Chopin - Prelude No. 4

[mrsh4nkly]

Posted an earlier performance a while back that was pretty bad in retrospect.
Hopefully, this is much closer to what Chopin intended.
There are 4 mics, and it took a few attempts to get the mic-mix as good as I can get it, hence the word, "re-remastered," in the video title.

[essence]

it is a very common habit, but one which should be eliminated. Stop making all those little rits prior to a note you want to accent. you need long lines - sing along and see if you would like it if an accompanist did those little rits. It's not rubato - rubato is much more subtle.

The dynamics are a bit static,then it erupts unexpectedly. Maybe small dynamic changes in RH instead of those rits?

The opening bar should be more declarative - the first notes should make a statement. Maybe hold on to the firswt note a fraction longer? You are starting a speech, and need to grab attention.

It is hard to keep repeated LH chords soft. try not to lift fingers too much. No harm in bringing out RH a touch more.

A few places where pedalling could be cleaner.

here is another performance with those rits - very painful!

[essence]

This is excellent, and I hope supports what I was saying.

i=r1JBadqAI01QrTai

[essence]

i always this performer, eversince i was given his recording of the nocturnes when i was 13 years old!

i=eDEY4cs0i677rHQB

[mrsh4nkly]

Thank you for the suggestions and videos, essence. I will think on these in relation to the score. So many have thoughts on this piece, and their thoughts on it vary more than Monet's palette!

In retrospect, and in my amateur's opinion, a major improvement would be in the continuity of the melodic line, which you alluded to.

[essence]

Thanks. The easiest pieces technically are the hardest to make convincing!

Wrt continuity, take note how long the phrase marks are.

That, and being careful about pedalling, as described in detail in the video, will make giant strides.

Speed seems to vary a lot between performers, but the slower it is, the more difficult to avoid seeming to drag. If it was a singer, they would run out of breath!

Just listened to your first recording. Yes, vast improvement, in a fairly short time.

In the recordings I put up, I think most keep a regular beat in the LH, whereas you are not so regular. LH alone practice?

Maybe good to practice something else and come back to it? Nocturnes are a great way to practice a line.
 

[mrsh4nkly]

Even more good tips, thank you!