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I just got back from making an audition CD to apply for college.

I'm not too worried, as I'm applying as a music composition major rather than a piano major, so I'd imagine that the demands would be a little lower. I imagine that my composition portfolio would be the main challenge. The school is University of Texas at Austin by the way.

I'm pretty happy with the recordings overall, but there are a few problems, I think. The first movement of the sonata cuts off 5 seconds before I finished playing. I just realized this as I got him and I'm not terribly happy about it.
Also, I encounter some technical difficulties in one section of the Ravel (right before the climactic point, with the right hand arpeggios, about 5'00" in the recording ). Otherwise it's ok, considering that I'm not too fresh on the sonata. I'm especially happy with the 2nd movement of the Haydn sonata.


The pieces are Haydn's F major sonata (no. 23 I think) and Ravel's "Une barque sur l'ocean" from his Miroirs.
Here's the recordings:

http://www.vkgfx.com/rec/Haydn-Sonata_in_F_Movement1.mp3
http://www.vkgfx.com/rec/Haydn-Sonata_in_F_Movement2.mp3
http://www.vkgfx.com/rec/Haydn-Sonata_in_F_Movement3.mp3
http://www.vkgfx.com/rec/Ravel-Une_barque_sur_l\'ocean.mp3

how is your composition portfolio looking? (if you don't mind my asking)

Haha, not too bad at all.

I take it you didn't like the recordings?

Great Haydn as usual valarking!

So that's it?
No crits?

They sound pretty good quality, as far as the sound is concerned. Where did you go to get these done? Another pianist's studio? A commercial recording studio?

I would comment on your performance itself but I've never played any of those pieces (or even heard them for that matter) so I'm not really in any position to provide an opinion...

My teacher's studio.

Haydn is cool - and you just made my day, Valarking, both with the 1st and 3rd movement ( I often think that Haydn sounds like people arguing or discussing something..) and that sweet second movement (together with the sun and 5cm snow, the first we have this season).


Ragnhild

That sounds good for an audition. Your Haydn is clean, which is good. It doesn't matter if you messed-up a bit. I really did, and I'm a piano major. Your audition almost sounds better than mine!

It is a pity that numerous threads here (and not only here but generally) don't get any attention.

Someday when we walk on the water, we might even get a response like:

"So what? Moses has already done that"

Even here the world has gone cruel... Unfortunately.

But please don't ask why it is so.

I really don't know and have a hard time to really understand.

Regards,

HOWEVER...

For this specific case maybe it is safer not to get any crits at all...

listen to this:

http://www.savefile.com/files/436193

Regards,

Wonderful job on the Haydn 1st mvt. That's all I heard. Perhaps one critic: more tension (musically) on some parts where the harmony changes suddenly. Otherwise, I am surprised it is very very good!

Don't take me wrong by that SURPRISED, it's because this is the first time I listen to you.

Nice! I would consider this for piano major!
(I am not sure what piano major is, but my guess is that it is a position as a piano student?)

How much pedal did you use in the Haydn?

Valarking,

Very nice performance of the Haydn. I love this sonata, and I've played it before too a very long time ago. Recently I played through it on the clavichord, but it's too rusty still to for anyone else to hear at this point.

Okay for the little crits...
The Haydn 1st movement seems to gain in tempo a bit especially after the second time through. This could be, and most likely is your biggest contributor to your mistakes because other aspects of the piece appear solid.

The tender 2nd movement in F-minor is really one of my favorites, and I think is more like Mozart in some ways and much less like Haydn. There are few notes here to play, yet the little Siciliano sings and makes one contemplate and anticipate the dialog between the hands. I can't find anything to critique here. This is just a bit of commentary.

The third movement is a tricky little beast! In some ways this more like an early Beethoven sonata I think then anything else because I hear bits of Beethovens Op. 10 No. 1 last movement in hear.

I will make the same comment about this one as I did for the first. The tempo seems to up the ante as you play. I felt like you were rushing at the end. This will definitely contribute to the little mistakes that crop in.

The Ravel is magnificent. His works are definitely difficult and way above my comfort level. My only comment is that this sounds a bit brittle. Try to listen and sing the melody. This will make it sing from you and out of the piano.

I think if you focus on a steady tempo in the Haydn, and perhaps sweetening up the tone in the Ravel, you'll have some nice pieces for a recital. I know the adrenaline rush will cause you to speed up, but if you focus on these aspects you can keep the piece under control. So why are you switching majors? You could easily make it into the conservatory at this playing level.

John

Thanks for the comments everyone. They will help a lot, as these are two pieces, along with Hungarian Rhapsody 9 and a few others, that I am planning to play for my senior recital, so I need to polish, polish, polish.

Most importantly though you guys have given me some confidence for the audition.

Just saw this.

Next to none.

I used a *little* on the 2nd movement but most of that was legato and finger pedaling.