Chopin Ballade No. 3 in A Major

[carcoleghoast]

I recorded this piece a couple of months ago, so I've improved some parts, esepcially the arrival of the coda where I do sweep-like motions. So, aside from that, what can I do to maximize my performance?

PS The audio is harsh because I transferred it to audio (for privacy), so please don't say that I sound harsh. Thank you!

[ranjit]

The audio shouldn't change if you take it from a video since both are encoded separately.

While the audio amplifies it, I think your playing is a bit harsh as in too treble-heavy in parts. Some of the octaves in the beginning, for example, have this characteristic.

I think we should be careful before blaming recording quality, it can be an easy scapegoat and cause us to miss the obvious. Not necessarily saying that's the case here.

[frodo3]

Nice performance!  I listened to this only 1 time.  Fine musicality and control.  The single item that stood out most for need to improve IMO - the final 11 measures marked "piu mosso" => more quickly (also lively, animated).  Your final few seconds sound DEADPAN - marring an otherwise nice performance.  Let's leave everyone smiling with a piu mosso that sounds more like the final 15 seconds of the following:

Edit:  Looking for more "piu" in your "piu mosso".

[quantum]

Interesting you mention harsh audio, because that is not  the thing I would have latched on to upon first listen.  Can you elaborate why you consider the audio harsh?

As ranjit said above, extracting the audio from a video should not make it harsh.  That is, unless the audio recorded along the video was harsh to begin with.  Looking more closely at the audio of the file, it appears there is about 5.6 dB of headroom, which is well within a safety margin for clipping.   

What I liked about your interpretation include, the overall pacing and balance of perspective of the contrasting sections.   As well, I found your choice of highlighting certain melodic lines well done.  It was immediately clear which melodic lines you wanted to draw the listener's attention to. 

IMO, work more at deciding where breath and break points of the phrases occur.  There were a couple places where I thought that a phrase came to a conclusion, yet you did not include a breath, or enough of a breath. 

Bar 88-94  try to shape your releases more.  The releases sound unusually dry here, and don't really fit with what you are doing previous or following this section.  Even if you intended this to be a contrast, I think you should find a way to make it flow more with surrounding material. 

Bar 222 I get that you are trying to do terraced dynamics here, but I think the pull back was too much, and broke the flow to my ears.  Find a way to maintain forward momentum and intensity when pulling back. 

[frodo3]

Bar 88-94  try to shape your releases more.  The releases sound unusually dry here, and don't really fit with what you are doing previous or following this section.  Even if you intended this to be a contrast, I think you should find a way to make it flow more with surrounding material. 

Bar 222 I get that you are trying to do terraced dynamics here, but I think the pull back was too much, and broke the flow to my ears.  Find a way to maintain forward momentum and intensity when pulling back.

Any chance you can provide time markers?  I guess I can count out measures - my score does not have measures numbered.   

EDIT: Measures 88-94 start at 3:11 minute marker - Absolutely agree with Quantum.  Sounds harsh - but I could live with it as is.

Measure 222:  I will wait for minute marker if provided.   

[frodo3]

Bar 222 I get that you are trying to do terraced dynamics here, but I think the pull back was too much, and broke the flow to my ears.  Find a way to maintain forward momentum and intensity when pulling back.

Bar 222 - Found it (minute marker 7:06)!  There is nothing in the score that indicates a sudden pull back in loudness at this point - but I like it - it does NOT break the flow to my ears.  We are all just giving opinions here.  However, there is nothing in the score to indicate that this should be played like this.  So I have no problem if someone objects to it for this reason.  BTW - There is a sudden dramatic  pull back in loudness that is indicated in the score a few measures later (measure 227).  You do a GREAT job with the dynamics here.  Congrats on fine performance! 

Just fix that coda - "piu mosso" - I'm looking for more "piu" in your "piu mosso"!