I’ve known this since around age 12 or 13, when I first played it out of some book with my first teacher, my grandmother. It’s a minute of anger, and for me it’s great to play just to let off some steam. I feel the same thing today that I did six decades ago. It gets me excited!
Recently I’ve listened to several recordings that are very fast, and they left me cold. To me they did not capture the kind of iron-strong sound that I associate with top Russian composers.
My personal view is that this short piece can’t be loud enough. I’d like to make the piano explode in a few seconds over one minute. BAM!!! Well, I came as close to that as I could.
The piece really does give off that explosive feeling of anger. It definitely shocked me when I first heard it. but it was cool to listen to.
Powerful. Not “simple” music. I’ve not heard this before. A primitive side of me is absolutely gratified by the BAM, like “I need to hear this – now!”
This was a strange trip, but is it me or do I hear something akin to the 2nd prelude of the WTC? Some kind of interlock between left and right hands to make the octaves, with funny business above and below?