Video

My "Moonlight"

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Francesco

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Opening post by Francesco

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Hello everyone. The video I am presenting to you today is not quite the "final" version of Moonlight Sonata. I know there are some things to adjust, for example the tempo, which varies too often, or the phrasing of the arpeggios, which should be made a bit lighter. In any case, do not be afraid to give "heavy" criticism... Thank you. Bye!!

PS: I posted the "non-definitive" version first because I haven't filmed it yet, and second because I am going on vacation in a few days and I cannot take my keyboard with me... ๐Ÿ˜† on which, if you wish, you can also make observations ๐Ÿ˜†! Bye!

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Reply 2 by Thesimon

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Well done Francesco !!

You have a magnificent hand, large and with long fingers. This will certainly help you in your piano studies. However, I have a few things to tell you, especially regarding posture.

First of all, raise the stool a little bit and move away from the piano; you are too closed in. Having the stool too low causes you to compensate by raising your wrist too much. Especially in the left-hand octaves, you tend to pull your wrist up very high.

Try to be more natural. As far as interpretation is concerned, it is clear that you are fluid, but pay attention to rhythmic rigor. As Maestro Ferrati recently told me during exams on an occasion when I took some liberties: "In Beethoven, everything is written!". The triplets in the right hand must all be equal, piano and without damping. It is difficult, anyway, to criticize a performance on a digital piano. Why don't you record yourself on the Bechstein?

Anyway, well done, you have potential; you just need to be careful with your posture.

Keep it up!

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Reply 3 by pianoexpert

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Pay attention to the accents as well!!

This is a purely pianistic piece.

It should be heard on an acoustic piano.

The slurs, the pedal, the phrasing, etc., are altered in this condition.

The idea, which is very clear, is not altered, but it is not formed in close proximity to that "pianistic" one

You have, as Simone says, a good hand. Work on rhythmic rigor, on sound (the relationship between intensity and duration = legato) and..... yes, raise the stool a little bit.

What Maestro Ferrati says is correct. I was also present at this interview. Everything is written. Agreed. I would say not only in Beethoven. Always.

Ravel used to say that by playing the notes well, the pedal indications, the right rhythm, the dynamic indications, and the correct tempos, nothing else needs to be done with his music.

Let us bring up the example of Rubinstein again. He was the performer of clarity and "simplicity." His "Olympic" rigor is brought as an example to everyone. Even in this Clair de Lune, Rubinstein reigns supreme. However, I recommend the masterful interpretation by Bachaus. Extremely rigorous tempo....and yet dreamy. Listen to him, especially in the "youthful" recording.

Compliments.

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Reply 4 by Dave

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Huge compliments Francesco, I also really liked the speed of execution, ... if I may offer a piece of advice, you should also work on the dynamics; perhaps it is difficult with a keyboard, if you have the chance try with an acoustic piano. ๐Ÿ˜†

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Reply 5 by Francesco

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Thank you all, I believe it is fundamental to be able to exchange opinions and advice, so... Please continue!

You know, if you have any more advice, I would ask you to write it as soon as possible, so that I can manage to post a better version before leaving for vacation... Thanks again!

P.S. I believe we should take this opportunity to thank Simone and Paolo once again, who make all of this possible... I imagine you agree... W Pianoconcerto. Bye!!

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Reply 6 by maquieto

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Simone and Paolo without a doubt .....thank you seriously.

As far as execution is concerned, the important things have already been said by Simone and Paolo. The stool, without a doubt, because playing so pressed on the keyboard creates many posture problems with back pain in the long run.

Then the relationship with the keyboard must be open and breathing.... In fact, even the wrist suffers, but these are all things that improve with time and working on them. The digital [piano] doesn't help either, but one can feel that you have passion and musicality, and then a very beautiful hand! Use it, okay? Don't let yourself be fooled by the thousand distractions that somehow always pull us away from practice. Study a lot and with passion, since music is by far more important than everyone thinks. I wish you all the best and compliments, well done!!

P.S. If you study octaves with all the metronome clicks, you will see that in a short time your posture will fall into place. Sounds like a play on words, doesn't it? After all, octaves force you into a certain position and confidence on the keyboard; otherwise, you simply cannot find that fluidity. Bye and see you soon. Have a great holiday!

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Reply 7 by Francesco

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Hey... Helllooooo!

I came back from vacation a few days ago... finally I can rejoin you! I couldn't wait!

So... I have fallen sooo muuuuuch behind, so I don't want to waste time. Thank you all for the advice you gave me... Unfortunately during the holidays I PRACTICALLY DID NOT TOUCH A PIANO EVEN ONCE!!! I imagine you will scold me... and you are right!!! ๐Ÿ™‚ As soon as I got home, among the first things I did was put my hands back on my keyboard (praying that it would turn on... ๐Ÿ˜‰ !)... After ten minutes of reviewing scales and "Moonlight Sonata" my pinky was asking for help, my wrist was begging for mercy... and my ears were asking for a truce ๐Ÿ˜‰๐Ÿ˜† ! I set myself to it with good will and little by little I am getting back into shape...

So, I did an in-depth review of "Moonlight Sonata" and I noticed numerous errors... besides the posture, which you pointed out to me, in the fingering, in the rhythm, in the solfeggio... even in the reading!!!! Realizing certain errors I thought: "Geez, either I was incompetent until two months ago, or I studied it too much, until I got a headache and read a B for an E, or a C for a G#... Oh well, I'll fix it... but maybe before publishing another version I'll ask for confirmation... I would become boring re-proposing the same piece to you and besides, I would take up space in the Forum that doesn't belong to me. I am also thinking of doing a sort of Tutorial on the piece, in which I give my own personal commentary, explain why I like the piece... and maybe even tell the story of my study of the piece... If the idea particularly interests you, I could publish it on YouTube in private form, so that only people from the Forum can access the video for obvious privacy reasons. Let me know. For now that's all, keep writing advice if you have any, so as to make the eventual next version (or eventual "Moonlight Sonata" Tutorial...) the best it can be (Always within my very limited piano abilities... ๐Ÿ˜‰ ). Thank you all!!

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Reply 8 by pianoexpert

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Mental review first! Then phrases, taking modulations into account. Always be aware of where we are! Soft positions. No rigidity. Participation of the shoulder, arm, and forearm, then the fingers, terminal points of the larger muscles. Think about the atmosphere of the piece. Do not beat yourself up over some inaccuracy or a few wrong notes. "Re-link" phrases with patience. Happy practicing

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Reply 9 by Thesimon

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Great Francesco, well well, now it's your turn to get back to work.

The first thing I ORDER you ๐Ÿ˜› to do is dedicate yourself to posture. The correct height of the stool determines the relaxation of the shoulders, the trapezius muscles, and the dorsal muscles. A stool that is too low, like in the first video you posted, leads to several problems that even result in difficulties with the fundamental basic gestures of approaching the instrument. A low stool causes you to contract the shoulder and back muscles to equalize the level of the arm with the keyboard. From this follows the stiffening of the arms and, consequently, the elbow, which should descend freely at the sides, becomes instead rigid. The wrist curves to allow the palm of the hands to be parallel to the plane of the keyboard. All of this must be categorically avoided. In addition to tiring you out, there is a serious risk of incurring muscle contractions or, in the worst cases, even inflammation of the tendons of the forearm and shoulders. Under these conditions, it is not even possible for you to play for a long time. Something comes to mind that Paolo told me about Rubinstein. He had come to Rome to record an album (if I remember correctly, all of Chopin's Mazurkas). He stayed from the afternoon until 11 PM in the recording studio playing and playing. This is only possible when the approach to the instrument is natural, without any effort on the part of the muscles, and where the sonority is given by the weight of the shoulder and limbs rather than by muscular power. Then, certainly, we are talking about Rubinstein, not just some nobody! So, summarizing: adjust the height of the stool so that shoulders and arms are relaxed. Straight wrist, arched fingers parallel to the keys. Free elbows at the sides, straight back, and happy studying!

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Reply 10 by Francesco

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Another update: possible recording of the next video on the school's Bechstein piano!!!!! Let's hope for the best that the school office allows me to do it as a former student... ๐Ÿ˜† Bye!

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Reply 12 by Francesco

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I already wanted to do it... and maybe I finally have the opportunity... Towards mid-September, the theater should start being operational again, so... let's wait. Bye!

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Reply 13 by Francesco

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Unfortunately, I bring you "bad" news: the piano restoration restarted just a few days ago, so I believe there will be no news about it until January... ๐Ÿ˜†

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Reply 16 by Francesco

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me too... I really hope that in the end a beautiful piano in excellent condition comes out.. ๐Ÿ™‚. it would be a shame to "throw away" such an instrument... ๐Ÿ˜ฎ๐Ÿ˜Ÿ...

I will keep you updated...

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Reply 18 by Thesimon

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Well done! I hear great improvements compared to the version you posted a while ago.

I feel like pointing out a few things that I personally perceive; let's see if you agree, nuances that make the difference...

First of all, sing all the melodic notes well by adjusting the weight; the important things are the octaves in the bass and the melody, the rest is harmonic filler.

In general, I feel the introductory triplets of the exposition up to 34 seconds are more on tempo, without too much stretching; those are very important because they must immediately give the idea of the piece. If anything, I hear a slight rallentando starting from the Neapolitan sixth chord (24 seconds) with maximum expansion (but not too much, we are in Beethoven) on the dominant seventh which finds peace returning to the tonic in C# minor, where then the first phrase of the theme begins, arriving in the key of E major with a perfect cadence. You have well highlighted the change of mode (from E major to E minor, before the start of the second phrase). In Beethoven, dotted notes should instead be thought of as slightly "off-tempo"; in reality, rather than being off-tempo, you must execute them with inner calm (as you executed them at sec 59, perhaps even a little too much). Another slight ritardando I hear is at 1:20 when, with the suspended cadence, we go to B minor and immediately with a change of mode to B major. Now there is a transition phase that introduces the dominant pedal in the development of the thirds occurring at 2:37. The dominant pedal, as the term suggests, functions as a pedal; it's fine to pedalizeโ€”you understood the sense of this developmentโ€”but do not arpeggiate the bass; being a pedal, it must stay there fixed, still, without movements, without particular dynamics; if you arpeggiate, you create motion. Think of staticity; that G# is there to provide harmony, to hold harmonics, and not to move. At the end of the development of the thirds before the exposition theme resumes, one should hear those D# - C# - C / D# - C# - C / D - C# - C; these are melodic notes in the inner part. The inner parts are disadvantaged because psychologically one tends to give more importance to the extreme parts, so you must think about them and make them emerge!

At 3:21 the exposition theme resumes. At 3:33 I notice that you make the mistake with the octave in the bass again; perhaps a reading error, and I am pointing it out since I heard the same error in the exposition. It seems to me I hear an octave of A which empties it out a lot along with the A in the theme; the low octave is F# which is very important because it introduces the key of E major, indeed in the bass: II - V - V7 - I.

At 4:24 these are without a doubt the most expressive measures of the entire sonata; it would be worth studying it just for this passage! Here you must emphasize!! The subdominant F# (F# minor chord) that resolves into the dominant seventh of E major with the B major seventh chord (this must be heard), everything that follows is less heard (we are always in maximum expression), it gives chills just thinking about it. After various adventures, it finally finds rest in C# minor with a perfect cadence (returns home), from here a coda begins... Splendid.

These are just my own convictions; I don't want to impose anything on you, you have your teacher who has done an excellent job, but think about it, see if you actually find yourself in it...

In any case, Bravo! I have seen many significant improvements! Keep it up...

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Reply 19 by pianoexpert

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Well done Francesco. Simone's comment is good and helpful (Soon, there will be little for me to do here!!!!!! Too good), good analysis. But it is time for you to try something different. I would tackle Haydn's C major sonata, the one with triplets. Try it, it will give you satisfaction and teach you something new. Do not neglect Bach. Keep going with the 23 easy pieces... which are not easy. A piece I love very much is the Sarabande from the first French suite. Read it.

Good studying

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Reply 20 by Boesendorfer

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I read the very wise advice from pianoexpert, addressed to Francesco DiParigi, but very valid for all forum users.

Regarding Bach's so-called Easy Pieces, I possess an old Ricordi edition, edited by Bruno Mugellini (1871 - 1912), with an attached cassette containing the performance by pianist Massimiliano Damerini, which is still available on CD.

Today, the Peters edition or other Urtext editions are preferable. The Ricordi edition is very outdated both in its phrasing suggestions and in the interpretation of ornaments (mordents in particular). Furthermore, it would be appropriate to attribute the relative BWV number to each piece, in order to facilitate searching on the internet and listening to various performances on YouTube.

The Sarabande from the first French Suite (BWV 812), cited by pianoexpert, is beautiful. The edition of the French Suites, edited by Bruno Canino for Ricordi, is in my opinion very good. I like the second Suite (BWV 813) very much, particularly the Allemande and the Sarabande (which I also play on the organ in church).

And what can be said about the Allemande from the fourth suite (BWV 815), wonderful even when played slowly.

I do not know the Haydn Sonata cited by pianoexpert, I want to learn it, code number.... pardon "HOB"?

Thank you

Bรถsendorfer

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