Chopin's "Waterfall" Etude, Op. 10, No. 1,...

Comments: 25

Marilyn M. Jan 25, 2012, 1:20pm UTC

Thanks, Matthew. That is beautiful.

Matthew M. Jan 25, 2012, 1:45pm UTC

You're welcome. I will probably post some more in the near future.

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Darlene B. Jan 25, 2012, 2:14pm UTC

I love to hear this music as often as I can. Thanks, for making it easy for me to listen to today.

Matthew M. Jan 25, 2012, 3:26pm UTC

You're welcome, Darlene.

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Sue B.© The Sting IS Worse Than the Buzz Jan 25, 2012, 2:21pm UTC

Compare the performance of Ashkenazy with Pollini. I prefer Ashkenazy's interpretation where the bass chords are predominant because I think they should be. I think he sychronizes the actual melody of the bass, which is all but lost in Pollini's preformance, with the treble arpeggios that are meant to be complementary, but not dominant.

Pollini's performance is a little too frantic for me, and it makes me nervous. I find myself wanting it to end long before it does, but not with Ashkenazy's. Of course, there's no right or wrong way to appreciate Chopin, but this is just how I hear it.

Matthew M. Jan 25, 2012, 3:46pm UTC

Excellent comment, Sue. Ashkenazy is great.

As I mentioned previosuly, I've been learning this piece. I've been playing more like Pollini, I think. Just got back from the piano trying to make the bass more dominant, will need a bit of practice on that... thanks for the suggestion.

Sue B.© The Sting IS Worse Than the Buzz Jan 25, 2012, 4:05pm UTC

If you listen to Rustle of Spring by Christian Sindig, a piece I played for a recital, (the one I wrote the embarrassing moment story about) you can see what I mean better because the melody exchanges between the treble and bass throughout. Maybe if you learned to play this one first, it would be more natural to play that Chopin etude the way Ashkenazy does. I don't know.

Sue B.© The Sting IS Worse Than the Buzz Jan 25, 2012, 4:11pm UTC

Left a couple of n's out up in those comments. I could swear I punched them, but maybe not.

Matthew M. Jan 25, 2012, 4:39pm UTC

Beautiful piece, Sue. On second try at the piano, I had more success.

Sue B.© The Sting IS Worse Than the Buzz Jan 25, 2012, 5:01pm UTC

Yes, I think so too. Glad you're getting that with more practice.

I don't have time to look it up now, but have you ever tried Chopin's Op. 9 No. 2? (I'm pretty sure that's what it is, anyway.) There's a Chinese performer who does that very well on YouTube. Later I'll find it and leave the link. I know you know it, though. It's probably my favorite of Chopin and I did play that one a lot. It might be too delicate for you to appreciate as much as I do and did, but it's so pretty, I think.

Matthew M. Jan 25, 2012, 5:11pm UTC

Yes, I like it a lot. I've played a few notes from the melody, but that's it. Would like to learn it, but I never seem to get around to it. I do play a slower, lighter piece, Beethoven's Piano Concerto 4 movement no. 2.

Is this the video you were talking about?

Sue B.© The Sting IS Worse Than the Buzz Jan 25, 2012, 10:18pm UTC

That's very pretty too. I'm not familiar with that one.

Yes, that's the one. He picks up the pace ever so slightly from Rachmaninoff's performance, and I like it.

Matthew M. Jan 26, 2012, 7:41am UTC

It's about as perfect of a performance as one could ask for :) Yundi Li, he is all over you tube, and for good reasons.

Sue B.© The Sting IS Worse Than the Buzz Jan 26, 2012, 7:05pm UTC

This isn't a perfect performance of Rustle of Spring, but it's damned incredible for an 8 year old. I thought it might inspire you.

Matthew M. Jan 26, 2012, 7:55pm UTC

Thanks! I'm always fascinated by the skill some children have at the piano... I often wonder where I would be if I had been able to start lessons sooner, rather than in high school...

Sue B.© The Sting IS Worse Than the Buzz Jan 26, 2012, 8:08pm UTC

I started when I was 8 so I don't need to wonder. Let's just say they wouldn't have bothered to put in on YouTube. In fact, if my father had been a politician and someone did bother, it might have ruined his career.

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