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This is a recording I made today.

I am looking forward to hear your criticism on things to improve, how is the tempo, etc...

Of course, I hope you enjoy it as it is too.

https://app.box.com/s/f57ow561t4i2r40i51da502p1vth61bp

(you might need to crank up the volume)

Hakki :

I would like to be able to "lift the veil" on this; the recording is very muffled, not distant but muffled, and I find that it takes away from my being able to appreciate what might be a very good performance.

Nor can I tell whether you should use less pedal or whether it is this muffled character of the recording that gives it a lack of clarity that I would like to hear.

The upper arpeggios, beat two leading into beat three, seem occasionally to be a little "crunched" together, and yet, saying that, I don't think that you rush the tempo at those points, but I am just not hearing individual notes in the upper register.

As far as overall tempo is concerned, while it may be a little slower than Chopin's marking, I like it. It should give you the opportunity, at that tempo, to strive for greater clarity.

Certainly you have the dramatic sense and drive that this Etude demands.

Thank you for sharing.

Regards,

Very nice interpretation! I like the tempo and the just-right breathing between the phrases. Unlike Bruce, I think this one of the Chopin Etudes where clarity takes a back seat to the overall message as here with the dominance of the melodic content emerging in triumph through the "storm" [and storms don't have much clarity ].

I tried to add some treble boost with Audacity to the recording and did not save as mp3 but kept the original wav format.

Still muffled though, because the lid was closed and the Zoom was sitting on the piano at the tail.

What do you think about this one?

https://app.box.com/s/18fajuqbh1vtxmtrlf302rtrymdgugpg

edit: Also there was some reverb effect in the first recording, which might have added more to the already muffled sound.

This second one borders on "muddy" from my speakers. I don't hear any improvement in clarity over the first recording; in spots it's even less clear, particularly in measures (roughly) 27 through 46.

It's a real pity, because I think that this is an exciting, dynamic performance, but I keep regretting that the sound quality inhibits my enjoyment.

If I had made this recording, I would be tempted to say : "Hey! I'm good!" because it is a good performance.

Regards,

Fine playing and better recording #2. Have you tried the Zoom flat on the closed piano lid in the middle, pointing toward the back of the music desk, with the onboard microphones just peeking over the strings? (Didn't you have some microphones also?)

I like p piano in measures 31 and measure 45 (per Friedheim ed). The Wiener Urtext has p in measure 31, mf in measure 45. The Cortot has no dynamic marking at either point.

Nice melodic line, and tempo is certainly quick enough.

I last recorded this in 1969, on a brand-new stiff Steinway D, in one take. By the end I felt like my arms were falling off. I don't hear any "fatigue" at the end; you definitely have the chops this!

Thank you for the comments.

I will post a new recording in a couple days, with the lid open, and with the mic setup, if quit being lazy.