Wed-November 13, 2002

It's really Thursday now, but since I wanted to (but didn't) write an entry for yesterday, this will count for Wed. I received my Schubert Complete Sonatas for Pianoforte in the mail yesterday. Was so excited that I fell asleep looking for the sonata I wanted to learn--Sonata in A major--D959 (so wish passive diffusion of knowledge would work here!). I managed to play through the first movement (with repeats--i'm not used to them since i've been playing mostly chopin and liszt and other Romantics)...and man, it was long. It felt like playing a movement of concerto. I think a polished playing would take around 14-15 minutes. I probably took around 18-20 (the first movement was surprisingly easier to play (than I had anticipated). Then I played the Andantino (which sounds so awesome!--very slow movement in triple meter (at least in the beginning)...I get the image of someone heartbroken--from a loss of some sort--on a rocking chair...Played a bit of the scherzo after that...which is an interesting movement to play...some notes you think would be played with fingers 2 and 3, i end up playing 3 and 4. And then I played through part of the Rondo. I'm starting to like all 4 movements...before, I guess I only liked the 2nd and 3rd--since it sounded "sexier". I'm not sure how long learning this piece will take me. There are parts where I'm gonna have to bite down hard because it may sound like filler to me. It's possible I could learn this piece before the end of the year. Although I won't guarantee that, since there are other pieces I"m learning/memorizing at the same time. I've also decided which pieces I'm going to learn from now till sometime early next year:

1. Rachmaninoff Prelude in G minor (memorization)

2. Schubert Impromptu Op. 90, no. 3 (memorization)

3. Liszt Consolation No. 3 (memorization)

4. Liszt Sonetto 104 del petrarca

5. Schubert Piano Sonata in A minor D 959

6. Chopin Fantasy in F minor

7. Brahms Rhapsody No. 2

8. Schumann Kleiseriana Op. 16, No. 7

9. Schubert Impromptu in A flat Op. 90, no. 4

10. Liszt-Horowitz Rakoczy Marche (Hungarian Rhapsody No.15)

Not sure if this is a good idea, I guess i'm just sampling a bit right now....with emphasis on the earlier numbered pieces because I'm almost done with those...and I'll move down the list. I think I need to focus on improving my piano technique and expanding my repertoire. That's my priority I guess...the Rachmaninoff Second Concerto could wait awhile...I think I can learn the notes fine, but probably won't play it "well" right now--especially with so many pieces at the moment.