Chopin - Ocean Etude Op 25 No 12

Performed by David Edward Smith. 1981 concert. Wow. See his 1951 review of a concert at the National Gallery of Art, Washington DC where critic Glen Dillard Dunn, of the Times-Herald said his playing "belongs in the same category with Solomon, Curzon, and even the venerable Arthur Rubenstein".
http://www.drslawfirm.com/natlgallery51review.pdf
David Edward Smith, studied piano from the age of 12 (1936) until age 20 (1944) with Dr. Karol Liszniewski of the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. My father wrote: "All the Polish celebrities knew Dr. Liszniewski (who speaks Polish besides the Poles?). Arthur Rubinstein and Mieczyslaw Munz often stopped by when they were on tour. So did Rachmaninoff and Paderewski. I would be allowed to sit right next to them--only inches from the keyboard--to watch them practice by the hour--preparing for their solo recitals and concerto performances. They would give me lessons and sometimes, when I was practicing in my room upstairs, they would open the door at the bottom of the stairs and yell such things as 'Practice SLOWLY' or, for example, 'Who told you to do that crescendo in the left hand' (I had done something terrible, no doubt). 'That's good-don't ever change that!' (What a pleasant surprise). Sometimes they would come to my room to watch me practice--stopping me to show better fingering, a more beautiful interpretation, or how to solve some difficult problem 'at hand'. To an artist there is nothing quite so satisfying as the solving of an 'aesthetic problem'."

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Chopin
• Ocean
• Etude
• Classical
• Piano

[xthexrealxsupermanx]

There's just something about Chopin's etudes. It takes weeks to learn how to play them, and when you finally hit no wrong notes... it's simply exhilarating.

[Ffllicck]

I agree. Chopin was an excellent pianist, teacher, and most of all, a great composer. His legacy of pieces stand to prove my point.

[zabuzato]

I really like the fact that pianist that are good take time to do a small ral. at each bar.

[Fontainebleau77]

David Smith’s playing is amazing. I had the good fortune to know him here in Austin, Texas, back in the mid-’70s. I heard him play this piece at Pearl Amster’s home when he first arrived in Austin. Several of my friends and I came to be good friends with David. After hearing him play this, I had to learn it. David promptly took my music and began writing slight little changes in it. When I asked him about that, he casually said, “This is what Rachmaninoff taught me to do.” Good enough for me!

[hideharumijahir]

THE BEST VERSION POZDRO FROM POLAND:))))

[McSTEELhc]

@karakuliambro89 Since the producers of his scores named them on the own accord, without any input of Chopin :/

[karakuliambro89]

Since when this etude is called "Ocean Etude" -.-?

[bsd300d]

@xthexrealxsupermanx Weeks?? damn, I am jealous of you!

[alejandrothefader]

@eurisko618 it's saddening that you think so, 'cause when you play them it's different, you feel like YOU are actually recreating them, they get to be yours, and even when you know the notes tempo etc by heart you still or maybe i should say then, you find the magic behind

as to the arthritis i believe that with properly done and specialised technique exercises no matter how wrecked your hands are you can get to a decent enough level to play them, i mean come on, they re not transcedental level!

[eurisko618]

@alejandrothefader I admire your determinism, but not everyone is cut out to master masterpieces no matter how much they wish they could. I have all the time in the world to study but lack the energy. If I never had the technique when I was young it's not likely to appear when I'm in my 60's and arthritis slows me down faster than a unwinding metronome. Trying to play them would only do them an injustice, so I defer to the pros who act as proxy in bringing the music to my ears.

[alejandrothefader]

@eurisko618 start again the essentials woth patience and you WILL master them, they're no big deal.... the result is worth the effort, unless you have no time tu study!

[eurisko618]

@alejandrothefader Oh, if it were only that easy. Due to misfortune I had to sell my grand piano nearly 20 years ago and have never been able to afford any other instrument since then - until I inherited the Yamaha studio piano my parents bought when I was 15 - it returned to me when my mother passed 3 years ago. But having not played in so many years and never having mastered the essentials needed to approach Chopin's etudes, I'm afraid I'll have to be satisfied playing less demanding works.