Re: Left Hands and Right Hands - TOOL - Music Lane

Music Lane

It's all about the music, dude! Sit down, relax and listen to some tunes.

Re: Left Hands and Right Hands

TOOL

In Reply to: Left Hands and Right Hands posted by SE on October 23, 2002 at 06:48:47:

....Chopin had a healthy respect for Bach.

Some comments on Chopin's Ballades:
Anyone who likes Romantic piano music cannot fail to love these Ballades. Like #1, through my subjective imagination, it's like this guy who is found dying somewhere, found by a passer-by, and he listens to the dying man's love story.. all the ups and downs and joys and sorrows, before wheezing, choking, gasping for air and finally, dramatically dies.... In general, they are some of the most emotional, colorful, and profound piano music ever written. If one do not have the Chopinistic blood flowing inside, there's little chance one can ever play it well.
Some recs (complete sets only):
Artur Rubinstein's studio recording (RCA) - This has gotta be the reference. #1 is the best of the lot, while #4 is the worst. To play Chopin well, you can't 'cheat' by over-using the rubato, or even with huge dynamic swings. The key is in the fingers' ability to create infinitestimal shadings of tone, while keeping relatively strict timings as marked. Rubinstein was able to achieve this with some degree of success. He has an early to mid 1950s version of #3 (Aura Classics) that sounded VERY promising (I hadn't heard the whole performance) - better than the studio recording. The recent BBC Legends release of the #1 played live was far too delibrate and agressive.
Cortot's (Music & Arts) - sounded very, very personal. It's Cortot's Chopin. Spins out of musical control occasionally :)
Ivan Moravec (Supraphon) - He's a class act. It is hard to dislike or dismiss his renditions. Somehow he makes it sound almost like a movie soundtrack esp. #1 and #4.
Zimmerman (DG) - hugely popular set. Very delibrate, almost takes too much care in everything. I find his interpretation lacking in flow - maybe too much rubato.

Personally I like #1 and #3 more. No particular reason. Just felt that they touched a deeper part of my heart.
Just my opinions.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Left Hands and Right Hands - SE 06:48:47 10/23/02 (16)

Cecil Taylor - Paul_A 18:39:53 10/23/02 (10)

Re: Cecil Taylor - SE 05:23:51 10/24/02 (9)

Re: Cecil Taylor - Paul_A 18:58:12 10/24/02 (1)

How are the sonics on the CD? - D 14:05:18 10/25/02 (0)

Thanks! - SE 07:37:19 10/24/02 (0)

Re: Cecil Taylor - Matthew G. 07:20:56 10/24/02 (0)

Re: Cecil Taylor - shrugs 06:13:50 10/24/02 (0)

Re: Cecil Taylor - D 06:12:42 10/24/02 (3)

FMP's - shrugs 06:16:29 10/24/02 (2)

Re: FMP's - D 09:19:16 10/24/02 (1)

Re: FMP's - shrugs 15:07:30 10/24/02 (0)

Re: Left Hands and Right Hands - TOOL 08:48:38 10/23/02 (0)

Re: Left Hands and Right Hands - Mike K 08:09:05 10/23/02 (3)

Jazz musicians playing classical... - Bagsgroove 18:50:19 10/23/02 (0)

e.g. Oscar Peterson - TOOL 08:26:38 10/23/02 (1)

Re: e.g. Oscar Peterson - Mike K 09:50:52 10/23/02 (0)

Follow Ups

Re: Left Hands and Right Hands - TOOL 08:48:38 10/23/02 (0)

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