Instrument Players - Come and chat (Part II)

[CoteDAzur]

Previous thread is here.

We filled one thread, so here’s another

For this Schumann piece - it's the range, the bass, the sheer volume. And the how-the-hell-is-that-sound-made.

I think that Schumann piece sounds startling modern, you can kind of see how piano music got from there to Michael Nyman's score for The Piano.

Both my kids like playing romantic music. It often looks scary on the paper but I have a sneaking suspicion that it's often easier to learn (DS with 6 months of piano is making a decent job of a couple of Chopin nocturnes and he can play Debussy's reverie and Clair de lune; I suspect he'd find a Bach fugue more difficult).

Yes- a lot of notes is not the same as difficult. Bach is always surprisingly hard to play.

I sometimes have cravings for music written for the modern piano, so that you don't have to have the argument about "oh but their instrument wasn't like that then".

I have a volume of Philip Glass's Metamorphoses. It's nice to play, but sometimes you want the volume. A tsunami of sound. Not a burbling brook. I think the Schumann piece delivers.

Misti - has your DS tried Chopin's fantasie impromptu? That one is not as hard as it looks/sounds.

Ok - I'm listening to the Schumann again...! Let's see...

Not compulsory to like it!

Never - DD plays it, DS hasn't tried yet. Not my cup of tea.

Well I know but I feel like I'm missing out!

So what is the difference between classical and romantic then? I'm used to the harmonies and complexity of Bach et al. After Beethoven it all sounds like elevator music to me

I don't think it's possible to answer that in a short post but from a pianist's point of view one of the big differences is that the music was written to be played on a piano - so a bigger range, more dynamics, different techniques (eg use of the sustain pedal to allow notes more than a hand distance apart to sound at the same time).

And increasingly as music became democratised it was also written to be accessible for amateur musicians (hence a lot more instruction about phrasing, dynamics, pedal etc on romantic and post romantic music).

For me the big difference is that you move your hands around a lot more (so you need to look at the keyboard, whereas you can mostly play Bach with your eyes fixed firmly on the sheet music). Plus the pedal - I have a fused ankle so using the pedal isn't natural for me.

I agree with Misti. Also I think of it as the difference in form. By the Romantic period there are free-er forms. Mainly, in my mind, because the Great Beethoven decided he was going to do what he was going to do...

Of course I might be talking codswallop.

Hello Feeding Frenzy and Last Bus! And congrats on your exam Fluke!

Not really getting much playing in as baby takes up more time, and nothing clever to add re romanticism but I got the sheet music for the Brahms Intermezzo in a major (op 118) for Christmas which is lovely.

I can see a baby would make it hard to play...don't think I played a note when mine was small. I'm impressed you can get some playing done Grey!

I had another piano lesson last week and it was much calmer and more enjoyable, so feeling pretty jolly about it all now. Going to go for fortnightly lessons for a bit and see how that goes.

During the first lesson I felt I just nervously talked and played the whole time and he only said a couple of things...wasn't sure where it was going. It was only after a few days at home putting into action what those couple of things he said were that I realized they were SO useful and have already changed the way I play!

I've decided to start to learn Schumann Sonata #1 from the end. I have now learned the notes for the last 3 pages. I love it!

I'm just starting Sonatina op 36, no.3 by Clementi, think this could keep me busy for a while!

Never ever, I've just listened to the Schumann which is great! Happy learning! Did you finish the c minor Bach Partita? I can 'get through' the last movement now but needs more practice, and have yet to look at the allemande and courante (I have learnt the first, the sarabande and rondeau though).

Tintini, playing the piano is a slightly guilty pleasure at the moment but don't have the mental space to learn anything properly! Glad you're starting to relax more in the piano lessons and how exciting to see quick changes to your playing!

Greymalkin I'm at the last part for the partita, finally! I think I started wanting to learn the last bit, but then got sucked into learning it from the beginning. I started when some BBC young musician of the year keyboard finalists played the Capriccio and a Scarlatti - that must be YEARS ago...

Greymalkin I know what you mean about a guilty pleasure - I' working from home today. I have already had 2 goes at the Sonatina I've just got hold of. It's been a hectic week and I owe it to myself!

I work from home everyday - it's so hard not to play instruments as they are all here, tempting me!

JSB's 48 Preludes and Fugues arrived yesterday. My teacher says I should learn the one in 6 flats... I'm not sure if he is joking or not! I love Bach. I'm still battling away with Over the Rainbow, which is rather a challenge, and have just started looking at Griegs 'Butterfly' from his Lyric Suite. It's amazing just how much it does actually sound like a butterfly - have a listen on YouTube

What is 48 Preludes & Fugues? Are you referring to the Well-Tempered Clavier?

Fluke The E flat minor? That sounds really good.

On the subject of keys with lots of flats, I've always preferred sharps to flats. To the extent that I prefer to play F# major scale than Gflat major. Is that weird or does anyone else have a preference?

I can't say that I even know what those scales look like but I have noticed over the years that my favourite pieces are in C m.

I'm still wondering which Bach book you mean by 48 Preludes & Fugues. I'm hoping that there is a Bach sheet music book out there that I haven't heard of

48 Preludes and Fugues = The Well-Tempered Clavier.

I don't think I mind sharps or flats. :)