you feel ready!

[pianoman98]

Haha, no worries. This ballade has frustrated me more than the 1st has, so I stuck with the latter... (Confession: I like this one better)
Do post another recording when you feel ready!

I like this one a lot too  . Actually, I'm finally done with the MTNA competition for this year, and this was a piece for that competition. Since I've been playing it for a year, I have dropped it now, because I need to learn new pieces. I'll probably revisit it later though... And when I do I'll be sure to post another recording.

[fifthelegy]

My favourite ballade! You played this very well, sometimes I believe it is the hardest of the 4 ballades simply because it is the one which is least successfully played. I think you handled it quite well

[pianoman98]

Thanks!