Schumann's Novelette in F major Op 21

[andrewlindsley]

Please could you advise me on the grace notes in bar 34 (and bar 99). I can't decide how to organise them against the left hand triplet during the ritardando. I wondered about playing them as a quintuplet: G-A-G-F-G. Or possibly as a sextuplet: quaver G followed by A-G-F-G as semiquavers? This has the advantage of fitting with the left hand triplet accompaniment. What do other pianists find works for them, please?

[adodd81802]

Hello Andrew,

I can see this is your first post. As a piece of advise you would get more feedback if you can post the music or the part of the music that you are referring to so those without, or that are not familiar with the piece can easily have a look and assist you with this issue.

I have listened to a few pieces and it seems that they play 2 graces notes either side of the 3rd triplet as evidenced in the performance below. Due to them being triplets, I don't think it's exactly in between the 2 notes it seems that the 3rd note of the triplet comes promptly after the 2nd grace note which slurs over the triplet and adds the following 2 grace notes.

I think you can be free with that though I just think that it shouldn't be played in time, together due to the triplets.

Sounds quite nice so I hope when things are ready you'll post your playing in the Audition forum.

Maybe practice first without slowing down so you can work out how to keep the triplets in time with the added graces notes then slow it down when you're definitely sure of the notes' timing.

[andrewlindsley]

Thank you so much for your helpful reply, I really appreciate the time you have taken.

You're quite right, I have only just signed up to Piano Street, and this is my first post. I see what you're saying, that posting the music is really important. I will have to research how to do this.

It's really interesting how Ashkenazy fits the grace notes in. I have been listening to how Richter and Fukuma play it, but they both take the passage quite quickly, and I couldn't analyse exactly what they did. I like the Ashkenazy interpretation and will purchase it.

Great how the You Tube video scrolls the music — I haven't come across this feature before.

Thanks again for your helpful post. It inspires me to give more practice time to this delightful Schumann piece.