Legato on the Piano

[nakulanb]

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!

[prémont]

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.

[nakulanb]

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.

[Mandryka]

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.

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

[Mandryka]

And the best of the lot IMO, Eduardo Torbionelli

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COvKLjBvBXM&t=106

[nakulanb]

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

I enjoyed both!  Gould is closer in sound and touch to what I'm offering; no sustain on a modern piano with finger legato. 

[nakulanb]

And the best of the lot IMO, Eduardo Torbionelli

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COvKLjBvBXM&t=106

Very nice, some Gould-esq moments.

[prémont]

Here'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.

[nakulanb]

I would have preferred to see your hands doing it.

Can your ears extrapolate the illustrated point, however?

[nakulanb]

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

The final mvt was especially illustrative of the sound of Gould I'm trying to explain.

[prémont]

Can 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.

[nakulanb]

Maybe, but the interesting point for me isn't the resulting sound, but how you do it with your fingers.

Fair.