Requesting HELP with GERSHWINS Three Preludes

[nicko124]

Hello Everyone

I am new to this forum and i am getting into a lot of Gershwins music partucularly for piano.
I am planning on learning and perorming the three preludes for a 'leavers concert' in three months. I am also going to be performing Ravel-Le Tombeau de Couperin (Forlane) and A la maniere de Borodine.

I am asking before i start learning the preludes for any tips regarding learning them. I have heard a proper solo piano performance of the third and second prelude. I have only heard a Midi of the first one.
If anyone could help me with this matter than i would be very grateful.

Thank You

Nicko124

[LVB op.57]

First of all, do not underestimate them. Classical isn't the only kind of music that requires good technic. One thing you'll see in these that you probably don't see so much in classical is jumps in the left hand. For example, from bass note to chord. For me, the toughest section in the first prelude is the section where both hands are playing chords on opposite ends of the keyboard. The second was fairly easy, but the section with the inner voices might be tough at first. The third is also just getting used to the jumps. Good luck, and let me know what you think of them.

[nicko124]

First of all thank you for the tips. It's great to have a forum where people know what they are talking about. You mentioned the section where both hands are playing chords at opposite ends of the piano. I think i know the section you mean, just before the main tune goes into octaves near the end. I have looked at it and it looks quite tricky but very rewarding once you have learnt it. The last bar of the piece looks like it will give me nightmares though.

My teacher says that the last page of Prelude No 3 is very difficult when the main tune is in octaves i think, i will worry about that when i get to it.

The preludes do have big jumpes, the left hand jumps at the start remind me of ragtime a little. I have got used to them though.

[missmarple]

I have played all three of them so if you have any specific questions, don't hesitate to send me a message
In my opinion, the hardest is the last page of the third preludio. I have performed them several times and in this part you have to be very concentrated and relaxed at the same time, otherwise it's a real mess.
I also agree with the other user - don't underestimate them. They're not very difficult as a whole, but they have many tricky parts.

[nicko124]

I have played all three of them so if you have any specific questions, don't hesitate to send me a message
In my opinion, the hardest is the last page of the third preludio. I have performed them several times and in this part you have to be very concentrated and relaxed at the same time, otherwise it's a real mess.
I also agree with the other user - don't underestimate them. They're not very difficult as a whole, but they have many tricky parts.

Thank you for offering to help, if i have any specific problems regarding them i will ask.
One thing i would like to know just to put it into perspective is how long it took you to learn them?

I have three months and a bit to learn/perfect them for the leavers concert and with hard work i hope to achieve this. I hope to get the 2nd Prelude done in a week seen as it is easy, only the stretches annoy me here. The third one is going to take some practice though, it's a good job it isn't that long.

I am quite a decent pianist but i have only studied classical and very basic jazz. The most complicated classical work i can play is probably Liszt - Un Sospiro.

[missmarple]

Yes, the second one is probably the easiest to learn because it doesn't have any real technical problems, but you have to be really careful with the rubato. The left hand should have very little of it, but the right should be as free as possible, not just playing dotted notes (sorry for my lame English ).
In my opinion they are very effective if played well - with the very first phrase of the first preludio you can attract everyone's attention (you have be very confident).