Here is my video of me playing the C minor nocturne by Chopin. I apologize for the mistakes, my dog kept running in and out. I eventually gave up. If the reactions are good, I will re record this on a better piano, a grand I hope. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxwPB2RSIJI

I'm looking forward to seeing your video but... where's the link?

In the meantime, have you seen this thread?

Edited my post link is there sorry about that. Thanks for the link. I am no adult beginner, but im sure there are things I can learn from the post. I learned the Nocturne in a Month when I was 17, I am 21 in the video. It my favorite piece, and I try to keep it in my recital programs even when im busy with many other pieces.

You're very assertive with your interpretation, good job.

I haven't listened to this piece for a long while, and I really enjoyed it! Thanks for getting me back into it... it's so beautiful. I think you have a very nice pace and feeling, and for the piano and recording quality, I was suprised with your sound.

Good Job!

Great, I especially liked the agitato/doppio movimento where I love the balance between the melody and the restless hammering (If you allow me this rather Bartókian

If I may say what I would play differently, it is the first section, where I would refrain from any rubato. It is a funeral march after all, and you can't march (and bear a casket) to a wiggly rhythm.

I have never thought of the opening section of this Nocturne as a funeral march, for me the melody is too much in the lyrical bel canto style with its wide-spread and embellished theme to lend itself - definitevly - to being considered a funeral march. I have never seen it refered to as such in anything I have read about this Nocturne.

That is not to say that one shouldn't consider it as a funeral march if that is how one sees it, but I certainly don't see it as such.

If there is anything march-like at all in this Nocturne, surely it's the second section, the first 14 measures of the poco più lento the C major section.

Regards,

Wow Jeffrey, that was excellent!

Interesting comment. To put my view clearer: I view the first section as a duet of a (funeral) march and a bel canto melody on top. Chopin wrote quite some funeral march-type sections and pieces, e.g. the fantasie op 49. His favortie Beethoven Sonata was one with a funeral march in it. One reference to this nocturne's start as a funeral march is by Angela Lear.

I think the più lento section is rather a chorale.

Thanks for the comments. The first section is a bel canto, tugging the other voices along. Second section definitely a chorale. while the third allows me to just go all out.

OK, I agree the main feature of the first section is the Bel canto melody. But is there a chance you might be willing to consider, if only for a second, that the LH accompaniment of this section is 'march-like'?

LH accompaniments come in different forms: chords, arpeggated chords, waltz-type broken chords, alberti basses , scalar runs (Revolutionary étude, and later sections in the fourth ballade). Could the LH accompaniment of the start of this Nocturne be 'march-like'? I think yes.
Play the section without the RH melody and give the thought a chance.

For me its a preference thing. When I first learned the piece about 2-3 years ago. I considered a march like feel. I did not like it when I played it. Not saying it was wrong, saying it was wrong for me. For me the piece is building, the pui lento is more intense then first section.

I agree with Robert on the march-like LH in the first section. It feels like stepping with left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot, etc.

I can definitely see where your coming from with the march idea, but for me it just does not really fit the feel of a nocturne. Now I know there are things written on Chopin that says the left had is very steady and the right hand flowed in and out of that. But I am not Chopin. Not to say Chopin did not know what he was doing. My interpretation of this nocturne does not involve a march. A nocturne does not even register a march for me.

I am just defending my own interpretation. I do not mean to say anyone is wrong, because I have learned there are so many different interpretations. What works for me will not work for others. For me this piece is about sensuality. I would not march in that setting. I let things happen naturally.

This is a very nice rendition. I also liked how you played the agitato part.

These large chords towards the end look very difficult. And I thought of playing this one time myself

I've seen your video and your effort is very commendable, if I may say so , as someone who's struggling to learn this masterpiece