I have been working on achieving legato without the sustain pedal. I find this approach to bring out Gould's touch on this instrument.
I am quite fond of this idea!
I am a bit confused because the special Gouldian touch in my view is his, a bit pushing, staccato.
On the other hand finger-legato has been used by organists and players of early keyboard instruments as long as these instruments have existed.
Here's an example of me doing it!
https://youtube.com/shorts/k3NYSqvRPtg?si=eaQbith12_UEcq3K
I find sustain on the modern piano almost always too muddy.
Quote from: nakulanb on April 27, 2026, 07:43:51 AMHere's an example of me doing it!
https://youtube.com/shorts/k3NYSqvRPtg?si=eaQbith12_UEcq3K
I find sustain on the modern piano almost always too muddy.
Try the big theme of the first movement of Chopin's B minor sonata -- listen to the legato in Hamelin's performance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hi6-jX8l2ZY&t=87
and now contrast Gould
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAHE8PTR8tE&t=105
And the best of the lot IMO, Eduardo Torbionelli
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COvKLjBvBXM&t=106
Quote from: Mandryka on April 27, 2026, 08:10:49 AMTry the big theme of the first movement of Chopin's B minor sonata -- listen to the legato in Hamelin's performance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hi6-jX8l2ZY&t=87
and now contrast Gould
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAHE8PTR8tE&t=105
I enjoyed both! Gould is closer in sound and touch to what I'm offering; no sustain on a modern piano with finger legato.
Quote from: Mandryka on April 27, 2026, 08:39:48 AMAnd the best of the lot IMO, Eduardo Torbionelli
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COvKLjBvBXM&t=106
Very nice, some Gould-esq moments.
Quote from: nakulanb on April 27, 2026, 07:43:51 AMHere's an example of me doing it!
https://youtube.com/shorts/k3NYSqvRPtg?si=eaQbith12_UEcq3K
I would have preferred to see your hands doing it.
Quote from: prémont on April 27, 2026, 09:27:55 AMI would have preferred to see your hands doing it.
Can your ears extrapolate the illustrated point, however?
Quote from: Mandryka on April 27, 2026, 08:10:49 AMTry the big theme of the first movement of Chopin's B minor sonata -- listen to the legato in Hamelin's performance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hi6-jX8l2ZY&t=87
and now contrast Gould
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAHE8PTR8tE&t=105
The final mvt was especially illustrative of the sound of Gould I'm trying to explain.
Quote from: nakulanb on April 27, 2026, 09:33:50 AMCan your ears extrapolate the illustrated point, however?
Maybe, but the interesting point for me isn't the resulting sound, but how you do it with your fingers.
Quote from: prémont on April 27, 2026, 10:36:00 AMMaybe, but the interesting point for me isn't the resulting sound, but how you do it with your fingers.
Fair.