Workshop: Day 4
Today we rehearsed the 2nd and 4th movements, and then I practiced quite a lot on both the performance hall piano and the old Bösendorfer. The performance hall is not big, like the name would suggest, and the piano looks like maybe a 5'8' August Förster. It could be a little bigger than that but it's definitely not a large piano. It has no bass and it's slightly difficult to play. It has been very humid and the school gets very hot so we have windows open all the time to help cool the place down. Possibly that's contributing to the sluggishness? Anyway, not easy to play and I'm pounding on the bass but barely anyone comes out, at least from where I'm sitting. The Bösendorfer is a slightly bigger piano and the bass is huge! It's very satisfying. And it's extremely easy to play.
Anyway, I practiced so much and I think it's all coming together, at least for those that movements. Our coach is having us go crazy fast at the end and I'm sure I can do it, hopefully with mostly the right notes at the performance! I really never thought I would be able to play the 4th movement well but I think it's going to be pretty good!
Tomorrow we're back to the 1st and 3rd movements. The first movement has so many bits that are challenging in other ways, including the super hard part where I've just been falling apart. The third movement has other challenges where I think if I had more time to memorize those sections, it would be ok, but I ran out of time.
I may take a break from practicing for the performance tomorrow, because I put in so much work today. I'm going to do some "free play" with a violinist and we'll play the Beethoven Spring Sonata. And the two women in my group are going to read through the first movement of the Arensky Trio No.1. I have been obsessed with this piece ever since I heard it last year and the melody section is surprisingly readable.
Is this not one of the most gorgeous things you've ever heard?? Played by the Beaux Arts Trio: