Chopin - 45 min. - Barcarolle - Learn rest of page. Apply forum ideas to various sections. Next time: Work on continuity from point learn backwards to end and from beginning to end of p. 3
Schubert - 45 min. - III. Allegro - Review last page learned. Play through rest of movement at eighth = 108. Next time: Learn a couple systems and work on continuity of pages already learned.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
3 hrs 35 min., 6 items
Schubert - 45 min. - II. Adagio - Work on continuity of alberti bass. Grabbing repeated chords. Maintaining lines in different layers. Change fingering. Next time: run through individual sections to check for continuity. Then think about planning whole structure of piece and record play through.
Chopin - 45 min. - Barcarolle - Learn 4 more systems up to tempo I. My hands are suddenly stronger and able to grip chords for fewer hand position shifts. Next time: continue learning notes.
Schubert - 45 min. - III. Allegro - Learn one more page. Next time: figure out how to "lock in" previously learned page. How to make more interesting.
Debussy - 45 min. - Ondine - Play through sections of piece at eighth = 50. Work on continuity. Don't miss a note in my head. Next time: Play through sections in order for continuity. Clean up as you go.
Rachmaninoff - 20 min. - Prelude op. 32 no. 6 - Play through whole movement at eighth = 60. Next time: Start thinking about musical details within individual sections and phrases while striving for continuity.
Bartok - 15 min. - Allegro Barbaro - Learn last two pages. Next time: Work backwards. Work on continuity with metronome.
Chopin - 45 min. - Barcarolle - Learn 4 more systems up to tempo I. My hands are suddenly stronger and able to grip chords for fewer hand position shifts. Next time: continue learning notes.
Schubert - 45 min. - III. Allegro - Learn one more page. Next time: figure out how to "lock in" previously learned page. How to make more interesting.
Debussy - 45 min. - Ondine - Play through sections of piece at eighth = 50. Work on continuity. Don't miss a note in my head. Next time: Play through sections in order for continuity. Clean up as you go.
Rachmaninoff - 20 min. - Prelude op. 32 no. 6 - Play through whole movement at eighth = 60. Next time: Start thinking about musical details within individual sections and phrases while striving for continuity.
Bartok - 15 min. - Allegro Barbaro - Learn last two pages. Next time: Work backwards. Work on continuity with metronome.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
2 hrs 55 min, 4 items
Chopin - 1 hr 15 min - Barcarolle - In piu mosso, Focus on hand balance, internal fingering, and repetition of notes from chord to chord in LH. Write in new fingering. Next time: Think about ebb and flow (time) in piu mosso and work on continuity. Learn a couple more measures!
Piston - 30 min - Passacaglia - 4-5 fingering in bass for legato playing. To the ends of phrases for longer lines. Next time: think about planning the architecture of the piece.
Schubert - 35 min - III. Allegro - Learn all of 4th to last page. Next time: learn more notes.
Bartok - 35 min - Allegro Barbaro - Review and learn two more pages. Next time: Review two pages. Learn one more page.
Piston - 30 min - Passacaglia - 4-5 fingering in bass for legato playing. To the ends of phrases for longer lines. Next time: think about planning the architecture of the piece.
Schubert - 35 min - III. Allegro - Learn all of 4th to last page. Next time: learn more notes.
Bartok - 35 min - Allegro Barbaro - Review and learn two more pages. Next time: Review two pages. Learn one more page.
Monday, December 28, 2009
1 hr 15 min, 1 item
Chopin - 1 hr 15 min. - Barcarolle - Review opening. Continue working on continuity of third to last page. Next time: Think differently about how to improve third to last page.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
4.5 hrs, 11 items
Practice
Debussy - 25 min. - Ondine - Last 1.5 pages. Play 12-tuplet. Next time: Review 12-tuplet sections at steady tempo. Work on one separate section (and its parallel).
Debussy - 35 min. - Bruyeres - Work on sections with triplets running into 16ths. Think about GPS in long phrases and lines. Next time: Review what I did today briefly, working on continuity and time. Isolate one section.
Debussy - 30 min. - Les fees sont d'exquises danseuses - Work on 2-3 trills on p.6 Work on Mouv't to the end on last two pages. Next time: continue working on 2-3 trills in trill section. Review opening and ending.
Rachmaninoff - 25 min. - Prelude op. 32 no. 5 - Think GPS throughout, especially on 32nd note pick ups. Play middle section continuously and under tempo. Next time: Play middle section under tempo continuously and accurately 5 times.
Rachmaninoff - 45 min. - Prelude op. 32 no. 6 - GPS. Slow down so that I can hear where I am at all times. Metronome first page. q = 40-44. Next time: Start on 3rd page. Metronome p. 2 and 3. Play p. 1-3 at q = 40.
Bartok - 15 min. - Allegro Barbaro - Work on learning notes to first two pages. Next time: Review and go on with next two pages.
Chopin - 40 min. - Barcarolle - Learn third to last page. Next time: Review third to last page. Metronome maybe?
Schubert - 20 min. - III. Allegro - Learn three systems on 4th to last page. Next time: Review and continue learning notes!
Schubert - 15 min. - II. Adagio - Work on alberti bass sections. GPS. Run through movement. Next time: Think about pedaling and work on overall continuity.
Schubert - 15 min. - I. Allegro Moderato - Work on 16th note pickups throughout. GPS. Work on dynamics of triplet chords. Next time: Review 16th note pickups. Think about how I am interpreting the piece as a whole.
Bach - 5 min. - Fugue - Separate voices of third to last system. Next time: work on GPS with Fugue, testing various problem locations. Work on previous Prelude assignment.
*********
Recordings
Debussy - Ondine
Spencer Myer - Van Cliburn 2009 - Generally played slower than I expected it to be. I liked the careful attention to sound in silences. He made it look and sound more virtuosic. Effective color changes when the texture changes. Seemed to flow continuously, although I didn't really understand the big picture.
Artur Rubinstein - 1964 Moscow Conservatory - I liked the time taken in the opening. More percussive in the middle in the build up. Maybe dryer than Myer's. Clear voicing.
Khatia Buniatishvili - She took even more time than Rubinstein in the beginning to the extent there was a fermata. I liked the watery depiction that pervaded the interpretation. Often very slow.
Debussy - Bruyeres
Walter Gieseking - Quick flourishes like quick strokes of the brush. One gesture instead of dividing into two parts. Seemed to make parts move more.
Rachmaninoff - op. 32 no. 6
Sergei Babayan - very colorful performance with diverse touches!
Debussy - 25 min. - Ondine - Last 1.5 pages. Play 12-tuplet. Next time: Review 12-tuplet sections at steady tempo. Work on one separate section (and its parallel).
Debussy - 35 min. - Bruyeres - Work on sections with triplets running into 16ths. Think about GPS in long phrases and lines. Next time: Review what I did today briefly, working on continuity and time. Isolate one section.
Debussy - 30 min. - Les fees sont d'exquises danseuses - Work on 2-3 trills on p.6 Work on Mouv't to the end on last two pages. Next time: continue working on 2-3 trills in trill section. Review opening and ending.
Rachmaninoff - 25 min. - Prelude op. 32 no. 5 - Think GPS throughout, especially on 32nd note pick ups. Play middle section continuously and under tempo. Next time: Play middle section under tempo continuously and accurately 5 times.
Rachmaninoff - 45 min. - Prelude op. 32 no. 6 - GPS. Slow down so that I can hear where I am at all times. Metronome first page. q = 40-44. Next time: Start on 3rd page. Metronome p. 2 and 3. Play p. 1-3 at q = 40.
Bartok - 15 min. - Allegro Barbaro - Work on learning notes to first two pages. Next time: Review and go on with next two pages.
Chopin - 40 min. - Barcarolle - Learn third to last page. Next time: Review third to last page. Metronome maybe?
Schubert - 20 min. - III. Allegro - Learn three systems on 4th to last page. Next time: Review and continue learning notes!
Schubert - 15 min. - II. Adagio - Work on alberti bass sections. GPS. Run through movement. Next time: Think about pedaling and work on overall continuity.
Schubert - 15 min. - I. Allegro Moderato - Work on 16th note pickups throughout. GPS. Work on dynamics of triplet chords. Next time: Review 16th note pickups. Think about how I am interpreting the piece as a whole.
Bach - 5 min. - Fugue - Separate voices of third to last system. Next time: work on GPS with Fugue, testing various problem locations. Work on previous Prelude assignment.
*********
Recordings
Debussy - Ondine
Spencer Myer - Van Cliburn 2009 - Generally played slower than I expected it to be. I liked the careful attention to sound in silences. He made it look and sound more virtuosic. Effective color changes when the texture changes. Seemed to flow continuously, although I didn't really understand the big picture.
Artur Rubinstein - 1964 Moscow Conservatory - I liked the time taken in the opening. More percussive in the middle in the build up. Maybe dryer than Myer's. Clear voicing.
Khatia Buniatishvili - She took even more time than Rubinstein in the beginning to the extent there was a fermata. I liked the watery depiction that pervaded the interpretation. Often very slow.
Debussy - Bruyeres
Walter Gieseking - Quick flourishes like quick strokes of the brush. One gesture instead of dividing into two parts. Seemed to make parts move more.
Rachmaninoff - op. 32 no. 6
Sergei Babayan - very colorful performance with diverse touches!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
4.5 hrs, 6 items
Debussy - 1.5 hr - Prelude no. 4 - Correct trills on second page. Switch fingering to 2-3. Next time: Work backwards and spend WAY LESS time on this or any other Debussy prelude.
Schumann - 1 hr - first movement last page. Learn notes. Next time: Learn how to not spend one hour on one page. Isolate that one tricky measure and figure out why it's hard. Then fix.
Chopin - 30 min. - Learn rest of penultimate page. - Next time - continue learning more notes and work on bringing out the bass more.
Schubert - 40 min - III. Allegro - Learn more notes. Stabilize continuity of third to last page. Next time: Continue with more notes!
Schubert - 20 min. - II. Adagio - Work backwards. Last three systems. Next time: figure out how to play alberti bass in Schubert and keep working backwards.
Schubert I and Bach - 30 min. - play through slowly
Recordings
Debussy - Prelude no. 4 - Les fees sont d'exquises danseuses
Spencer Myer - does not seem to use thumb in opening
Schumann - 1 hr - first movement last page. Learn notes. Next time: Learn how to not spend one hour on one page. Isolate that one tricky measure and figure out why it's hard. Then fix.
Chopin - 30 min. - Learn rest of penultimate page. - Next time - continue learning more notes and work on bringing out the bass more.
Schubert - 40 min - III. Allegro - Learn more notes. Stabilize continuity of third to last page. Next time: Continue with more notes!
Schubert - 20 min. - II. Adagio - Work backwards. Last three systems. Next time: figure out how to play alberti bass in Schubert and keep working backwards.
Schubert I and Bach - 30 min. - play through slowly
Recordings
Debussy - Prelude no. 4 - Les fees sont d'exquises danseuses
Spencer Myer - does not seem to use thumb in opening
Saturday, December 19, 2009
8 hrs 45 min, 9 items
Poulenc - 1 hr - Read through I. Pastoral and II. Hymne. Work on continuity and fingering of first two pages. Learn 4 systems on third page. Q = 40. Next time: Sightread first two movements with metronome and figure out confusing rhythm in pastoral. Learn rest of third page and work on continuity of third page.
Bartok - 1.5 hr - Learn notes and architecture of piece. Q = 40. Next time: Pay attention to dynamics, accents, and tempo changes. Keep off pedal for now.
Bach - 45 min. - Prelude and Fugue - Fugue - In fugue, think about arm motion for detached eighth notes. Work on memory/concentration for third to last system. Prelude, think to the ends of phrases and decide where phrases end on first three systems. Next time: Continue working on phrasing and decide on what hand to focus on in prelude.
Chopin - 1.5 hr - Learn more notes on penultimate page. Tempo I. Work on voicing melody and phrasing. Use LH to Support RH sound more. Next time: Solidify notes on penultimate page. Work on something other than phrasing and balance of layers. Learn more notes going backwards.
Rachmaninoff - 1 hr - op. 32 prelude 5 - Correct voice leading. Speed up fast figures in middle section. Take ideas from recordings. Next time: work on cadenza
Rachmaninoff - 1 hr - op. 32 no. 6 - Applying the technical motion throughout. Next time: Listen to recordings to think about how to make it more musical.
Schubert - 1 hr - III. Allegro - Learn half a page beforehand. Technical security on penultimate page. Next time: Continue learning more notes and reviewing for continuity.
Schubert - 30 min. - II. Adagio and I. Allegro moderato - Play through both movements while noticing and reducing extraneous movement. Play to ends of phrase. Next time: Continue reducing extraneous movement and improving phrasing.
Piston - 30 min - work on phrasing and dynamics. Next time: continue working on long lines and crescendoing.
Analysis
Bartok
Exposition
1-16 - A theme in f#
17-33 - A theme in c#
34-49 - 34-41 repeated an octave higher in 42-49
Transition
50-61 - 8m of f# + 4m
62-70 - 5m of f# + 4m
71-80 - 5m of f# + 5m
81-87 - 3m of f# + 4m
88-100 - 13m of f#
Development
101-113 - A theme in F
114-127 - A theme in Bb
128-132 - 3m + 2m
133-136 - 2m + 2m
137-143 - 2m + 5m
144-151 - 6m + 2m
Coda
Recordings
Bartok
Christopher Goodpasture - The hands moved up and down, emphasizing the percussive quality. Very good schizophrenic accents and attention to tempo markings. I liked the clean lift going into the developmental major section.
Lars Roos - Seems like it needs clearer arrival points. I like the meno sost on 5th page at top of coda. Should use less pedal for clear texture.
Rachmaninoff op. 32 no. 5
Vladimir Horowitz - the melody line sometimes sinks under the dynamic of the accompaniment.
Vestard Shimkus - Beautiful sound and balance over all. He rips through the middle cadenza like flourish and starts the trill slowly. I like the way he took his time in releasing the last trill at the end after a slow careful roll. Melody not always paced how I like it.
Valentina Lisitsa - Best recording so far. Most sensitively played at all times. I like how the rolled chords do not enter as interrupted events but are smoothly interpolated into the accompaniment. Bass melody on p. 2 well voiced; she doesn't bring out the middle notes in the slurs! Best ending. Chords enter at just the right dynamic as the sound decays.
Rachmaninoff - op. 32 no. 6
Sviatoslav Richter -
Berezovsky -
Bartok - 1.5 hr - Learn notes and architecture of piece. Q = 40. Next time: Pay attention to dynamics, accents, and tempo changes. Keep off pedal for now.
Bach - 45 min. - Prelude and Fugue - Fugue - In fugue, think about arm motion for detached eighth notes. Work on memory/concentration for third to last system. Prelude, think to the ends of phrases and decide where phrases end on first three systems. Next time: Continue working on phrasing and decide on what hand to focus on in prelude.
Chopin - 1.5 hr - Learn more notes on penultimate page. Tempo I. Work on voicing melody and phrasing. Use LH to Support RH sound more. Next time: Solidify notes on penultimate page. Work on something other than phrasing and balance of layers. Learn more notes going backwards.
Rachmaninoff - 1 hr - op. 32 prelude 5 - Correct voice leading. Speed up fast figures in middle section. Take ideas from recordings. Next time: work on cadenza
Rachmaninoff - 1 hr - op. 32 no. 6 - Applying the technical motion throughout. Next time: Listen to recordings to think about how to make it more musical.
Schubert - 1 hr - III. Allegro - Learn half a page beforehand. Technical security on penultimate page. Next time: Continue learning more notes and reviewing for continuity.
Schubert - 30 min. - II. Adagio and I. Allegro moderato - Play through both movements while noticing and reducing extraneous movement. Play to ends of phrase. Next time: Continue reducing extraneous movement and improving phrasing.
Piston - 30 min - work on phrasing and dynamics. Next time: continue working on long lines and crescendoing.
Analysis
Bartok
Exposition
1-16 - A theme in f#
17-33 - A theme in c#
34-49 - 34-41 repeated an octave higher in 42-49
Transition
50-61 - 8m of f# + 4m
62-70 - 5m of f# + 4m
71-80 - 5m of f# + 5m
81-87 - 3m of f# + 4m
88-100 - 13m of f#
Development
101-113 - A theme in F
114-127 - A theme in Bb
128-132 - 3m + 2m
133-136 - 2m + 2m
137-143 - 2m + 5m
144-151 - 6m + 2m
Coda
Recordings
Bartok
Christopher Goodpasture - The hands moved up and down, emphasizing the percussive quality. Very good schizophrenic accents and attention to tempo markings. I liked the clean lift going into the developmental major section.
Lars Roos - Seems like it needs clearer arrival points. I like the meno sost on 5th page at top of coda. Should use less pedal for clear texture.
Rachmaninoff op. 32 no. 5
Vladimir Horowitz - the melody line sometimes sinks under the dynamic of the accompaniment.
Vestard Shimkus - Beautiful sound and balance over all. He rips through the middle cadenza like flourish and starts the trill slowly. I like the way he took his time in releasing the last trill at the end after a slow careful roll. Melody not always paced how I like it.
Valentina Lisitsa - Best recording so far. Most sensitively played at all times. I like how the rolled chords do not enter as interrupted events but are smoothly interpolated into the accompaniment. Bass melody on p. 2 well voiced; she doesn't bring out the middle notes in the slurs! Best ending. Chords enter at just the right dynamic as the sound decays.
Rachmaninoff - op. 32 no. 6
Sviatoslav Richter -
Berezovsky -
Friday, December 18, 2009
7 hrs 20 min, 8 items
Ravel LH - 1 hr - work on moving the opening more; metronome opening. Next time: review and work on lyrical section
Bach - 1 hr - Prelude and Fugue. Record. Compare recordings. Work on eighth note articulation. Next time: think about phrasing
Schubert I - 45 minutes - Record. Moving and voicing second theme more. Next time: think about phrasing more and take more care with resolutions.
Poulenc - 1.5 hr - Learn first two pages. Q = 60. Next time: review first two pages and work on continuity.
Piston - 0.5 hr - p. 2-4 Work on "selling the piece" aka listening more carefully to phrasing. Next time: Work on p. 1-2
Chopin - 1 hr 15 min - last page. Add pedal and dynamics. Hands separately on last system of penultimate page. Next time: Learn more notes on preceding page.
Schubert 3 - 1 hr - Learn penultimate page and review last page dotted q = 40. Next time: Review penultimate page and work on continuity. Learn a few measures on third to last page.
Rachmaninoff - 20 min. - Preludes no. 5 and 6 - Played through. Recorded 5. Legato in no. 6. Next time: Isolate one section in no 5. Begin dissecting second page of no 6.
Recordings
Bach Prelude
Glenn Gould - exciting tempo
Eunice Norton - good clear phrasing and color changes
Bach Fugue
Glenn Gould - good clear phrasing, can hear voices sing back and forth to each other in last stretto
Eunice Norton - not really a fan of the articulation, but interesting that you can hear which voice she is focusing on
Schubert - I. Allegro Moderato
Sviatoslav Richter - first theme more relaxed pace, then second theme moves a little more quickly
Chopin
Krystian Zimmerman - last page, crescendo on last flourish to low F#. Ornament in LH before first note of RH--sounds like morning/birds. Aim for very Light flourish.
Bach - 1 hr - Prelude and Fugue. Record. Compare recordings. Work on eighth note articulation. Next time: think about phrasing
Schubert I - 45 minutes - Record. Moving and voicing second theme more. Next time: think about phrasing more and take more care with resolutions.
Poulenc - 1.5 hr - Learn first two pages. Q = 60. Next time: review first two pages and work on continuity.
Piston - 0.5 hr - p. 2-4 Work on "selling the piece" aka listening more carefully to phrasing. Next time: Work on p. 1-2
Chopin - 1 hr 15 min - last page. Add pedal and dynamics. Hands separately on last system of penultimate page. Next time: Learn more notes on preceding page.
Schubert 3 - 1 hr - Learn penultimate page and review last page dotted q = 40. Next time: Review penultimate page and work on continuity. Learn a few measures on third to last page.
Rachmaninoff - 20 min. - Preludes no. 5 and 6 - Played through. Recorded 5. Legato in no. 6. Next time: Isolate one section in no 5. Begin dissecting second page of no 6.
Recordings
Bach Prelude
Glenn Gould - exciting tempo
Eunice Norton - good clear phrasing and color changes
Bach Fugue
Glenn Gould - good clear phrasing, can hear voices sing back and forth to each other in last stretto
Eunice Norton - not really a fan of the articulation, but interesting that you can hear which voice she is focusing on
Schubert - I. Allegro Moderato
Sviatoslav Richter - first theme more relaxed pace, then second theme moves a little more quickly
Chopin
Krystian Zimmerman - last page, crescendo on last flourish to low F#. Ornament in LH before first note of RH--sounds like morning/birds. Aim for very Light flourish.
Senior Recital Program
Senior piano recital program
Bach - Prelude and Fugue no. 7 in Eb Major WTC II (4 min)
Schubert - Sonata no. 13 in A major d. 664 (20 min)
Bartok - Allegro Barbaro (3 min)
Intermission
Rachmaninoff - Preludes op. 32 nos. 5, 6 (5 min)
Debussy - Preludes Livre II nos. 4, 5, 8 (10 min)
Piston - Passacaglia (6 min)
Chopin - Barcarolle (9 min)
Bach - Prelude and Fugue no. 7 in Eb Major WTC II (4 min)
Schubert - Sonata no. 13 in A major d. 664 (20 min)
Bartok - Allegro Barbaro (3 min)
Intermission
Rachmaninoff - Preludes op. 32 nos. 5, 6 (5 min)
Debussy - Preludes Livre II nos. 4, 5, 8 (10 min)
Piston - Passacaglia (6 min)
Chopin - Barcarolle (9 min)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)