rach c# minor prelude-agitato

[LVB op.57]

I've been working on the Rachmaninoff c# minor prelude, and for those of you who have played it, what tempo do you use in the agitato section. I was using 162 for quarter notes, but I've been told that's way too fast, and that agitato is just agitated, not necesarrily fast. Any opinions?
-Steve

[abell88]

I hear it in my head at about 138. I worked on it a long, long time ago, but never mastered it, so take my advice with a grain of salt.

[aajjmb]

another thing you could think about is weather to start fast or to get faster...john ogden starst fast and loud   whilst other people i have playing that piece start slowly....anyideas??

[pies]

­

[nanabush]

When it is the constant descending pattern at the very end of the agitato, like right before it goes again to the slow part, I play that the fastest, when it's going down, that I think is the climax of that part....

[decadent]

When it is the constant descending pattern at the very end of the agitato, like right before it goes again to the slow part, I play that the fastest, when it's going down, that I think is the climax of that part....

How do you pedal that part? per triplet or do you use no pedal at all?

[pseudopianist]

How do you pedal that part? per triplet or do you use no pedal at all?

I myslef have never played it but you would probaly need the pedal for it otherwise it would sound way too dry. Every triplet atleast

[decadent]

I myslef have never played it but you would probaly need the pedal for it otherwise it would sound way too dry. Every triplet atleast

I think when played at a fast speed, one may do without the use of pedal.  But Im still interested in what others do.

[tds]

i do not start fast. i build the tension up gradually into the climax. oh, i have a live recording of mine playing this piece on a cd. does anyone know how to post a cd recording here? a computer illiterate here. tds

[Dazzer]

cd recording? sheehs that'll be hard.

first you'll have to rip the audio from the cd into an mp3
then, if its not your own recording, then you can't post it in the Audition room, and since that's the only room that allows attachments, you'll have to host the file yourself, on your own server.
if not, then just follow the instructions in the Audition Room regarding attachments.

[tds]

cd recording? sheehs that'll be hard.

can computer related things be easy? *sigh*

first you'll have to rip the audio from the cd into an mp3

how do we do it?

then, if its not your own recording, then you can't post it in the Audition room, and since that's the only room that allows attachments, you'll have to host the file yourself, on your own server.
if not, then just follow the instructions in the Audition Room regarding attachments.

how do people host their own files?

[Mozartian]

cd recording? sheehs that'll be hard.

first you'll have to rip the audio from the cd into an mp3
then, if its not your own recording, then you can't post it in the Audition room, and since that's the only room that allows attachments, you'll have to host the file yourself, on your own server.
if not, then just follow the instructions in the Audition Room regarding attachments.

Actually, it's quite easy, and a 12 year old child could figure out how to do it.
Put your CD into your CD-ROM drive.
Wait until the CD icon shows up on your desktop.
Double click on the CD icon.
A list of files come up.
Save the files to your computer, either by clicking and dragging or by importing into music organization software like iTunes (I recommend iTunes, great software and VERY straightforward).
Eject the CD.
Convert the files to MP3 using iTunes or other software. (free)
(note- if you uploaded through iTunes, make sure in perferences it's set to import as a mp3 and not as an ACC file)
If you uploaded through iTunes, you can make things EVEN EASIER by making a copy of the file by clicking and dragging the files onto your desktop, so you can upload straight from there and won't have to go throught iTunes library or anything.
Then upload the recordings.

[tds]

thanks, mozartian. you're a champion. tds

[Dazzer]

mozartian pretty much said what i said, just in 12year old terms.

oh and she works on a mac. i can tell. they work better hahahaha...

[tds]

thanks to mozartian, i got my recording converted to mp3. now, my new problem!: i have not been able to post my recordings in the audition room. dont know why. it stopped uploading before its done. ive made sure that the size is under 12 mb. can you help me out again mozartian? tds

[Mozartian]

thanks to mozartian, i got my recording converted to mp3. now, my new problem!: i have not been able to post my recordings in the audition room. dont know why. it stopped uploading before its done. ive made sure that the size is under 12 mb. can you help me out again mozartian? tds

Hrm.
Slow internet connection.. phone line, right?
Not sure how to get around that. We could try file transfers on AOL IM and I could put them up for you.. PM me with your AOL screen name if you want to try that.
Otherwise, you'd just have to find a friend with a faster connection and upload from their machine.


And yes. I do work on a mac, lol.

[tds]

Hrm.
Slow internet connection.. phone line, right?
Not sure how to get around that. We could try file transfers on AOL IM and I could put them up for you.. PM me with your AOL screen name if you want to try that.
Otherwise, you'd just have to find a friend with a faster connection and upload from their machine.


And yes. I do work on a mac, lol.

yupper, the phone line, it is! oh, thank you a bunch, mozartian, for your kind offer. btw, i dont have aol im , but i do have yahoo messenger, and will soon sign up for a msn messenger. do you have yahoo im? or msn? if so, can i send my recordings to you thru yahoo? best, tds

[i_m_robot]

Actually, it's quite easy, and a 12 year old child could figure out how to do it.
Put your CD into your CD-ROM drive.
Wait until the CD icon shows up on your desktop.
Double click on the CD icon.
A list of files come up.
Save the files to your computer, either by clicking and dragging or by importing into music organization software like iTunes (I recommend iTunes, great software and VERY straightforward).
Eject the CD.
Convert the files to MP3 using iTunes or other software. (free)
(note- if you uploaded through iTunes, make sure in perferences it's set to import as a mp3 and not as an ACC file)
If you uploaded through iTunes, you can make things EVEN EASIER by making a copy of the file by clicking and dragging the files onto your desktop, so you can upload straight from there and won't have to go throught iTunes library or anything.
Then upload the recordings.

more like 8 year olds

[Barbosa-piano]

        I am also practicing the section, and I believe 162 is good for the ending of the section, as it increases from a slower tempo. The film of Josef Hofmann playing the Prelude gave me a pretty good idea of what the tempo could be, and he played in a very good tempo which made the ending sound more dramatic and powerful after emerging from the first part.

                                                                          Enjoy practicing

[tds]

more like 8 year olds

little kids are the one that are truly creative. thanks for the reminder! tds*wanna be an eight yo kids again....or younger*

[tds]

I am also practicing the section, and I believe 162 is good for the ending of the section, as it increases from a slower tempo. The film of Josef Hofmann playing the Prelude gave me a pretty good idea of what the tempo could be, and he played in a very good tempo which made the ending sound more dramatic and powerful after emerging from the first part.

 Enjoy practicing

i watched the film, too. hofmann is da best! tds

[Mozartian]

little kids are the one that are truly creative. thanks for the reminder! tds*wanna be an eight yo kids again....or younger*

Nah, they just don't overcomplicate things.

I have MSN, let me know when you sign up- but file transfers work way better on AOL.

[tds]

Nah, they just don't overcomplicate things.

I have MSN, let me know when you sign up- but file transfers work way better on AOL.

ahhh, you nailed it on the head! doesn't overcomplication turn one's creative power down? *click clock click clock*<---the sound of my cheap wall clock

oh, yeah, i will sign up for msn im now! will let you know soon. thanks again, mozartian. best, tds

[bearzinthehood]

I myslef have never played it but you would probaly need the pedal for it otherwise it would sound way too dry. Every triplet atleast

I pedal every triplet, it helps bring out the melody in the RH top notes, which are IMO the way to guage how this section should flow.

[jason2711]

yeah i pedal basically every crotchet but don't using any at the end of the agitato with the triplet chords.  I realised today i finished the agitato at crotchet = 225 so i should probably ease off a bit  on the tempo   I quite like it that way however, starting off slowly then building up the agitation and emotion right up to the climax, using plenty of rubato.  Never played it in public (except to friends) so it is probably all wrong but its always good for simply letting out all my emotions

[tds]

I pedal every triplet, it helps bring out the melody in the RH top notes, which are IMO the way to guage how this section should flow.

you can pedal every beat ( triplet ) in some section, but NOT when there is a low C# in the bass, in which case you MUST pedal the whole bar. voicing is very important, here: play the inner voices in rh triplets very softly. also, pedal every minim ( 1/2 note ) in bar 12 ( from the agitato section ). hope it helps. tds

[thierry13]

I would begin at 144 and go to 176, personally.