My goodness, I never thought of that! No doubt those countries include Italy and the Netherlands...

Ask Luis about hens and see what he says.

Just listened to these recordings, and they do indeed sound like bitches to play... I do agree with the others that the etude lacks the sort of flow that it sounds like it should have, coming across as laboured, especially the end from (1:40+ to 1:50), though it is technically accurate. I do think you did the section from 1:10-1:30 (roughly) well, however. But they sound like surmountable problems, do try your best over short bursts of time maybe.

Does the prelude have a nickname ("Hades")? It definitely sounds like it needs more fire and brimstone, especially the octave-apart runs which need to sound bigger.

I shall tell you one: A Salzburg farmer I know once called a Brazilian girl whom he liked, a cow, saying that in his part of the world it was a compliment. It took a long time for her to get over it.

There was also the husband who was taken to court because he complained that he was hen-pecked by his wife. And that was in the States. Maybe it it was the NAPH who did it, I do not know.

Thank you for listening, Jonathan. I practiced both pieces again last night and think that I will re-record both pieces over the weekend.

"Hades" is perfect for today!
Happy Halloween everybody!!

Hi Monica,

I listened to both your Chopin Prelude and the Etude.

I think you play these very well, the Prelude I think you play very well, your phrasing seems controlled and the "Mannheim Rocket" descending arpeggio at the end sounded quite crisp

The Etude sounds like a real finger-twister. You play it well. I like your IMO 'restrained' style serves you here. You said you have trouble getting the ornaments crisp. I think they sound crisp, though perhaps not as isolated, as with a different type of piece, which is not so polyphonic. At the risk of it being even harder to play, perhaps slow down the tempo a few tics to get the ornaments crisper. Of course that might make it sound metronomic... I can't imagine learning this piece. The harmonic rhythm is very brisk, with some modulations so quick as to change by the beat! I don't have the score but just based on what I heard it sounds like the melody is not only in the top voice but also the alto. The harmony at :30 sounds like a F Minor goes to F# Major goes to Ab Minor and a few passing chords in between all within something like 8 beats? it sounds nice, but hard to play up to speed so I applaud you

Enjoyed hearing these. This repertoire suits you well

Riley

Thank you, Riley! And happy birthday too!!

I'm glad you think these two are okay. However, I just re-recorded them both today. I hope someone will listen to them and tell me if they are improved or if it is my imagination. Of course, they still are not perfect, but I think I got them a little better.

Chopin - Trois Nouvelles Etudes No. 3 in D-flat Major

Chopin - Op.28 no.18, Prelude in F minor

Hi Monica, I listened to the new versions.

The prelude - I still don't think it's "big" and angry enough, but that I guess is a matter of interpretation, rather than something concrete being wrong.

The etude - definitely improved! Is it a touch faster? I'm not sure. It seems to have more of a lilting dance feel about it.

Really great improvements for both pieces! The etude is definitely much less labored-sounding than your previous recording, and it flows pretty well. Like the above poster I still think your prelude is still too modest sounding, but I find your new recording more convincing than your previous one. The chords at 0:42-ish sound a bit too thin though, especially the first one, which I'm not sure if it is part of the previous phrase or not. A crescendo there might work. The climax is quite delightful however...

Again, congratulations on such a great improvement.

Hi Andrew. I'm so glad to see you and that you didn't write me off after my dumb post.
Anyway, the prelude - I recorded it right after I recorded the etude and the etude makes my RH hurt a lot. My hand felt like it was on fire while recording the prelude. But even so, I guess I am a weakling; this is the biggest sound I can make. Maybe you can just turn up your speakers?

The etude - yes, it is 20 seconds faster than my previous version. I'm glad to know that it sounds better now.



Thank you, Jonathan. I think some of those chords just came down differently than I had planned. But since this version came off with not too many slips, I stuck with this one.

These are surely a LOT better than the previous ones. For minor niggling, in the etude you mostly lose the crisp staccato when the other voices come in. Easier said than done, I know. The prelude is still a little too timid, and the unisono passages are a bit choppy.
But all in all, these are pretty convincing (which I would not say about the first versions).

Thank you, Chris. Yes, I heard some choppy too. I shouldn't have recorded it after the etude. Maybe I'll have one more go at it next week when I'm stronger.


Why? What were you afraid of?

Well well, the Etude now actually like Chopin. A great impovement. I just do not like this talk of hands hurting: that is not at all good. I have played my share of hair-raising stuff and my hand has never hurt.

Thank you, Richard.
It's just the same old thing - tendonitis that I've been dealing with for years now. This particular piece hurt my RH a lot because of all the 9th intervals. There's one spot near the end that was extremely hard for me to land correctly, so I had to practice it a hundred times.

Well, this was a confusing stream. I'd been away for a couple of weeks (the past week due to that storm) and listened to two recordings which made sense only after reading the entire message stream (since the recordings had been reposted).

Anyway, yes, the Etude sounds fine, and I don't know what it sounded like before. And thank you for adding to the Society's repertoire.
Enough has been said about the Prelude. Due to cowardice, I've never learned the piece and don't feel like critiquing the work of someone braver than me!

Tendonitis - I'm sure you already know to use heat therapy? The beanbag you throw in the microwave and then wrap around whatever (in my case it's elbows and an injured shoulder)?? In a younger person it can be a result of an unrelaxed approach to the keyboard. In someone my age, my doctor says "You're simply wearing out, my friend." Then there's injuries... (shoveling snow without switching arms occasionally will do it).