Interpreting Chopin: Barcarolle in F sharp, op 60 (tutorial)

Clive Swansbourne discusses matters technical; and interpretive in this towering masterpiece.

[@republiccooper]

I have played this but I must admit that I forgot how beautiful it is. Your insights have brought it all back to me in a fresh way. Thank you. It is indeed, from my perspective, one of Chopin's greatest works.

[@robertpawlsoky2910]

Thank you some h for the insights. Truly wonderful.

[@mstalcup]

Thank you for the excellent overview on what to look for when preparing this piece. I consider the Barcarolle, op. 60 to be Chopin's greatest work. It is sophisticated music that uses great mastery to uncover a genuine emotionally moving humanity. I have played piano for decades and I'm tempted at this moment to commit to learning this piece for the first time.

[@pianoinsights6092]

You are welcome! Best wishes with the project.

[@mstalcup]

I have finished preparing Chopin's Barcarolle and look forward playing it in public once concerts start becoming possible again. I read that Chopin frequently programmed the piece in his concerts during his last few years. I imagine the composer very much enjoyed playing it. It's a joy to play this piece and take part in a journey.

[@davetinoco]

A lovely, lovely piece...whenever I heard it, I imagined a boat ride in a calm river through a beautiful wooded forest. I was surprised when I read what Barcarolle meant.

[@anjalialaniz]

This is a really beautiful and informed and generous presentation! Many thanks! It is definitely Chopin's spiritual swan song.....It to my soul represents by Chopin a true longing or yearning, coupled with a deep curious contentment and then at the climax a true and ebullient JOY that you have finally got it! And then very quickly a bit more somber ending. because no one gets anything forever, but oh, the joy....the utter indescribable JOY........Just magnificent emotions done in spiritual perfection!

[@pianoinsights6092]

Thanks, Raul. You have captured the spirit of this music very well.

[@alessandrodaniel8191]

pro trick : you can watch series on flixzone. I've been using it for watching lots of of movies lately.

[@curtisnash4476]

@Alessandro Daniel yup, I have been using Flixzone for since november myself :)

[@janicel.a.1178]

Thank you for this very helpful tutorial. I love the Barcarolle and have played it for decades. I believe Chopin had hoped to visit Venice but knew by the time he wrote this piece that he would never get there. Hence the bitterness in the dissonances towards the end. I used to read Chopin biographies; haven't done that for a while; not sure if I remember that biographical fact correctly; anyway that thought helps me with the mood of the odd passage after the beautiful fortissimo climax.

[@natalienok3326]

Thank you so much! Really great help for my self-learning! Looking forward for more tutorial like this!

[@buddydog1956]

Thank you very much for this explanation. I worked on this piece over 30yrs ago, studied it w/ many, but no one came to the level of expression and vivid depictions of the piece, as you have. I have found over the years, listening to various so called 'professionals' play and interpret this piece only to have performed a disservice to it's beauty. There were many pianists I tried to emulate to keep the 'timing' right (in my terms) as well as the sonority. I've found a 'time' between 9:15 or 9:30, (to me) , sounds right to my ears. Many equate the dynamics (loudness) , to speed and the beauty becomes ugly and the listener becomes 'unsatisfied'. I thoroughly enjoyed your 'master class' and you have 'awoken' a new found interest in myself to study this incomparable piece once more ~

[@pianoinsights6092]

Thanks. I am glad to be the catalyst to your reconnecting with this piece.

[@kilee2002]

thank you for uploading this video.

[@sekkha]

Thank you for your insights on this wonderful piece. One observation, you're playing an F# in the left hand, measure 11, beat four, not the D# Chopin notated. Are you referring to an obscure edition or is this a mistake you've overlooked?

[@JS-jr2ux]

Thank you!

[@universally2386]

Dear Sir, Do you think you might have any idea how to play bar 14 with the notorious leggiero sinstruction

[@MrThrond]

Advice for the Barcarolle: watch out your fingerings! :)