Work in progress: Concerto in F minor, mov. 2 (F.Chopin)

[pencilart3]

Yeah, so this piece kind of means a lot to me. It's kind of a long story. Also, I'm getting it ready for a really big competition in January. There's 20 competitors, ~300 observers. Winner gets 500 bucks as well as a chance to play with the orchestra in my city which is attended by 1,000 people. I haven't been playing it for a super long time so there are a few stupid mistakes, as I was playing from memory. Please give me constructive feedback, as I know I have a long way to go. Especially on musicality, as I think the notes will come with some practice. Thanks!

https://soundcloud.com/prelude8/work-in-progress-fchopin-concerto-in-f-minor-mov-2

[josh93248]

I can only say I will take a look soon as I can but I have to go, but I hope it goes well for you Noah!

[pencilart3]

I can only say I will take a look soon as I can but I have to go, but I hope it goes well for you Noah!

Thank you Josh! 

[josh93248]

There is more musicality in this than any of your other recordings. That's partly the nature of the piece, you'd have to have no feelings not to see all the beauty.

I'd also say that you've got a fair bit to show already, you could really make something of this piece yet.

Before I get into my points to improve on and consider let me say that there are more than enough good things about your playing that I can only mention a few, I just have to focus on what you can work on for pragmatism's sake.

So, let's jump in eh?

A few general points:

I think this piece is so beautiful as to be almost otherwordly, it sort of floats, doesn't it? Like it's the most beautiful thing ever gently hovering right in front of us... However you see this piece you must capture and express those feelings fully and unashamedly. It's one thing to be self-indulgent but by god this piece almost does call for it. It's like one opportunity after another after another for immense and profound and simple beauty to just be brought into the world in a myriad of flavours decided by the player. Even with the things I may say it's more important to find a maximise EVERY OPPORTUNITY you can find in this piece for expression than it is important to eliminate flaws.

Another general point, In many ways this is the definition of legato (okay it's not necessarily legato all the time) by which I mean that every idea and phrase must flow into the next, this is something only Chopin does at the level you can find here.

Your subtlety of touch, tone and dynamics are mostly good but there are some miscalculations that stick out. Also you can be more creative with your rubato, it gives more variety and character and nuance. Like I said, search for opportunities where a bit of rubato can help.

You need to project a sense of totally effortless command over this piece. Make it sound like your way is the only way (which isn't true but still) and that there is no doubt in your playing.

Okay so let's get into nitty gritty

That opening passage needs to flow more, be a little less hesitant. Then you slightly rush the faster passage that proceeds to that lovely leap. But then things proceed nicely for a while.

It's ever so slightly blurry around 1:40

You need to work on the passage around 1:52

I think the section from 1:58 to about 2:18 could be dialled back a bit and made more subtle.

The run at around 2:26 is a little rushed take more time, make it more exquisite.

Get 2:38 to 2:42 more mastered. It wasn't confident or beautiful. All the runs need so much care. But there is some good work from that point on.

3:18 to 3:22 is a tad clumsy.

The run at 4:11 needs to be more... commanding, like you are Inside of yourself totally sure you are taking the piece in a new direction. But what you do within this altered mood is actually fairly good.

I'm not sure about 4:43 ...

A good change at 5:03

6:05 to 6:08 needs work, but the beautiful descending figure after is actually quite good.

6:37 Now THAT's a delicate run

For a while now it's fairly good work

The sequence starting from about 8:04 can be a bit more exaggerated even, it's pretty much the last significant moment before the end so make it stick in people's minds

I can't tell you how to make the ending more beautiful as it already is but I know there's slightly more you can do there and if you can find it that would be brilliant.

I hope it helps and the main thing you should take a way is you are doing a good job and the main things now are nuance and maybe being just slightly freer and more expressive. This is still by far the most expressive I've ever heard you Noah, I'm impressed.

[pencilart3]

Thanks so much for the feedback Josh! I really really appreciate your constructive feedback more than "Oh it's perfect" when it's not. Thanks a bunch!

[themeandvariation]

You really have great feeling for this piece, Noah.. You have a very expressive way.
 I just think you need to let it settle more in your bones.  You can still bring more nuance to the dynamic shading, especially as the runs  are smoothed out a bit more.. Also, those octave runs need a bit more work..
Very good work Noah.  Thanks for posting!