http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4skOyr14ec&fmt=18

Still lots of rough spots, but I made this recording today to see where I currently am with this piece, to keep me motivated, and maybe to get some good advice as well.

So any kind of comments would be welcome....suggestions, secret hints how to never miss these leaps, merciless bashing, whatever.....

OK... no advice from this quarter (Hey I struggle over my short Schumann works and easy chopin nocturnes... what could I offer you?) But you are killing me with your fantastic playing. I could see where you had a few flubs on some of the leaps but most of them seemed damn fine to me. This should be truely fantastic when you have it finished. Just out of curiosity... what is your music history? I'm assuming you have studied for years.

Thanks for the good encouragement, Peyton! Actually, I listened to your 'From foreign lands and people' and found it very nice, so don't be too modest! I'm also curious to listen to your other stuff asap.

My piano history is on-and-off since childhood, but never really focused until two years ago, when I started my first real job after university and since then practiced almost every day a couple of hours. This gave a big boost, compared two the time before, and it's also so much fun!!

Well, as I say, I'm pretty much a self taught amateur but I know what I like and I think your playing has something special to it. I look forward to hearing more (and many thanks for your encouraging words on my playing.)

All I can say is WOW! That was wonderful and your recording has high quality also.
Mike

You need to tilt the camera to the left just a little bit. The picture (is that Chopin?), and the edge of your wall are not straight.....Oh, you mean the music? I'm not much of a technical adviser and you have the "feel" well on it's way to perfect. I can't wait to hear the finished product.

Thanks Damon! Hehe, I agree that there's lots of room for improvement not only in the music but also in the cinematography
As a start, I'll take care of that Chopin portrait (good sign of a knowledgeable audience that so many have recognized it despite the upper half is missing!).

Wow! That was really exceptionally impressive! I was very entertained throughout the piece. I found it to be a very playful, inspired, and exciting interpretation. And, really, the mistakes you made I only caught on a second listen and they were so minute that it's hardly worth making much fuss about.

Wirklich erstaunlich!

Thanks, Mike (sorry, only say your post right now) and akonow!! Glad that you liked it and also were not disturbed too much by the remaining technical problems I have with that little beast....

Excellent performance! I always liked this piece in the orchestral version, and I dabbled around with it on the piano for a while, but it never appealed that much in transcription. You made it sound absolutely amazing! (Maybe I'm just not skilled enough)

That is some fine playing! Very physical, dynamic, and such a technical, playful piece.

Thanks for sharing that wonderful piece of music - very enjoyable.

You are quite a player!

Glen

Thanks for the nice words, Glen! I'm still working on it - it never gets boring as every page has some different aspects to work on...

Nadia, thanks to you as well and sorry for the late reply. This is not a direct transcription of J. Strauss Fledermaus, but rather a kind of "medley" of various of his famous tunes (being not too familiar with J. Strauss, I can't name their origins, however). Thus, there is no direct orchestral correspondence. The setting by Grünfeld is quite elaborate and in several places he even sets different melodies against each other to give a polyphonic/polymelodic impression. Very nice!
Btw, by far my most favorite interpretation is this one by Evgeny Kissin...it's just amazing in every respect:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKnbwd7n8IQ&fmt=18

Wow, bravo! That was amazing, and I loved every minute! Is the sheet music available online anywhere? I'd love to learn how to play it someday...maybe in 30 years. How long have you been working on it?

Pianovirus - yes, I compared your playing to the transcription (or whatever it's formally called, melodies from Die Fledermaus) that I have and it turns out to be really different - more complex and much more interesting I hope I'll be able to play it some day. And yes, Kissin does a great job, I was listening to him on youtube just last night. He's so talented!

Zimbelstern, I found sheet music on the pianostreet forum:
http://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=30905.msg358267#msg358267

Thanks, Zimbelstern! I've been working on it for a couple of months now (not exclusively, but along with my full program for an upcoming amateur recital). Of the whole program this is still the piece with which I'm least comfortable, because there's actually little chance to hide any insecurities as is possible in other pieces (e.g. often, a crisp staccato is required and you cannot use too much pedal).

Have fun with the piece, both you and Nadia!