Jiayan Sun on why Beethoven shouldn’t sound like a metronome
The Smith College pianist on rubato, opera in Mozart and the pleading quality of repeated notes.
Jiayan Sun teaches at Smith College, where he has performed all 32 Beethoven piano sonatas in a recital series. He has won prizes at the Leeds, Cleveland, Dublin and Toronto international piano competitions.
Here are eleven of his best tips, taken from feedback he gave young pianists after live performances, with a link to each moment on video.
1. Beethoven is not a metronome
Contrary to some stereotypes, we shouldn’t play this music metronomically. Repeated notes should not all feel the same. With this portato marking, they should have a pleading quality, a natural sense of push and pull.
Jiayan Sun
2. Fast notes are a singer who is excited
Opera is the most important genre for Mozart, and in his instrumental music we have to think all the time about voice and drama. The sixteenth notes are not just runs. They are like a singer singing fast notes because they are excited or agitated.
Jiayan Sun
3. The accompaniment is a character too
Even the left-hand accompaniment is like a second character.
Jiayan Sun
4. Don’t startle your listener
The release of the last note is very important, and we shouldn’t startle our listener.
Jiayan Sun
5. Stay soft before the crescendo
Look at the dynamic markings throughout. It would be much more effective if we keep that phrase pianissimo before the crescendo.
Jiayan Sun
6. Rubato must be thought through
This music asks for a lot of rhythmic flexibility, but it cannot just be at the whim of the moment. It should sound spontaneous, but everything has to be carefully thought through.
Jiayan Sun
7. Let the background stay in the background
In the middle section the right hand is a shimmering pattern. It could be truly in the background instead of interfering with the cello melody in the left hand.
Jiayan Sun
8. In Chopin etudes, look for the left-hand melody
In most of these Chopin etudes, when the technical difficulties are in the right hand, it is usually the left hand that has the melodic material.
Jiayan Sun
9. Shade every sequence
All the notes can be shaped much more, especially when there is a series of sequences. We can have more gradations and more shading of the harmonic colors.
Jiayan Sun
10. Take care of the release
Make sure the releases at the end of phrases are taken care of. The last note shouldn’t create a hiccup.
Jiayan Sun
11. Always take the repeats
When you actually perform the piece, take all the repeats. A set of variations would not make much sense without them; we would only hear half of each phrase.
Jiayan Sun
Quotes are lightly edited for length and clarity. They come from Mr. Sun’s comments as a judge at the 2024 Piano Star International Competition. You can watch the full performances and feedback on the Piano League YouTube channel.
Quick question
How do you plan your rubato?
Have a story tip or a correction? Tell us.