Chopin Op.25 No.3 - Last minute feedback appreciated.

[ajlongspiano]

There are a few missed notes but I take quite a few risks with my musical ideas. I'm playing this in a competition in three weeks and would like some last minute musical insight so I can have this even more polished by competition time. Enjoy!

[pencilart3]

AJ YOU ARE SUCH A BEAST

Ok anyway, I think you did this almost perfectly, as you mentioned a few bad notes but other than that almost perfect. I might suggest slowing down a little right before both of the forte returns of the theme, if you know what I mean. This piece is so hard and you are doing awesome! What's the competition, BTW?

[ajlongspiano]

Thanks so much, Noah! I definitely agree with your comment about doing a ritard before the material is played in B. Its the CDCYM Chopin competition in Latham NY. Just a little local competition

[pencilart3]

Awesome. Best of luck in your competition, let us know when you win!

[ajlongspiano]

Haha thanks Noah. The only thing I know for sure is that I'll have a good time playing some beautiful music.

[pencilart3]

Are you playing anything other than this etude in the competition?

[ajlongspiano]

Ballade 1

[pencilart3]

Ballade 1

Ohhhh yeah. You rock at ballade 1.

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Firstly, it sounds pretty technically secure, so that's an excellent start.

A few thoughts which occurred to me:

It might be my speakers, or possibly because it sounds like you're on a digital, but I think you're probably not leggiero enough for the ideal. Peculiarly (I'm looking at the Cortot edition on IMSLP, as I have no idea where my own book is!) you are doing a dim. at the end of the first two lines where a cresc. is marked. In the couple of lines afterwards, your second, fourth and sixth rh quaver/eight-note of each bar have a tendency to be staccatissimo to the point of occasionally barely sounding. I would suggest that when this figuration returns towards the end of the piece you might want to present it in a manner which contrasts more with the opening iteration. The middle section is generally good and you have variety of dynamics but in general I would suggest that the piece would benefit from a more expansive approach and making more of dynamic contrasts (it's a little bit same-y throughout and I find your attack sound is crisp but slightly harsh - if it's on a digital that is understandable). It's nicely rhythmic and as I said at the start it sounds like you have the technical aspects well under control so I think you are well on the way to an excellent performance.
 

[ajlongspiano]

Thanks for your kind comment! I appreciate all of your feedback. I use the Paderewski edition and no crescendo is marked there so that's why I do a dim. I definitely get your comment about being MORE expansive dynamically. I'm obsessed with subtlety so sometimes I don't exaggerate or bring out my ideas as apparently as I should. Again, thanks so much for your comments!

It is on a digital by the way!

[pencilart3]

You know what, I think this was the first Chopin etude I ever heard. Yes indeed, it was love at first sight.