Hi,

I made a recording of myself playing Rachmaninov's C sharp minor prelude:

http://www.angelfire.com/alt2/svrssp/rach3_2.mp3

I'm still trying to make it better, any comments are appreciated. Thanks.

Hmm, looks like you'd have to copy the link and paste it in a new browser window, at least for me.

Generally, I think this is pretty good. However, perhaps the beginning and end sections are too fast. Take your time, especially with the ending. Let those chords resonate.

Wow, good technique!!!

This sounds great.
First time I've heard this one... you made a great job on making me like this piece

Is the sheet music available for free?

Wow, you have never heard the Prelude in C# minor?? It is a piece that EVERY pianist plays along their way! Mot that I am badmouthing you amateur pianist. It was indeed a nice recording!

Nice version, amateur pianist! What impresses me the most is the way you separate the melody in the fast part from the other notes the right hand plays. You also seem to keep it legato, as it should be. I wouldn't use that much pedal though, and as someone else said, play the beginning and end more slowly.

Very nice!

First thing I noticed is that the you are not holding the C-sharp in the second measure for long enough. It is four and a half full beats before your hands move onto the next chords. The low octaves in measures 3 and four are too loud, while the C-sharp octave in measure 4 is no loud enough. The first beat of measures 4, 5 and 6 should each be slightly louder than the last, along the melody notes that follow, because they are turning points for the melody and general direction of the piece, and should be emphasized. Also be sure to bring out the melody in measures 4 and 5 as indicated--the three quarter notes are supposed to swell, with the top note being emphasized the whole time. Measure 6 sould be accelerando, 7 should be ritardando. This helps maintain this idea of swelling and then falling back again. Using a strict count/meter in this part of the piece makes it monotonous. You may be accelerating and decelerating a little bit, but it should be very exaggerated (in my opinion.)

It should then speed up a little more at the beginning of the 8th measure, and once again slow down at the end of that measure. Repeat the same idea in measure 10--going faster and then slower, except this time, the swell is less, because it is only one measure long.

The agitato section needs to sound more agitated. Think of yourself really forcing the keys into the keyboard, there is a lot of angst and emotion in this section. I also think that it should be faster. In measures 17 and 30, the entire melody needs to be brought out more (F-Sharp, F-Sharp, E, D-Sharp, E).

Measures 35-42 should follow the same pattern as previous sections by speeding up and then starting to slow down in the middle, almost to the point where they come to a halt at the end, and you can fall into the chords in measures 43 and 44 fluidly.

The final section seems pretty good, but too fast. My overall criticism would be that the beginning and ending sections are too fast, while the agitato section is too slow. There also needs to be more dynamic range and shaping of melodies in the piece, though it is good for the most part. I'm currently perfecting this as well, so I know how difficult it is.

I'm not quite sure why everybody is scolding you for playing the beginning and end too fast. Rachmaninoff himself was known for playing it faster. I do agree about the pedal comment in the middle of the piece, though. A little less pedal would be a little less "mud". I enjoyed the recording, though.