Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Pianist Corner ACTUAL cheating? (scherzo 4, Chopin competition)

I'd think that was arrogant if not that I used to think things like that.

If Chopin thought of something completely different and not that thing, it was for a reason.

I don't think it's fair to say that. I highly doubt that Chopin actually thought of the 'Bunin version' and turned it down. I don't think that idea ever came to him in the first place. I DO however think that even Chopin was just a human.

Mark, have you listened to the entire performance?

I said judges don't punish a lack of pedantry. That's different than deliberately antagonistic eccentricity. (Which is what Pogo seems to revel in.)

You know... one could cheat on those thirds trills in the coda. Instead of taking it 13/24 like normal thirds trills, take it 14/23.

Please tell us you're joking.

Neither is more 'honest' than the other.

But what about if we played notes with our nose -- is that kosher?

BTW, I did in "The Alcotts" of Ives' Concord Sonata (on a chord near the end) -- and nobody ever noticed, except the people who were already in on it.

But one is a HECK of a lot harder!

An easy trill fingering is 1-3, 2-5. I don't remember if I listened to this whole performance, but I'm not the biggest fan of Bunin - some pieces are great, others are just plain weird. His tone also sounds very boxy in some of the Chopin competition videos.

Care to elaborate?

Great = Fantasie Impromptu, parts of the 4th ballade.
Weird - Revolutionary etude. Where's the dynamic contrast? Heroic Polonaise - why is everything so perky and staccato?

There's nothing abnormal about his etude's dynamics. It's all there.

As for the polonaise, that I understand. I guess it's a matter of taste. I love his polonaise. I can't even listen to others' renditions anymore. They're all so overly done with rubato. It spoils the piece.

He doesn't respect the "piano" markings, but instead just plays forte all the way through. Like it works in a live performance, but if you listen to it a few times it gets a bit monotonous.

Just FYI, my favourite interpretation of the 4th scherzo is by Richter, who makes it sparkle like nobody else.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EF0orKWbP-c

Sorry...

Agreed, on all counts! I would add that the polonaise is nearly unbearable.

Ashkenazy's earlier Decca recording is quite nifty also.

And try Godowsky. He is very special:

Thanks!
I didn't know we even had any recordings of his, even though I'm a big fan of those old-old recordings.

You know, he won 'best polonaise' award.

Well, I don't think it would have won "best polonaise" at the amateur Chopin competition there.

I don't get it.

Good for you -- because it's just stupid.


And what's stupider is that I really think it's not as good as some of the polonaise performances at the amateur Chopin competitions.

And this isn't a first.
While I realize that most people would indeed think this is just stupid, and that it's ridiculous to think otherwise, and heck, they could be right
.....a couple of years ago, our guy fuzzy8balls posted a recording of himself playing the Op. 22, and another member who thought it needed a lot of improvement posted a couple of recordings of it from the Chopin competition, for him to use as models. I thought fuzzy's was already better, in the sense of being more interesting, more in the feeling of a polonaise, and more distinctive, which for me trumped things like little flaws here and there.