Poulenc - Improvisations No. 1 and 13 - Ricker Choi

[doowlehc]

it is a 9 feet steinway in a church. hey did we meet at WIPAC? What's your name?

[Simon0]

I have the score in front of me and I am pretty sure he plays a wrong note at 4:12, in the bass. (it shold be a low F, he plays A).

I am playing this piece in front of my class tomorrow!

[doowlehc]

wow thanks! a silly misread! [i just checked the score too!]

[doowlehc]

hey I just tried the "F" ("correct note") and it sounds awkward. So I checked a recording I have by Pascal Roge, and Pascal plays an "A" like my "mistake". If you look at the score, 5 bars later, Poulenc is repeating exact same melody, just 1 octave above, but with "A" as bass. So I think my and your score misprint the "A" as "F". Try it and tell me what you think

[Simon0]

I quite like the F! They both sound nice though I think (either A or F). I am not sure if the A might make more sense though(then you have an A pedal)

[doowlehc]

yea I think Poulenc did mean an A pedal in that coda. And the harmony doesn't seem to fit Poulenc's style if you play the F there - the dissonance just doesn't sound Poulenc's. Also the progression to the next chord become less sensical (from a A dominant chord to a D chord with A as pedal - if you play an F there, the harmonic progression no longer seem to be in Poulenc's style. Tell me if you find out more.

[Simon0]

My piano teacher told me the F is a misprint! It should be A. I dont know how she knew that..

[theygotrhythm]

I just checked my Salabert edition, and it has that misprint as well. It's nice to actually learn something from YouTube comments for once :) In any case, I really enjoyed your playing, Ricker.

[kgmacd]

Thanks, Ricker.

I'm very fond of Poulenc and I think that your performance was wonderful.