Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Pianist Corner Should left hand octaves be voiced?

Of course, the answer could easily depend on the passage and there are virtually unlimited examples. But do you think LH octaves should be voiced and, if so, should the bottom or top note be louder? Or is every example different so the answer depends on the passage? Or are the two notes generally played about the same volume? Or will the top note just generally sound louder because it is higher?

Yea

Octaves should generally be voiced, in either hand.

Especially melodies played in bald octaves, like in the Appassionata (I). No-one worth his salt would ever play those octaves with the same volume - the top notes must be louder. In effect, it is really the tune, supported by the LH.

Octaves in LH are voiced or not depending on context. Generally I'd play the bottom note of LH octaves louder as the 'bass note' - especially if the RH is quite busy. But if the LH octaves are carrying the melody, I'd play the top notes louder.

Chords should almost always be voiced whether or not there are melodies within them. Otherwise you risk sounding like a jazzer, with opaque undefined block sounds all the way. Generally, the inner notes should be slightly softer to give 'air' to the sound.

When playing a series of chords in both hands, the top notes should be prominent (assuming that's where the melody is) and the bottom notes should also be slightly louder, because it is the bass line, and underpins the harmonic progression.

At the risk of repeating or copying and pasting, let me just say that I'm with bennevis all the way.

Regards,

Generally, yes, and it varies depending on the passage.

I would say in fast octave passages never, and in those cases you lead both hands with the thumb. In slower passages it depends on what the music calls for.

Great question.
And I have the total answer.

Yes -- but it's probably not the best idea for most of us to exactly think of it that way.

I remember that when I was working on Schubert's 'slow' A-flat major Impromptu -- i.e. the one from the second set, not the one with the fluttering right hand arpeggios -- I had this bright idea about how to voice the left hand octaves in the closing portion of the middle section. My teacher (Seymour Bernstein) just sort of smiled ever so slightly -- I think he was trying not to be smiling at all -- and said, "Just play nice octaves."

I think the answer is that it depends on who we are -- partly involving 'how good' we are, but also what's our kind of approach to music in general. I think what was behind Seymour's advice to me, and what he was too kind to say, was that I'm not good enough to worry about such things; just do your best in a more general way to play beautifully.

And I think that's the best advice for most of us in general, including people who are "good enough." Yes indeed, it makes a difference how we voice the octaves, bu I have doubts that except for people whose approach routinely involves conscious attention to the voicing of each and every note .....that except for people like that, I have doubts that paying that kind of attention to left hand octaves is an effective way to achieve it. I think the best way for most of us to do it well is just to use our ears and go for the kind of overall sound and impression that we want. I do think it's good to pay occasional attention to it while learning a piece -- and so, I guess, to the extent that the question might be about that, I guess I'm saying YES! But I'd say, not much. Mainly just use your ear, and go for the overall sound and impression that you're trying to get.


Yes.

My childhood teacher recently sent me an email regarding a film about her friend Seymour and movie made about him (it was Seymour Bernstein). I think it must be your teacher. I think play nice octaves isn't a reflection on your playing. I think that is the answer. Listen to what you are doing. If it doesn't sound right, adjust. Voicing octaves except in very few cases seems a little like overkill to me.

Although I agree with most of what you wrote, I don't think this is generally true. Certainly, the great jazz players like Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, and many more voice their chords especially beautifully.

Experiment a lot. Sometimes it sounds best (even in the right hand) to emphasize the bottom note of the octave. Then the melody is right in the middle of the treble and the top note gives it a little extra tone color.