Journey to the Chopin Competition 2020 (AjLongsPiano)

[ajlongspiano]

Hi everyone!

As you all know, the International Chopin Competition is currently taking place. Several months ago when my piano teacher won 5th prize in the National Chopin Competition I decided that I wanted to prepare and participate in this wonderful event (both the international and national competitions) in 2020.

In this topic I'll be documenting things such as pieces I'm working on, the progress I'm making, and any problems I have with playing the piece (which I'm hoping you guys will help me fix ), and recordings of the pieces I'm learning.

So excited to be sharing this experience with you guys! I hope that a lot of you get involved with me .

- AJ

[schumaniac]

Go AJ!

[dogperson]

     I will do everything possible to come to Warsaw and obnoxiously cheer you on to victory !!
I am really excited that you have decided to compete.

[rubinsteinmad]

You should make a blog, too.

I was thinking of a similar thing, except that it was going to be a blog about my piano progress, not a blog about me going to the Chopin Competition

[rubinsteinmad]

So, upload your first video?

[ajlongspiano]

Thanks so much for your responses/support guys! Emily, I'm recording on a Steinway this weekend so you'll get some videos shortly.

So I wanted to discuss my choice of repertoire for this competition. When I have a free choice of repertoire (in rounds two and three) I would want to play works that reflect a certain point of Chopin's life, points of his life that have impacted me the most.

Round 1 is pretty conventional - I'm playing Ballade 1, Nocturne Op.27 No.2, and Etudes Op.10 No.5 and Op.10 No.11. I love all of these pieces and the melody of Op.10 No.11 is very Schubertian which you all know is a big plus for me haha.

Round 2 is where I start to imply historical context, I'll open up with Andante Spianato/Grande Polonaise and then play the Op.34 No.1 Waltz since those are selections from the mandatory repertoire for that round. The next pieces I play will be Scherzo 3, Sonata No.2 Movement 1, and Preludes No.22, No.14, No.8 and No.6. The reason for this odd choice of repertoire is because these are all pieces Chopin wrote in 1839 while living in an abandoned monastery in in Paris I believe. Chopin was so ill that he was suffering from extreme night terrors and even hallucinations at points. All of these pieces certainly have the angst of a highly disturbed man. I really want to portray that side of Chopin that not many of us focus on. The mad, crazy, angry Chopin rather than the flower laden man of melancholy we so often view him to be. Don't get me wrong, he was definitely a melancholic person, but he wasn't ONLY that. I picked preludes which personally fill me with the most angst, you guys might think other ones are more disturbing but this is just a personal taste/feeling of mine.


Round 3 I'm playing ALL late Chopin. Sonata No.3, Op.56 Mazurkas, Polonaise Fantasy, Mazurkas Op.63 Np.3, Op.67 No.2 & Op.68 no.4. These are all pieces which I think resemble some of Chopin's most mature and defined writing and they were all written during the last five years of his life. The late mazurkas in particular are very special to me, and I consider them to be Chopin's best compositions. I would close with Op.68 No.4 because it's the last piece Chopin ever wrote and there is no other way I would rather end my solo playing at the Chopin competition than to play his last piece.

Finals would be concerto 2 because there's much more history behind it than the first one and it was very personal to chopin, especially the slow movement, which he wrote for a girl he fell in love with.

If you have any suggestions for my program, feel free to add! I really want to have a very special and personal program for these competitions so I hope I've achieved a good idea here.

[pencilart3]

This is awesome AJ!! When you win, we will look back on this day and laugh.

Don't you have to play a polonaise in R2?

[ajlongspiano]

Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise

[rubinsteinmad]

Thanks so much for your responses/support guys! Emily, I'm recording on a Steinway this weekend so you'll get some videos shortly.

So I wanted to discuss my choice of repertoire for this competition. When I have a free choice of repertoire (in rounds two and three) I would want to play works that reflect a certain point of Chopin's life, points of his life that have impacted me the most.

Round 1 is pretty conventional - I'm playing Ballade 1, Nocturne Op.27 No.2, and Etudes Op.10 No.5 and Op.10 No.11. I love all of these pieces and the melody of Op.10 No.11 is very Schubertian which you all know is a big plus for me haha.

Round 2 is where I start to imply historical context, I'll open up with Andante Spianato/Grande Polonaise and then play the Op.34 No.1 Waltz since those are selections from the mandatory repertoire for that round. The next pieces I play will be Scherzo 3, Sonata No.2 Movement 1, and Preludes No.22, No.14, No.8 and No.6. The reason for this odd choice of repertoire is because these are all pieces Chopin wrote in 1839 while living in an abandoned monastery in in Paris I believe. Chopin was so ill that he was suffering from extreme night terrors and even hallucinations at points. All of these pieces certainly have the angst of a highly disturbed man. I really want to portray that side of Chopin that not many of us focus on. The mad, crazy, angry Chopin rather than the flower laden man of melancholy we so often view him to be. Don't get me wrong, he was definitely a melancholic person, but he wasn't ONLY that. I picked preludes which personally fill me with the most angst, you guys might think other ones are more disturbing but this is just a personal taste/feeling of mine.


Round 3 I'm playing ALL late Chopin. Sonata No.3, Op.56 Mazurkas, Polonaise Fantasy, Mazurkas Op.63 Np.3, Op.67 No.2 & Op.68 no.4. These are all pieces which I think resemble some of Chopin's most mature and defined writing and they were all written during the last five years of his life. The late mazurkas in particular are very special to me, and I consider them to be Chopin's best compositions. I would close with Op.68 No.4 because it's the last piece Chopin ever wrote and there is no other way I would rather end my solo playing at the Chopin competition than to play his last piece.

Finals would be concerto 2 because there's much more history behind it than the first one and it was very personal to chopin, especially the slow movement, which he wrote for a girl he fell in love with.

If you have any suggestions for my program, feel free to add! I really want to have a very special and personal program for these competitions so I hope I've achieved a good idea here.

Even though it would make your program less "personal", I LOVE the Rondo a Mazur.


<333333333

Maybe if you were to include it, you might include it as a contrast to the late works. If you want really early, the Polonaises in g minor and B-flat (OK, don't play those ) are very catchy. So are the Preludes in g# minor and A-flat Major, Op Posthumus. He wrote both at age 11-12.

[rubinsteinmad]

Those pieces are so HAPPY, though! OMG!

And, am I crazy? But I think Umi Garret's Scherzo #1 Op. 20 speaks to me the most. I think the Chopin contestants, including Aimi, are really mature, and I guess a little less maturity might help

But Umi Garret plays REALLY mature. I cant believe she was 11! But it just has that innocent playing that speaks to me, while older people sound more... Idk

[pencilart3]

Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise

oops I am such an idiot wow brilliant noah. HAHA great rep!

[rubinsteinmad]

oops I am such an idiot wow brilliant noah. HAHA great rep!

Well, ASGP is happy enough.

[ajlongspiano]

Yeah that Polonaise is so full of sunshine haha. Thanks for the suggestions Emily! I'll play those at some point in my life for sure, maybe just not in the competition .

[rubinsteinmad]

Especially when Trifonov plays it.

I thought Eric Lu and Kate Liu played it more reserved, but still beautifully. I just want some more happiness, since so many of Chopin's compositions make me feel beautiful. I need some piece that makes me forget that I'm actujally uglier than Ivett

[ajlongspiano]

Especially when Trifonov plays it.
 I need some piece that makes me forget that I'm actually uglier than Ivett

?

[rubinsteinmad]

?

That piece sounds too much like Ivett. Or even Aimi.  It keeps on reminding me..... Oh well......

Please stop composing like Chopin. Youre gonna make me slit ma throat

[ajlongspiano]

WHOA. Why can't I compose in a romantic style???

[rubinsteinmad]

WHOA. Why can't I compose in a romantic style???

Because compositions in a romantic style reminds me of romance which reminds me of that sensation I get when I look at Ivett and Aimi (BTW, I'm straight... If you don't understand, just PM schumaniac and you'll know why...)

[schumaniac]

Because compositions in a romantic style reminds me of romance which reminds me of that sensation I get when I look at Ivett and Aimi (BTW, I'm straight... If you don't understand, just PM schumaniac and you'll know why...)

he can figure out the situation on his own

never mind, you heard nothing

[schumaniac]

AJ, I think your program ideas are very interesting. Chopin was indeed a person with a very complex personality, and the way he is popularly portrayed is rather one-sided :/

[ajlongspiano]

Thanks Schumaniac! Glad you found my ideas interesting.

I don't even want to know.

[dcstudio]

I am thrilled for you AJ!!! and you bet I will be following your progress...  this is so exciting, really.  I will be living my Chopin Competition dreams vicariously through you now!!!  Don't let me down --I am counting on you AJ...  lol.   you can do this...   

I love that your teacher has been there and that he placed that gives you a nice edge.

we need a name for your pep squad like-- TEAM AJ   but something not so cheesy and outdated

[ajlongspiano]

DC,

Thanks so much for your awesome comment! I really appreciate your support and enthusiasm. I'm sure Noah can come up with a super legit name, haha.

[dcstudio]

I'm sure Noah can come up with a super legit name, haha.

yes he excels at that kind of thing and he is a bit more with the times than I am...lol..Twilight is like so 10 years ago..

[pencilart3]

*Insert super legit name here to meet expectations* lol

[adodd81802]

Hi everyone!

As you all know, the International Chopin Competition is currently taking place. Several months ago when my piano teacher won 5th prize in the National Chopin Competition I decided that I wanted to prepare and participate in this wonderful event (both the international and national competitions) in 2020.

In this topic I'll be documenting things such as pieces I'm working on, the progress I'm making, and any problems I have with playing the piece (which I'm hoping you guys will help me fix ), and recordings of the pieces I'm learning.

So excited to be sharing this experience with you guys! I hope that a lot of you get involved with me .

- AJ

I will see you there AJ

[ajlongspiano]

Hope to see you as well as my other PS friends!

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Hi AJ, in case you don't know, one not completely obvious thing you will need to enter this competition is letter(s) of certification of your competence, signed by recognised musical teachers/figures of importance. I know this because a friend of mine applied about a decade ago.

[emill]

Hello AJ!

How wrong I was!!  I've always thought your were so much older because of your mature and civil responses to posts here.  Now I know you must be in your teens or very early twenties to dream of the 2020 Chopin Competition. So may I wish your journey to be fruitful! Surely like many young pianists, my son Enzo is also dreaming of the Chopin Competition.  

emill

[ajlongspiano]

Hi emill!

Thanks so much for your kind response. I am 17. Enzo is a BRILLIANT young pianist with so much to offer. You must be extremely proud!

Ronde, thanks for telling me, I will have that covered with no problem

- AJ

[swagmaster420x]

Hello AJ!

How wrong I was!!  I've always thought your were so much older because of your mature and civil responses to posts here.  Now I know you must be in your teens or very early twenties to dream of the 2020 Chopin Competition. So may I wish your journey to be fruitful! Surely like many young pianists, my son Enzo is also dreaming of the Chopin Competition.  

emill

Same.
By the way, I'm rooting for you ajlongspiano!

[ajlongspiano]

Thanks, swag master! I appreciate your support very much.

[dcstudio]

...I had a weird dream last night where there was this kid sitting at a big black grand piano and Van Cliburn was next to him showing him stuff.   Van Cliburn looked up at me and said.. "this is AJ"

The boy in my dream was only 8 or 9--but still I thought it was kinda weird.

  it was just a dream.

[ajlongspiano]

That's so cool!!!! Thanks for sharing! So awesome haha

[rubinsteinmad]

...I had a weird dream last night where there was this kid sitting at a big black grand piano and Van Cliburn was next to him showing him stuff.   Van Cliburn looked up at me and said.. "this is AJ"

The boy in my dream was only 8 or 9--but still I thought it was kinda weird.

  it was just a dream.

Cool, but why Van Cliburn? I feel AJ's playing is WAY too sincere to be taught by Van Cliburn. (IMO Van Cliburn's playing is full of insincerity.. ). AJ should be taught by none other than the great SERGEI BABAYAN!!!!!!!!!

[ajlongspiano]

Van Cliburn was an extremely sincere pianist/person... lol

[rubinsteinmad]

Van Cliburn was an extremely sincere pianist/person... lol

Well as a pianist, his PLAYING doesn't sound very sincere t me....nlol

[dcstudio]

I have no idea why Van Cliburn...   He was young though and the piano was not lacquered but the flat black painted kind.  In my dream it just seemed perfectly normal to walk into a room and see Van Cliburn giving a piano lesson.  I actually apologized for interrupting and went to find my student who was waiting in a room for me... but I couldn't find them.  I was searching all these rooms all through my dream.

kinda trippy... but actually you don't have to be an expert at dream analysis to know what this one means..

..and someone posted about Van Cliburn day before yesterday...  and AJ is also the name of my daughter's jerk of a boyfriend...I'm sorry,  it's x-boyfriend this week.

so it could be as Freud said..."just a cigar"  lol.  or maybe not.

.

[ajlongspiano]

You have nothing to fear. If I was your daughter's boyfriend. I can assure you I wouldn't be a jerk to her.

- AJ

[pencilart3]

You have nothing to fear. If I was your daughter's boyfriend. I can assure you I wouldn't be a jerk to her.

- AJ

Especially if your daughter is named Ivett.

[ajlongspiano]

LOL

[dcstudio]

This guy really isn't that bad...  just kinda dumb..

I hope it was a message from the mystical beyond stating that the great Van Cliburn is now watching over you--and you will win this competition against all odds as he did in Russia in the Cold War.

but... it also could just be that I think my daughter's boyfriend's a jerk.. and for one brief second in my dream I considered the piano AJ along with Jerky boyfriend AJ

Van Cliburn is a symbol...I think.. of someone who beat the odds completely.  that is a good thing, too.

[ajlongspiano]

Chopin Concerto 2 time it is. I haven't learn a concerto so I figure this will be the most beneficial thing to learn right now. I'm dropping the third sonata.

[pencilart3]

Learn the 2nd movement so we can help each other

[rubinsteinmad]

Yes, uf you learn 2nd Concerto you can also use it for the Busoni Competition

[ajlongspiano]

Yeah it will work for all different competitions! Noah, eventually

[rubinsteinmad]

Yeah it will work for all different competitions! Noah, eventually

I'm not a big fan of the 3rd movement, either....

BTW there announcing the final results now.

[ajlongspiano]

What? I love the whole concerto. lol

[rubinsteinmad]

What? I love the whole concerto. lol

Well I prefer the 3rd movement of the 1st concerto.

As of now, I like the 1st movement of the 1st concerto, too. But a few months ago, I preferred the 2nd Concerto.

A few years ago, the only Chopin Concerto movement I liked was the 2nd movement from he 2nd Concerto, played by Arthur Rubinstein and that concductor who I forgot his name.

[rubinsteinmad]

And AJLong goes to the lvie stream to find the results, only to find Jurinic playing Chopin's 5th Ballade...

BTW, did you hear what the lady announcer said? She said "I hope to see you again... Maybe in five years "! OMG!!!! She KNOWS YOU, AJLONG!!!!!!!