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Topic: Beethoven - Pathetique Sonata  (Read 1575 times)

Offline pianowhisper

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on: July 27, 2015, 03:09:02 AM
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Offline birba

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Re: Beethoven - Pathetique Sonata
Reply #1 on: July 27, 2015, 12:13:40 PM
Yes, that recording sound is pretty bad. 
The only two things that really stand out that need correcting, in my opinion, is the adagio which is just too adagio.  You have to count in your head   One, two three, four, five, six, seven, eight at approximately 60 for each count.  It has to be one phrase.
And the crossing over of the right hand?!  You gotta be quicker then that!  You can't lose a split second in time.  As it is now, the whole flow and beat pulsation is distorted in that section.
It's wierd you make these glaring flaws, because you've got a decent technique and sensitive musicality.

Offline pianowhisper

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Re: Beethoven - Pathetique Sonata
Reply #2 on: July 27, 2015, 04:21:22 PM
Yes, that recording sound is pretty bad.  
The only two things that really stand out that need correcting, in my opinion, is the adagio which is just too adagio.  You have to count in your head   One, two three, four, five, six, seven, eight at approximately 60 for each count.  It has to be one phrase.
And the crossing over of the right hand?!  You gotta be quicker then that!  You can't lose a split second in time.  As it is now, the whole flow and beat pulsation is distorted in that section.
It's wierd you make these glaring flaws, because you've got a decent technique and sensitive musicality.

@birba, Thank you very much! :)
I actually spent half an hour or something deciding whether or not to create this post. I was ashamed of doing it, but as I don't have a piano teacher, this was the only place I had left to ask for feedback. You have my thanks!

And about what you said, I'll definitely work on that! Actually, I was more concerned about what someone might say about my Grave section being too slow. I feel comfortable playing with that tempo, but, in most versions I listen to, the Grave is considerably faster than mine. Do you think my tempo is fine there? About the Adagio, I'll follow your advice and try to speed it up a little.

On the crossing over the left hand section, I find it difficult to keep the tempo while playing the notes as phrases. But it's just as you said, I gotta be quicker. I'll certainly follow your advice and work on that!

I was speechless when you said that about my technique and musicality. I'm glad reading that!
I'll surely follow your advices. Thank you very much!

Offline birba

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Re: Beethoven - Pathetique Sonata
Reply #3 on: July 27, 2015, 04:42:08 PM
I'm sorry, NO!  I WAS talking about the grave section!  I wasn't looking at the music and forgot that was the indication!
It's actually amazing you have no teacher.  But I'm assuming you did have one at one time.  Right?

Offline pianowhisper

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Re: Beethoven - Pathetique Sonata
Reply #4 on: July 27, 2015, 05:03:59 PM
I'm sorry, NO!  I WAS talking about the grave section!  I wasn't looking at the music and forgot that was the indication!
It's actually amazing you have no teacher.  But I'm assuming you did have one at one time.  Right?

lol, No problem!
So, for the Grave sections, I should count 8 beats per measure at about 60 for each? I tried it right now. For me it looks like too fast, but that's probably because I've always played it that slow and got used to it. I tend to play it counting 16 beats at, like, 50 for each. But I always knew there was something wrong with that.

So the Adagio is just fine? As well as the Rondo?

Well, I actually never had a piano teacher, unfortunately. I had keyboard classes from my 8 until I was 15, but those classes weren't of my actual taste. I started learning piano (classical piano, specifically) by myself during that time and had a little help from my teacher, but I've never had the joy of taking real piano classes. ;D You know, with someone who really knows about it, instructing you and helping with your progress.

Offline pianowhisper

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Re: Beethoven - Pathetique Sonata
Reply #5 on: July 27, 2015, 09:02:32 PM
Oh, and I forgot to ask...

Any remark about the development section of the 1st movement? That was the hardest part to me, and I'm not quite sure if I played it decently. If anyone could give me some feedback on that, I'd be glad.

Offline birba

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Re: Beethoven - Pathetique Sonata
Reply #6 on: July 28, 2015, 06:07:29 AM
I had only listened to the first movement.  I just finished listening to the whole sonata.
I have to say it's incredible what you've been able to do on your own.  It's literally hard to believe.  In fact, at one point I was thinking, "is this another Becky hoax?!"  (only older members would get this)  Because technically and musically it's really very very good.  The tempi are right.  You''re phrasing is so natural.  It actually sounded like a professional pianist from the 19th century playing on a spinet or clavichord, because of the sound. 
It was also interesting watching your hands while playing.  If you had someone to teach you a technique for the piano, you could go places.  Because it looks like you're playing an organ.  It's stiff.  And yet, your fingers are very limber and get around well on the keyboard.  You seem obsessed by holding notes down until the very last minute, changing fingers on the same key (?!)  Why?  That's what the pedal is for!
It's sort of hard to teach over the internet, and I won't even begin to try.  I've seen too much of that going on here.  Without a video you can't really explain the finer points of piano technique.  Words get very easily confused.
I certainly don't want to discourage you.  On the contrary, you have talent and you're doing your best to realize it.  In fact, I look forward to your other adventures!
Oh, by the way.  In the grave section, think of that second c 6/3 chord after the initial c minor chord, as emerging from the sound of that initial chord.  (See what I mean about internet lessons?)  That is, play that second chord with the same sonority you leave the initial chord.  In other words, play the first chord, listen to how the sound diminishes and play the following upbeat chord with the same sonority you hear and continue with a slight crescendo that climaxes on the diminished chord.
Oh well, I tried... :P








Offline pianowhisper

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Re: Beethoven - Pathetique Sonata
Reply #7 on: July 28, 2015, 09:43:21 AM
@birba, You have no ideia how much it meant to me! And it's a shame I don't get the Becky hoax one, but I guess I'm supposed to be glad. ;)
I actually don't know whether I'm proud or not of being able to play the piano withouth ever having a teacher. On the one hand, it's surely a personal achievement for me and musical maturity development, but on the other hand, I really wish I had the feeling (which I imagine to be just fantastic) of having real piano classes. Someday, maybe, I'll finally get the chance...

And sorry, could you explain what you meant with "if you had someone to teach you a technique for the piano, you could go places"? Unfortunately, my English is not as strong as my Portuguese, sad but true, lol. ;D You'd probably already noticed that, I don't know...

Anyway, I got what you meant with all the key holding stuff. As a matter of fact, I do have an explanation for that, but I feel that if I try to make more excuses for my "worthless musical life" I'd be indeed assessed as a bloody jerk. ::) But I'm gonna try it anyway, judge me, lol.
Unluckily, my right pedal is a little overused as the piano is very old. If I press all the right pedal down, when it's lifted, it produces a tremendously sonorous "clack". Almost funny, yes. When I play any piece, I just think "oh, this damn "clack" just cannot happen, and sorry for that, man", so, most of the time, I just press about half the pedal down in order to not have that sound blowing my head up. It doesn't interfere so much in my playing, but because of that I have to compensate the fact that the notes aren't going to be sustained for too long by working a little more on my legato and holding the keys a little bit more.
Perhaps I got too much used to it and it influenced too much in my playing, I don't know. BUT, it's my duty to fix that illustrious pedal, isn't it? And I say so to stop being this "excuseful" person, yey.

After reading your attempt to talk about the chord in the Grave, I understood why it is sort of hard to teach over the web. ;D But no problem, I got what you meant! I should play the main chord and keep the following chords as a continuous flow of sound until there's that "grasp" with the diminished chord, or something like that... (ok, now I really got the "talking about technique over the internet" stuff, lol).

Anyway, I'm grateful for all your help. Perhaps, someday the destiny will get me into a room with a Steinway (or just a tuned piano, that would be fine), with no "clack" pedals and a good recorder and I'll be able to find out if I can handle it and post a video here! lol ;D

Well, I'll surely follow your advices, birba. Be sure that you've helped me a lot, more than it seems. I can not thank you enough!
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