brahms - intermezzo op 118 no 2 (live)

[rob47]

hi

i don't play brahms music very much and i'm sure that unfamiliarity, as well as other things i've missed are apparent in this performance

but it wasn't the worst so please check it out if you have just under six minutes to spare

thanks
rob

[birba]

No, that certainly wasn't the worst!  It was really lovely, in fact.  You have a wonderful sound.  Full and rich.  and a wide dynamic range.
I think, though, that it sounds "plodding" at times.  It doesn't move.  I hear a succession of notes in the melody, sometimes too banged out in the forte parts, but no real legato and cantabile line.  And there are points when you want a sort of "accelerando" (17--30, eg.)  It's not an accellerando really, it's a drive, a push.  It's static when I hear your rendition.  An intelligent use of rubato would benefit this intermezzo greatly.
But like I said, you play it very well, and I can hear you relate to this piece.
That "c" above middle "c" was very disturbing!!  was it towards the end of the recital?

[michael_sayers]

Hi rob47,

Did you give a listen to this link from another thread here about it?

[stevensk]

Hi rob47,

Did you give a listen to this link from another thread here about it?

-Why dont you tune your piano Michael?

[michael_sayers]

-Why dont you tune your piano Michael?

Letting someone else touch the inner workings of my piano(s) has always felt violating.  With my pianos it is hands off for other persons, except for students here and there, occasional visitors and friends who wish to play, and my own use including the repairs which I do myself.

With the pianos I own, no one ever tunes, regulates or voices them.

That is just the way it is.

[dcstudio]

=

With the pianos I own, no one ever tunes, regulates or voices them.

That is just the way it is.

such a shame..  pianos are meant to be cared for...

never understood how people can play an out of tune piano--much less record with one.  Maybe it's the curse of perfect pitch but it's painful to listen to that.  It's one thing when you have to play a piano like that because it' s gig and you are getting paid--sure done my share of that--but I just don't get how you could stand to play something like that every day. 

please, sir... I beg you to reconsider your position on hiring a piano tuner.   Go out for the day and let someone else deal with him--whatever it takes.


respectfully,

dcstudio

[michael_sayers]

such a shame..  pianos are meant to be cared for...

never understood how people can play an out of tune piano--much less record with one.  Maybe it's the curse of perfect pitch but it's painful to listen to that.  It's one thing when you have to play a piano like that because it' s gig and you are getting paid--sure done my share of that--but I just don't get how you could stand to play something like that every day.  

please, sir... I beg you to reconsider your position on hiring a piano tuner.   Go out for the day and let someone else deal with him--whatever it takes.


respectfully,

dcstudio

Soon there will be some special 1940 N.Y. Steinway D recordings online, using super sensitive microphones and with revelatory sound in the mostly quiet playing.  It was tuned each morning before recording, and was voiced a day in advance.

You are right about the piano related issues with the home recordings.  At the same time, no one has to listen to them.  The sound and performance of pianos is not a negative factor with me - a piano with issues is far to be preferred over one that does too much of the work.  How better to improve control of piano tone than with hammers critically in need of voicing?  Limited though this capacity is with grand piano Renner actions, and to some degree also limited with N.Y. Steinway grand actions ever since the knuckle position was moved even closer to the hammers in 1984, et c., it does need to be developed.

Thanks for having given the recordings a try!


Mvh,
Michael

[rob47]

No, that certainly wasn't the worst!  It was really lovely, in fact.  You have a wonderful sound.  Full and rich.  and a wide dynamic range.
I think, though, that it sounds "plodding" at times.  It doesn't move.  I hear a succession of notes in the melody, sometimes too banged out in the forte parts, but no real legato and cantabile line.  And there are points when you want a sort of "accelerando" (17--30, eg.)  It's not an accellerando really, it's a drive, a push.  It's static when I hear your rendition.  An intelligent use of rubato would benefit this intermezzo greatly.
But like I said, you play it very well, and I can hear you relate to this piece.
That "c" above middle "c" was very disturbing!!  was it towards the end of the recital?

hi birba

sorry for the late response thanks for listening and for the feedback i really appreciate your insight
that brutally out of tune 'c ' made me consider not posting this in the first place; it's so awful!
this was the first half of the recital; the tuner was late and didn't show up until intermission. 


@michael_sayers: i just listened to your recording also thanks for the link, it is very cool but incomplete?

best,
rob

[michael_sayers]

@michael_sayers: i just listened to your recording also thanks for the link, it is very cool but incomplete?

best,
rob

Hi Rob,

Yes, it is incomplete and was merely a test recording, yet one with the playing done in a 19th century style.