Scriabin - Mazurkas op.40

Tempo is problematic with these pieces. The metronome markings are ridiculously fast (have a look into the IMSLP score I attached) and I tried to play at that tempo, but I failed to make it sound enjoyable. I wonder how Scriabin himself did that. :?

Nevertheless, I tried to come close. I hope it doesn't sound rushed. Please comment!

Scriabin - Op.40 no.1, Mazurka in D-flat major
Scriabin - Op.40 no.2, Mazurka in F-sharp major

Scriabin - Op.40 no.1, Mazurka in D-flat major - Sheet
Scriabin - Op.40 no.2, Mazurka in F-sharp major - Sheet

 

Scriabin

It sounds very good to me and not at all rushed. I didn't check with my metronome, but I don't believe you were quite as fast as it is marked. However, the tempo sounded appropriate for a mazurka. Bravo for a job well done.

By the way, I'm not sure why these two pieces are considered mazurkas. Is it because of the melodic stress on the second beat?

 

Thank you for your quick answer.

Yes, I think so. But in the second piece, the emphasis seems to be mostly on the third beat. Besides that, I guess the composer himself wrote "Mazurkas" on the manuscript... :wink:

 

Splendid playing, a real quality job ! I am not an unconditional Scriabin fan, but these are lovely pieces. I had not heard them before . Great sound too, a nice burnished tone that does not sound the least digital (unlike some of your earlier recordings). Another equalizer setting ? I'd stick to this if I were you, in any case for repertiore like this. In fact this is the sort of sound that makes me want for a digital when I hear my grand slowly drifting out of tune.....

 

Yes indeed splendid. Played with grace and elegance and lovely to listen to. Great job and I have put them up.

 

No, I used the same settings as with Schubert, Balakirev and Dvorak. A bit Bass Boost and GVerb and the headphone output of the piano. I'm happy with the sound as well and I stick with it. (And thank heaven you haven't heard these pieces before. I have a recording of Artur Pizarro, who plays them in 2:27 and 2:02, while I'm rushing through both of them in 1:26... )

 

I guess he must be playing them at half the metronome marks then... Yours sounded not at all rushed.

 

His recording isn't bad, much more dreamy. But the first one isn't an allegro anymore, really. I guess it's how Sandro would play it...

Myself, I don't like metronome marks at all, especially if they are by the composer.

 

> In fact this is the sort of sound that makes me want for a digital when I hear my grand slowly drifting out of tune.....

:cry: Don't write so! I have just bought a grand and I feel it will make me mad (more than now).
That sound volume, the acoustic relation with the small room where I may place it, the new recording problems, the pedals I'm not able to use (in my digital to play with or without pedal
is not SO different as with a grand), etc.. and you write also of the tuning... :cry: :cry: :cry:

All best,
Sandro

 

> I guess it's how Sandro would play it...

You play them very well. In my opinion (built by my taste and by the knowlege of
my favourite "scriabinian" pianist, firt of all Scriabin himself) a little more freedom and
richness both in tempo and dynamic are welcome here, but 1) it's a question of tastes
2) is surely good for you to be not so near to my choices
3) You, at the age of 20, are focused on music (in "creative" sense, that it's not always the same of "professional") . It's a question of love for music and intelligence
to realize that our interest for music is important also if we are not pro. Neither common nor easy
to know this thing at your age. Bravo for this, for your repertoire choices
and for your playing. The sound of your digital is good: not excellent as an excellent grand well
tuned, in the correct ambience ad well recorded, but one can comprehend your ideas and also
a good 80-90% of your piano technique.

> Myself, I don't like metronome marks at all,

Well told. Yesterday (I did not know it before) I heard the LvB op.57 played
by Glenn Gould. The "Allegro assai" was a sort of "Andantino", but what a wonderful playing
(more ordinary in the final movement).

All best,
Sandro

 

Well, thank you for your ideas!

 

It's a little problem for all us who play on a digital: to use a sound, and do not create it.
For this reason I speak of "idea" (in the sense of intention) more than reality.
Because the reality of the sound is pre-fixed in the samples (but this "fee" permits other
advantages, that you and I and all the "digital-pianists" here well know and use).

All best, and again congratulations,
Sandro.

P.S: Soon I'll upload 2 Scriabin Mazurkas I recorded in the last months.