Chopin: Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23 (BMC Piano Competition 2022 Finals) | Lillian Feng (16) 

Chopin sticks

Thank you so much! It’s such a masterpiece, and a big dream of mine as well! Keep practicing, I know you can do it! 💪💪

Thank you so much, Lucy! So appreciated having you there. 💚💙 Still thinking about those fun times with you at Brevard, feels like yesterday!

It really does feel like yesterday, crazy to think that we're almost to a new summer!

Thank you so much! I appreciate your support! 😊

Your kind words made my day, thank you so much! 🥹😊 I love this piece and definitely felt very into the music, and I concentrated on allowing myself to be free on stage. I’m very glad you enjoyed my performance!!

Thank you so much, Todd!! Your kind words inspire me, I will continue to practice hard! 🥹☺️

@@LillianFeng I am working on memorizing the Ballade. Memorization will be no problem for me. I will be able to do well on dynamics and tone quality. My big hurdle and problem area is trying to get the technical accuracy on this tough piece, especially on the sad, "Ichabod" coda.

Thank you so much! I appreciate your kind words! ☺️

Thank you so much for your kind words and noticing the difference ☺️ Refining this music really is a lifelong journey!

I’m rooting for you, Josh! You should absolutely go for it. 💪 Thanks a lot for your support! ☺️

I am so inspired by your comment! Thank you for your kind words, Clive! 🥹

I believe it is a New York Steinway, selected for this hall by pianist Jeremy Denk himself!

@@LillianFeng did you watch yunchan lim?

I did! I’m a huge fan of him 🤩

Suuuuuuurrre. Lol

@@kevinm6790it’s a joke lol

@@ashawilliams6390 I’m aware :)

Good advice i think

Thank you for your feedback, Sunaree! I agree that the dissonance should be emphasized more to illustrate pain and despair, and it will make for a wonderful contrast between the two themes.

@@LillianFeng Lillian do you believe that this ballade and the other three represent physical journeys or emotional journeys?

@sunareekaewnat8967 I think both are very compelling! I love to interpret the Chopin ballades as emotional journeys of struggles and success, paired with vivid scenes of weather and nature. I try to imagine the sounds of pouring rain at night accompanying sorrowful crying, or the warmth of the Sun’s joyous, hopeful rays shining down, drying puddles and tears. I love the ballades because they each tell many different stories that tie together in a shared understanding of humanity.

The Ballade is indeed a story--a sad, poignant story. I picture the first section with the subject being full of melancholy. Then, when it gets to the section right before the first fast, stormy section, I pucture the subject having a migraine headache. The second section after the flurry of arpeggios is full of peace and comfort, portraying a serene, sunshiny day near Krakov, with the beautiful trees of Poland surrounding the subject. Then, there is great depression as the piece enters the section in A minor with thick clouds. Then the sun bursts through the clouds, and the subject is saying, "Thank God, I'm rescued from death!" Then, when the transition from A major yo E-flat major happens, the subject is very excited, anticipating something wonderful is about to happen. On the descending F half-diminished descending arpeggios, the subject is riding in a plush coach drawn by four white regal horses. He arrives at a huge castle where there is an extremely elaborate ball. The subject enters and dances with a beautiful princess. Then he eats a sumptuous meal consisting of New York steak, medium rare, mashed potatoes, broccoli, tossed green salad, garlic bread with cheese on it, Martinelli's sparkling cider, and for dessert, chocolate cake. The subject is having a ball conversing with the beautiful princess and other people sitting at the ornate table. As the piece morphs back into G minor, the subject wakes up and realizes it was only a dream. His depression that is eventually accompanied by great anger is worse than ever. The Coda is what I call the Ichabod section-the glory has departed.

??? “Yes 6 out of 10.” 🤓🤓🤓 Now do it better than she at 16