I'm trying to decide if I should play the LH opening line

Bb F2 Db Bb F3 -> F2

one of two ways, either:

a) 13, hurdling the Gb and striking the forwardmost part of the key, or
b) 14, striking below the Gb, and lifting my hand to get back to Bb

My intuition is (a), but I saw LaValse doing (b) I think, and I could use some help. The problem with (a) is the danger of inadvertent Gb, (b) I need to pick up my hand, and I'd prefer not to do this. Any suggestions?

Hi hawgdriver,

My fingering is 131213, your a) My finger hits the F on the way back down immediately in front of the Gb key. I would say it's better because it's easer to keep the legato with the next phrase - but then I suppose it depends on hand size/shape. My hands are fairly small - in the LH I can stretch a 10th having hit one of the notes, but not play a 10th clean.

I've had some lessons on this piece but currently dropped it as something to come back to. My piano teacher rams home legato, legato... and has me play it with no pedal at all to to find where I'm cheating. Try it - it's painful to listen to but very useful...:)

I find the middle sections far harder than the first and last sections. Not harder to hit the notes - harder to make them into music...

Same fingering as LaValse. As to the middle section, I move it along a notch - it has an urgency that for me needs a faster tempo. And it's wonderful to drop from the con forza to pp at a faster than walking pace. I really enjoy playing the same phrases pp that I have been playing ff: it has an effect that you don't get at at the initial tempo.

hawgdriver, I use the fingering Lavalse uses. I have not played this in a while but I do know that after a while the fingering seems second nature. Here is my playing... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTgYDJu3umY

Am I the only one that uses the 5th finger?I feel very naughty.

Peyton: As always, such a exquisite experience listening to you play.

Kathleen

Ok, my eyes deceived me. But it does it matter if I strike the key below or forward of the Gb? That is, it's more comfortable to 'jump' the Gb, is that OK?



I'm tempted to play it that way just so we can start a support group.

@hawgdriver - Sorry - no - strike it where it's comfy - I was just saying where it was comfy for me. Peyton has bigger hands than me and he seems able to strike it further back. Good luck...

This is a a snippet of my progress:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX0yVMB7unQ

But I've fixed the timing in the RH at the end now. I start the descend too soon in the vid.

You have inspired me to pick it up again...

This is my fave performance (for the playing not the theatre!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6oWo0uGDDI

Small hands too - she 'resets tension' (quick clench) now again in the octave section, which she doesn't play all legato (hand size?) - thus showing her awesome technique 'cos it still sounds amazing to me...

How do I play this part in the left hand (m39):

{ascending} Db Bb Eb G {descending} Eb Bb Db

Should I stretch and play it 5321 (reeeeeach), or play it 5212? 5212 has a tucked under thumb striking the descending Eb, and my control with a tucked under thumb is not as good as the natural finger motion of the 2. Either way, it looks like I've got something to work on!

My favorite performance of this is by Claudio Arrau.

What a beautifully moving piece when played like this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-0erFgJMQo

I use a. Since your left hand is going to be moving a lot in this piece, you could sit slightly farther away from the piano to allow your arm more movement space.

Thanks Lain. It already is beginning to feel natural. Natural-er. Maybe that's because I've been practicing by holding a watermelon between 3 and 5.

LaValse, at some point you need to post the whole thing, I enjoy your playing very much.

Peyton,
Beautifully played. I really enjoyed your performance, this is one of my favorite Chopin Nocturnes.
Hopefully I will get to it this year.
Dot