Piano Forum

Sounds great! A few things I noticed first off is that the dynamic range seems to be relatively static throughout in both the long-term and within the localized two-bar segments. The bass is always a bit heavy, which may inadvertently cause the finger action to also be heavy throughout each arpeggio. A lighter touch with more shape to the arpeggios might help facilitate some of the more awkward positions. If you listen carefully to Cho’s performance, he doesn’t treat all of the 16ths equally, which is suggesting that his finger independence within each arpeggio is crafted to expose the hierarchy individually in each beat.

Even though the camera is far away, it still appears as if there is a lot of wrist motion to accommodate the shifts between each arpeggio both ascending and descending. I have found that the more the wrist moves, the more likely it is that there will be much more work needed to get the fingers properly in position AND may promote fatigue by the time you get half-way through. Move the wrist less, and use the finger more…

If you watch Kyohei Sorita’s performance of this, you might also catch some alternate fingerings for some of the really awkward chords. For example, I have NEVER been able to accurately play the chord in measure 31 without missing notes. I figured that a more closed position hand shape worked much better even if it wasn’t a conventional fingering. I was pleased to discover that Sorita does the same thing in places, such as measure 30-34, and a couple places near the end. The fingering I use in mm. 31 is 2-3-1-3-2-3-1 etc. to the top. It keeps the hand more closed and my accuracy rarely falters. This fingering approach works in a few other areas nicely, so you might explore and see if it helps.

I know a few good folks here will disagree with my suggestions, but the proof is in the pudding, so to speak. If you watch many of the contestants perform this, you’ll notice that the wrist is almost always motionless. The concentration of technique applied to the action of the fingers is what makes these performances a step above the rest.

Hope this helps a bit!