Chopin Scherzo #3 in C# minor

[jimroof]

Another selection from my sophomore recital at Georgia State University.

This was performed along with a Beethoven Sonata (Bb Opus 22) and the Ginastera Piano Sonata 1. 

[distantfieldrelative]

Wow. That was great.

[chopinlover01]

One of the best recordings I've heard. Damn good job mate.

[emill]

WOW ! ! ! that was a refreshing Scherzo3 ... EXCELLENT ! ! !
I was beginning to worry about the way my son was playing this piece
now-a-days ... but hearing your version with some of the "hesitations"
makes my worries dissipate.

[jimroof]

When I studied this there was some concern that I was taking a few liberties.  My personal instructor (Betty Anne Diaz, a wonderful lady and very thoughtful musician) was all for my interpretation, but John Schneider (at the time, the Atlanta Journal's music critic) wanted a stricter adherence to the pedaling and tempo, even to the point that the cascading figures end very abruptly as per the Paderewski edition's marking from Chopin's manuscripts.

If I were playing this today, I would play it much the same, but with a little more sensitivity to the chord progressions that come before the cascades.  The piano I played was something of a rather brittle sounding thing as I recall, so maybe it was just something I could not totally control at the time.

Thanks for the kind words.  This was the first major piece that I studied in college and I still love it. 

[jimroof]

This is a shameless bump because I think serious Chopin works should float to the top.

[chopinlover01]

Have you recorded anything recently? I'd love to hear you play some of the more melodic etudes, such as Op. 10/9

[jimroof]

I have not recorded anything lately.  In fact, I am just now diving back in after years of casual playing and reading through various sonatas just for giggles. 

From my work on the Opus 25 #6 I am already noticing significant changes in my hands in other pieces.  When I recorded this scherzo, I was 21 years old.  That was 37 years ago.  I am a much better MUSICIAN now than then, with a more mature understanding, but I need to get the fingers back in shape before any real life dividends can come from that maturity. 

In a perfect world, I think I might make some fairly advanced players a decent 'coach'.  Maybe some day that will happen.

I am having my piano worked on in a month or two.  It needs the hammers reshaped and other things as well (needs butt flange cords replaced all throughout it).  When that is done I hope the instrument sounds good enough as an upright to record.  I will likely do some recording then.