Rach 3 third movement

[perfect_playing]

Hey guys

what's your favourite interpretation of the second subject in the third movement on Rach 3?

everybody does it differently with different amounts of pedal, different speed, some people bring out the descending chromatic in the LH octaves etc.

[j_menz]

Oh, for heavens sake. We'll be asked for a "who's your favourite bar X" next. 

[perfect_playing]

This isn't one of those: which of the 4 ballades is your favourite threads!!!
I'm actually really curious as to which interpretations you guys prefer most!!

[j_menz]

This isn't one of those: which of the 4 ballades is your favourite threads!!!

No. It's worse.

I'm actually really curious as to which interpretations you guys prefer most!!

Really? Just that particular bit?  Do you not care what the rest sounds like?  Doesn't context count or something?

[perfect_playing]

Obviously I care about how the rest sounds like! OK I get your point that context does count, but I've heard so many different ways of doing it, and have been practising different ways of playing it myself, and I can't make up my mind which way I want to do it!

[j_menz]

Obviously I care about how the rest sounds like! OK I get your point that context does count, but I've heard so many different ways of doing it, and have been practising different ways of playing it myself, and I can't make up my mind which way I want to do it!

Well, I'm not unsympathetic by any means, but context really does count.  Any part of a piece is just that, a part, and how it fits depends on it's place in the whole. It's logical and contextual place in the whole.  You can't take your favourite bits from all over the place and glue them together and expect it to sound other than a god-awful kluge job.

[perfect_playing]

I get your point. But what do you do when, in the context of everything else, you feel there are several ways of playing a section such that when you consider the whole piece it fits together nicely. How do you choose which way to play that part?

[perfect_pitch]

Oh, for heavens sake. We'll be asked for a "who's your favourite bar X" next. 

Mine's bar 235... That just gives me goosebumps ever time.   

[j_menz]

Mine's bar 235... That just gives me goosebumps ever time.   

That's because you start drinking at bar 3. 

[j_menz]

I get your point. But what do you do when, in the context of everything else, you feel there are several ways of playing a section such that when you consider the whole piece it fits together nicely. How do you choose which way to play that part?

There are several way of playing any section. It really boils down to telling a story, taking a journey. There's no "right" answer, just one that fits at the time. It's one of the privileges of being a pianist that those multiple options are always present. Also one of the curses - at least until one comes to appreciate how truly special that is.