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It's Fun to Play the Piano ... Please Pass It On!
The set is around $40-$50, but there are .pdf files all over the place that you can find.
I've worked on #1 and #2 and performed #2 a few times, as well as the Variations. #1 is by far the easiest, and everything else is really hard. The provided metronome markings are frequently far too fast to be followed, and every piece is essentially prestissimo, considering how busy the hands are kept.
Working on: Chopin - Nocturne op. 48 no.1 Debussy - Images Book II
Have you listened to the op. 41 variations and op. 53 preludes? Those are probably some of his more accessible (and romantic almost) pieces. I think his own performances are the best, because he has his unique tone and sense of rhythm which keeps things interesting. Hamelin is kind of crazy in his recording of op. 40 no.3 though.
Working on: Chopin - Nocturne op. 48 no.1 Debussy - Images Book II
Have you listened to the op. 41 variations and op. 53 preludes? Those are probably some of his more accessible (and romantic almost) pieces. I think his own performances are the best, because he has his unique tone and sense of rhythm which keeps things interesting. Hamelin is kind of crazy in his recording of op. 40 no.3 though.
I've heard the variations, and some of the preludes. I like the F major.
A few of my favorite moments in the Opus 40 etudes, which I will point out in the videos since I have no score available:
1:55 here, and especially that chord on the downbeat of the fourth bar, at 1:58. The sonority is amazing in this section. Very Rachmaninoffian in a way.
Also, 2:25 in this one - the sudden shift of character, and then those classic stride chromatic tenths with the running thirds - awesome is the only way to describe it.
I also love the opening of this one - it reminds me of the music from those Charlie Brown cartoons I used to watch as a kid.
I discovered these pieces a long time ago, didn't think much of them, and left them well alone.
Just now, I chanced to hear one of them again, and then I started listening to all of them, and now I'm addicted.
The 7th is my favorite. Excellent, satisfying music, even if Kapustin doesn't go as deep as a Brahms or a Chopin.
Fun and challenging music, both technically and musically.
I have learned and performed 7 out of 8. Gotta tackle that goddam No. 5 sooner or later.
That's incredible! Though number 5 is my least favourite of the set....it's just a bit too noisy for me. I'd like to learn no.1,4,6 and 8, but number 4 seems to be far to difficult for me...
Working on: Chopin - Nocturne op. 48 no.1 Debussy - Images Book II
I discovered these pieces a long time ago, didn't think much of them, and left them well alone.
Just now, I chanced to hear one of them again, and then I started listening to all of them, and now I'm addicted.
The 7th is my favorite. Excellent, satisfying music, even if Kapustin doesn't go as deep as a Brahms or a Chopin.
Fun and challenging music, both technically and musically.
I have learned and performed 7 out of 8. Gotta tackle that goddam No. 5 sooner or later.
That's incredible! Though number 5 is my least favourite of the set....it's just a bit too noisy for me. I'd like to learn no.1,4,6 and 8, but number 4 seems to be far to difficult for me...
One of the problem for No. 4 is the tempo. Too many people played it too fast, a la Hamelin. Kapustin himself played slower.
And it has a lot of arpeggio/broken chord/scale patterns. Memorizing those patterns and forget about bar lines are the key to No. 4.
Of course, when you performing, you have to play and convince your audience that you are actually improvising. This is the most difficult aspect in my opinion.
