Hello, here is a(n) (imperfect) of this movement. I've had some memory issues towards the end of the piece. I've been working on it for 3 months now.

Here is the link : http://canardpc.free.fr/chopin/Beethoven...0Allegretto.mp3

Thank you to post comments !

Have a nice week-end.

Olivier

Well done although the recording quality leaves much to be asked for.

Technically you have it reasonably well worked out, but the main problem with this movement lies in musical meaning. The main theme so totally dominates everything that there is a grave danger of it becoming repetitive to the point of boredom. What exactly is it you want to convey with this? It may be the recording quality but it seems you might have more room for dynamic variation, increased articulation, and even strategic rubatos at some places. It all depends on what you want to do with it. Now you have the basics in place and there is every chance for you to work out something great - not necessarily by practicing more but by thinking more about it. Good luck!!

I think troglodyte has summed up a great deal of what I would have said...except I didn't notice that the recording quality was particularly bad (but then, I don't have an ear for such things). I could say it sounds a bit "smothered" but have no idea what that would mean, technically, for recordings.

One thing that drove me nuts about the performance was your choice to 'clip' the last note of each 4-note bit of melody. In this sort of flowing, translucent, gelatinous-like movement, there is, once every measure, this place where you stop and clip a note, and I think that really detracts from the movement and puts an accent (in the form of a rest) in a place where you might not want one. Now, this is obviously an interpretational difference, so if you like it, leave it.

I would also agree to play around with dynamics and tempo. I generally like the movement played a little faster, and in quite a few places, a little softer. This helps accentuate the octaves and sf's when they come in and break up the 'flow'.

Just got to your memory slip (typing as I listen)...don't worry about it. It happens to everyone.

I definitely don't like your choice of staccato at the end. It really broke up the music more than the others. You don't necessarily have to play it legato, but perhaps a little less detached? Please? :p

Technically, I think you have it fairly well under your fingers. Now, get the interpretation to where you want it...because this is a very difficult movement to play well, not from a technical standpoint, but from a musical one.

Olivier,

You definitely have this down technically, but I think you're playing it too fast, and because of the speed your playing lacks emotion. It is Allegretto not Presto.

To me the notes blurr together rather than sculpt a phrase. While playing this a bit slower, take note of the musical shapes and try to sculpt them using little, unwritten, cresecendos and decrescendos. When keys change from the major to the minor, or back and forth, make something about these. Play them softer or louder all within the written dynamics.

You've done well with this so far, and I think you could push this a bit more and really have something worth showing off.

John

You definitely have this down technically, but I think you're playing it too fast, and because of the speed your playing lacks emotion. It is Allegretto not Presto. [/b]
John- He's already playing it between 69-72. How much slower would you like him to go?!

I think part of the confusion about the speed rests in clipping the last note. Were it held, it would not feel like such a fast tempo.

Thank you for all your comments! I'll work on musicality now. Maybe I'll repost a recording when it is better.

Olivier

Maybe that's part of it, but still it's too fast to be accurate and clear. I was taught to play accurately and distinctly. This piece feels rushed, almost uncomfortable. As far as putting a metronome marking on it, who knows! I never use the metronome to mark out the exact tempo of a piece. The 69 - 72 maybe too fast for this, maybe 63-68 maybe better. Again the goal is to play musically and accurately not just accurately like a MIDI box or a robot.

John

We talked about the tempo of the piece once before in a different thread...can't seem to find it right now. (Otherwise I'd just link to it... )

I tend to play this piece closer to 80-84, though I do play it with far more rubato and dynamic inflections. I'd say my dynamic range is pp-ff and my tempo range is probably 64-92. But then, I tend to play everything more in the 'romantic' style than not.

I'd really hoped to record it today, but the university double-booked the studio and I got bumped out. Do you play the piece? Would you mind passing along something publicly or privately so I can have a listen? I've never heard the piece slower than 69 (and the only professional recording was around 74-78) and am interested in hearing what you hear.

I like the speed and think it's what you should aim to play at with constant clarity - it makes for a good one-in-a-bar allegretto which when you play well has a very agreeable broad swing to it. (That's what happens when you play rhythmically and well - don't for heaven's sake try to make it happen!)

I particularly liked the early part of the coda where the line did some quite magical things. But that was in context of the movt sounding increasingly tired as it progressed.

I liked your courageous phrasing/articulation (following Beethoven's instructions) of the various appearances of the main theme.

I think you should be careful not to abandon one-in-a-bar in staccato quaver passages unless you positively want to and also in these bars be as precise rhythmically as you possibly can. Then with little effort the syncopations will be more explicit and vital. I agree very much with John Citron above.

Not many rubato moments in this movt, apart from the odd slight easing of a delicate phrase-ending. Beethoven never stopped being a classical composer.


John