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Joined: May 2001
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I listened to the opening of No.2 and most of the Ballade and Romanze. All terrific.
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Thanks for listening Pianoloverus! I had some issues because there were a few keys that stuck, so that's why there are some weird voicings (especially in 118-2), but overall I think I did an okay job. The audience at the hospital seemed quite pleased after the pavane.
Working on: Chopin - Nocturne op. 48 no.1 Debussy - Images Book II
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I listened to the Ballade, it's one of my favorite Brahm's compositions. You play it very beautifully! I'm not just saying it, I listened closely. I wish the recording quality was better...
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Thanks Noam! It's hard to get a good recorded sound, not just because of the setup and equipment but because the room is a huge atrium with lots of activity.
The Ballade is a great part of the set, I love the middle section. Do you play any Brahms aside from the G minor Rhapsody?
Working on: Chopin - Nocturne op. 48 no.1 Debussy - Images Book II
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They should mic the piano up close to get rid of that huge hall reverb.
I've only played the rhapsody no 2 and this ballade.
Brahms is a little above my paygrade. In other words, his music is too rhythmically complex for me to appreciate and understand. Also the harmonic progression is very advanced and requires a special "ear".
I really love Brahms but he is so emotionally draining.
Also he is entirely difficult to play. Kudos for playing Brahms probably a nightmare to learn the notes.
You just inspired me to learn Brahms! I think op 116 no 6??? Sick!
Actually, I just remembered I play Hungarian dance no 1 but having some problems reading the rhythm. I won't jack this thread. I will ask on a separate topic.
Last edited by noambenhamou; 02/05/14 01:10 AM.
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Just listened to the Ravel. Perfect tempo, gorgeous shaping of the melodic line, very moving. For whatever reason, this piece is not performed very often in professional concerts. The last time I heard it live was maybe around 40 years ago in Carnegie Hall performed was by this dude: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX_5CFS7ojQand I think your performance compares very favorably.
Last edited by pianoloverus; 02/05/14 12:57 PM.
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I listened to all of it the night you put it up, because I always enjoy your sensitive playing. This did not disappoint! I agree with Noam. "They" should mic it better, and "they" should maintain the piano better. What can "YOU" do about that? LOL! (Of course, I am pulling your leg Kuanpiano! ) Keep 'em coming! --Andy
I may not be fast, but at least I'm slow.
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Really remarkable Brahms playing, warm and tender where needed, lively where needed, stormy where needed. Never overly sentimental. I disagreed with some of the rolled chords in Op 118 no 2 but still enjoyed it very much. (How in the world did you cope with sticking keys during a concert of this difficulty??)
Heather Reichgott, piano
Working on: Mel (Mélanie) Bonis - Sevillana, La cathédrale blessée William Grant Still - Three Visions
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Thanks to everybody for listening!! I really appreciate the comments, and these pieces are all very important to me....I'm so glad that I got introduced to the Brahms by Pogorelich. a few years ago. The Pavane, I've been playing for years, and it is so close to my heart.
@hreichgott - I don't usually roll any chords in that Intermezzo! (Aside from the huge C#-E-A-E-A-E-G# chord when the theme inverts itself). Those delayed notes were from the sticky keys!
I find it interesting that my tempi for these pieces have sped up drastically...here are some comparisons:
Op.118 no.2 - I played it at 6:30 in August 2012, 7:15 in November 2012, and now it's under 6 minutes.
Op. 118 no.6 - I played it at 5:30 in November 2012, now it's just under 5 minutes.
Pavane - I played it in 6:30 in February 2013, and now it's barely at 6 minutes...at my concert on January 26, 2014, it was 5:45!
Maybe my heartrate is going up...
Working on: Chopin - Nocturne op. 48 no.1 Debussy - Images Book II
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I don't usually roll any chords in that Intermezzo! (Aside from the huge C#-E-A-E-A-E-G# chord when the theme inverts itself). Those delayed notes were from the sticky keys!
I like the sticky keys and I'll bet Louis does too! Great job....more Brahms!
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Your posts on PW are always very helpful and informative: I remember when I posted my (bad, first) recording of a Rachmaninoff prelude, you sight-read a recording and posted it and it was superb. Seeing all your musical knowledge in action here -- in playing -- is great. I heard just the Pavane for now, which is a favorite of mine: I agree with the other poster who found the tempo "perfect". Some people really milk it and play so slowly that it stagnates, but you've struck the balance and haven't compromised any expression. The rolled chords were all played very convincingly. The little arpeggio at 2:54 is the most satisfying part imo. Hope you continue to learn, play, and SHARE here. I'll definitely come back for the Brahms . EDIT: No, the best part is the restatement of the melody at 4:55. Your voicing is stellar!
Last edited by Dwscamel; 02/23/14 03:31 AM.
Beethoven - Op.49 No.1 (sonata 19) Czerny - Op.299 Nos. 5,7 (School of Velocity) Liszt - S.172 No.2 (Consolation No.2)
Dream piece: Rachmaninoff - Sonata 2, movement 2 in E minor
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Thanks Damon and Dswcamel for listening! Haha I wasn't sighting the Rachmaninoff prelude that time...I'm not that great!
I do think that voicing is one of my strengths, and hopefully the other aspects of my playing will keep getting better.
Working on: Chopin - Nocturne op. 48 no.1 Debussy - Images Book II
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I just gave the Romance a listen (I've only heard the op.118 pieces once before). The ambulance/emergency vehicles at around 1:04 are an unusual touch!
Your playing is very expressive: your voicing skills make the melody sound like it's raining over the accompaniment, with good hand independence, around 1:40-1:54. I like the sequence of trills moving up in register, too, all so neat.
Did you learn this piece "hands separate" or together? Some of both? I'd like to develop this independence in my own playing, but it's tough.
Beethoven - Op.49 No.1 (sonata 19) Czerny - Op.299 Nos. 5,7 (School of Velocity) Liszt - S.172 No.2 (Consolation No.2)
Dream piece: Rachmaninoff - Sonata 2, movement 2 in E minor
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The rest of the suite is amazing, so do take a listen! (doesn't have to be my performance, but any other recordings). Nos 2,3 and 6 are my favourites of the site.
I didn't learn any of the pieces hands separately, but I do practice a lot of voicing - bring out the bass, the melody, the inner lines in various combinations. I think I have a clear bias towards bringing out the top melodic line in most of the pieces I play. However my goals when voicing are to maintain expressivity of the melodic line, and to also keep my sound clear.
Do you have any particular exercises that you do to practice voicing?
Working on: Chopin - Nocturne op. 48 no.1 Debussy - Images Book II
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I definitely will, I remember liking Lugansky's playing, I should start there.
I think bringing out the top line is what the composers and audiences expect us to do. After all, we naturally pay more attention to higher notes (and I think it's neat and special when the melody moves into the left hand or lower register, like during Rachmaninoff's G major prelude 32/5 or G#m 32/12). If you practice voicing in so many different combinations, then I think when the need or desire arises, you'll be flexible anyway. I read on this forum that a poster's teacher often said "The audience is paying to hear the melody!"
I'm not advanced enough to know how to approach this myself yet. I still need to find a good teacher and work on much more basic aspects of tone and technique. But my ears still work and I know what I wish my music sounded like!
EDIT: The Brahms Intermezzo no.2 in A major is the most beautiful thing I've heard in ages. It's perfect. (Pf: Peter Rosel.)
Last edited by Dwscamel; 03/09/14 02:22 AM.
Beethoven - Op.49 No.1 (sonata 19) Czerny - Op.299 Nos. 5,7 (School of Velocity) Liszt - S.172 No.2 (Consolation No.2)
Dream piece: Rachmaninoff - Sonata 2, movement 2 in E minor
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Op.118 no.1 wasn't great at this concert, but if you're interested, I can post another recording.
Well? Much enjoyed...again.
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Thanks for the bump Damon! I'm actually preparing op 118 again for an upcoming competition, so hopefully I'll have another recording coming up soon.
Working on: Chopin - Nocturne op. 48 no.1 Debussy - Images Book II
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