Where is everybody?

Thanks Chris. I know, the nocturne was full of BS. After this particular topic dies down, I'll remove these temp recordings.

The etude is one piece that is even harder than it looks on paper! Once I get the piece up to snuff, I'll make a final submission. (I want to be able to clearly hear every single note). I think I pushed the tempo too much at the end, because right at the last 4 bars I got a cramp in my pinkie muscle. Playing it at full tempo is like running a 4:15 mile; it's humanly possible for the modestly talented, but just barely!

I'll keep on keepin' on. In a few years, I think I might have the complete set of Op10 and Op25 recorded. Opus 10/1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 12. I've nearly mastered these and will be recorded before July

Beethoven is on the way, too.

Pete

 

Yeah, that etude nearly made me lose my mind; it's infernal.

It sounded fun to play! You are a very powerful pianist. What instrument did you use?


Pete

 

Pete: heh, "powerful." I can with very little effort play too loud, if that's what you mean. This was on a biggish baby grand Steinway with the heavy protective fabric case left on (it's a reverberant room in a public area, didn't want to bother people too much), with just the lid flipped back for access to the music stand. I'm a college student so I takes my pianos where I finds 'em, and this is a pretty good one even when clammed up like that.

Monica: don't be embarrassed, it's not a terribly well known piece... but if you'd guessed this was a continuation of my obsession with Medtner, you'd have been right. Everything fits the hands very comfortably (a Medtner trademark) but playing the whole thing correctly, musically, and fast enough will test my limits. And BTW, that snippet is only about half of the piece!

 

I have never refused a recording because of some slips or wrong notes. But I would point them out regardless of the pianists's name, fame, or age. Just being objective.

As for Cortot, his playing was of course of a very high level, and if perhaps not technically infallible, certainly not bad. But I believe he has made some recordings that fall way below any technical standards, and he only got away with it because he was Cortot and could weep so beautifully

 

I find it problematic to reduce a judgement of a recording more or less to the counting of slips or wrong notes. I don't say that you do so, but the scope of beeing "objective" tends to go in that direction instead giving other musical criteria - like voicing and so on equal weight. The problem is maybe, those criteria can't be really "objective", they can't be measured. Nevertheless they are soooo important. Because they can turn a "midi-like" shreddered piece without slips or wrong notes (but musical worthless) into real art. With art I mean something what touches the soul and heart of a listener, not only the brain.

Yes, he could weep beautifully - weep and cry and whisper and shout. This is already very much in my opinion, and even with his occasional slips and wrong notes he still has his admirers, after all the years and despite that bad old recording technology. To fully right, so I see it.

That only to the danger I see in pointing to slips or wrong notes in particular . It tends to come in the foreground as if it is the most important thing. It is not in my opinion. Other things which are not right or wrong, but are liked or disliked by listeners, get in the background, although having equal importance, if not more.

 

I could not agree more

 

Pianolady, you really got us all posting a lot more. Perhaps that was the intention of this topic?
It is at least proven that many people sneaks around a lot on the forum.

 

Yes and in the user list I see that we have a great many lurkers (people who read but never or seldom post).

But I guess I was being a bit pessimistic there. With respect to postings, this place used to be a lot more lively, but on the good side, all people we have now are serious and committed (and busy with practising :wink: ).

 

Survival of the fittest. :wink:

Pete

 

lol, that'd be me! :lol: i love coming to the forum and reading all the excellent stuff posted. I just don't have a whole lot of excellent stuff to say. (plus school/auditions are keeping me busy enough to not be able to listen anything critically in the audition room).

 

Well that has never stopped any of us here :lol: Just post some BS and keep the forum alive...

 

Muahahahaha :twisted: ....Should I post my 2,312 photographs from my trip to Europe in `06? :wink:

 

Good lord... you must be like the Japanese, just walking around shooting pics instead of looking around. It always gets me, the way they walk around Rome looking at nothing except the display of their cameras.

 

{OT...I think?} Actually I have a Digital SLR so I can take 6 pictures in one second. So I spent lots of time looking around....I don't have that lag which all other digital cameras have. PM me if you want to see the shots I managed to pull off in the Red Light district without anyone ever noticing :lol: :lol:

 

OMG, you're so politically incorrect, Chris! That's what I like about ya!

You should see the Canadian tourists in my little town, with their fanny packs and puffy hairdos, always pointing toward the sky for some reason, as though there's something of interest up there. I think they like our pigeons.

Or how about those South-Carolinians with thier "git'r'done!" and doolies plastered with dixie flags.

Don't get me started on those big-nosed, penny-pinching j.....never mind. :lol:

And what's the deal with people who ride their bikes on the walking track in the park? It's a track for WALKING. Otherwise it would be called a BIKE track. You know there's a thing for bikes, it's called a road.

And what's up with those little plastic flaps on coffee lids; if you don't want to burn yourself on hot coffee then you shouldn't be driving with it!

I hope I locked up the nomination for most random post ever!

Pete

 

Hahahah... Being PC is an American Thing. Us uncouth Europeans have no truck with it.

Oh I know.... irritating sods. Our little burg was swamped with 'em again last summer. Always glad when the tourist season is over.

Don't be daft. Roads are for cars. Bikes should just be forbidden :wink:

Sure thing. If your name was Ed and not Pete, I'd call you Ed Random from now on :lol:

 

Ha! The Dutch would sure have lots of scrap metal.

 

Ahahhaaaaaa... :lol:
Mind you that could happen to women of any hair color