Vacation

I'll be going away for a week from January 25 to February 1. When I return, I'll be going full steam ahead!! For those of you who are learning this piece with me, enjoy learning this beautiful piece.

Fantasie Impromptu Octaves

Fantasie Impromptu Bars 30 to 40

PIANOSTREET

Keep following my progress on PianoStreet as that is where the "action" is at:


FANTASIE IMPROMPTU THREAD ON PIANOSTREET

P1040988.MOV

ANATOMY OF A CLASSIC

Someone told me about this edition for Chopin's Fantasie Impromptu in C# minor Op 66. It's edited by Maurice Hinson and includes Chopin's original manuscript as well as the Fontana edition.

The Foreword includes the context in which the FI was composed, notes about the Fontana edition, and notes from Hinson about performing his piece and practice techniques. I plan to write more about this book and Hinson's notes in my blog soon.

The main differences between Chopin's original ms and the Fontana version is in bars 13 - 24. In the Fontana version, you have the thumbs accented for bars 13 - 16, then the 5th finger accented for the off beats from bars 17 - 24. The original has no accents but the first note of each 16th note group is held as a quarter note. There are other differences as well.

Since Arthur Rubenstein was mentioned as the Chopinist in this book, I found his YouTube performance of this piece, which was of the original version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twIQYQgPzaE

In Hinson's opinion, this piece is usually played too fast, as an exercise in velocity rather than as the poetic expression of two contrasted moods - that of the Allegro Agitato and a broadly lyrical middle section.

This edition may be purchased here:

http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/Fantaisie-Impromptu/3533418

PIANOSTREET

     When I began my Fantasie Impromptu journey six weeks ago, I only had one desire and that was to learn to play it as quickly as I could. Now, after receiving lessons from Birba and advice from AJ and other forum members, I'm realizing that what began as a goal has turned into a music educational journey. I'm now working on some technical exercises to help me through some difficult passages but I'm also practicing the rest of the piece.

     I thought it would be a good idea to post the link to my PianoStreet Topic. It's become a very lively thread and  if you're following my journey, you'll enjoy the posts on that topic. Birba and AJ have posted their videos there and so have I. I'll continue to post on this blog, of course. See you there! Feel free to join PianoStreet and tag along in that discussion thread.

FANTASIE IMPROMPTU THREAD ON PIANOSTREET