hand crossing — Piano Fingerings Database

Piano fingerings for Warsaw Concerto by Richard Addinsell

Submitted by Josh Condon

Published on 4/29/2020

Piano ConcertoMichael ClarkAugust 28, 2021Richard Addinsell, Warsaw Concerto, Josh Condon, hand crossing, arpeggios, redistributionComment

ALBÉNIZ | Iberia, Book 2: I. Rondeña: mm. 127–8

“In mm 127–8 of the lyrical Cante Jondo middle section, the LH accompaniment reach is large for small-handed people (the only passage in this section like this), so I play the right-hand melody with my fifth finger and take the alternating E and G sharp of left left hand with my right hand, and cross my left hand over to only play the accompaniment F sharp. Voiced properly, no one will ever know the difference.”

Submitted by James Palmer

Published on 8/27/2021

Solo PianoMichael ClarkAugust 27, 2021Isaac Albéniz, Iberia (Book 2), James Palmer, redistribution, avoid stretch, hand crossingComment

BARBER | Hermit Songs: III. St. Ita's Vision: mm. 30–31

“Splitting between hands like this allows the rolled notes to played much more fluidly and in a faster motion.”

Submitted by Wade Troyer

Published on 9/1/2023

Art SongMichael ClarkFebruary 18, 2020Samuel Barber, Hermit Songs, Wade Troyer, redistribution, hand crossing, avoid finger crossingComment

BARBER | Hermit Songs: III. St. Ita's Vision: mm. 42–44

“The hand crossing allows you to play pianissimo much easier than try to playing the 2nds as written with one hand.”

Submitted by Wade Troyer

Published on 9/12/2023

Art SongMichael ClarkFebruary 18, 2020Samuel Barber, Hermit Songs, Wade Troyer, redistribution, hand crossing, reduce position shiftsComment

BARBER | Nocturne, Op. 33: m. 45

Piano fingerings for Nocturne by Samuel Barber

“Barber’s original note distribution and pedaling prevents the tenor F-flat from connecting to the E-flat. This fingering allows the right-hand thumb to sustain the tenor line. I take an extra pedal change on the final E-flat in the bass staff while keeping all tied notes depressed.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 1/1/2020

Solo PianoMichael ClarkFebruary 15, 2020Samuel Barber, Nocturne (Op. 33), Michael Clark, facilitate clearer pedaling, redistribution, hand crossing

BEETHOVEN | Sonata in D Minor, Op. 31, No. 2: I. mm. 29–38

RH in red, LH in blue

Piano fingerings for Piano Sonata in D Minor (“Tempest”), Op. 31, No. 2, by Ludwig van Beethoven

“When the bass is a whole note, hold the pedal for four beats so the bass sustains while the left hand crosses over the right. This redistribution feels more secure to me than the awkward leap involved in trading the triplets between the hands.”

Submitted by Michael Clark with thanks to Robert Roux

Published on 4/18/2020

Solo PianoMichael ClarkOctober 18, 2019Ludwig van Beethoven, Michael Clark, hand crossing, redistribution, Piano Sonata in D Minor (Op. 31/2)Comment

BEETHOVEN | Sonata in D Minor, Op. 31, No. 2: I. mm. 119–20

Piano fingerings for Sonata in D Minor, Op. 31, No. 2, ("Tempest") by Ludwig van Beethoven

“The leap down to the B-flat is treacherous, and it can be difficult to play it with satisfactory power. Taking it in the right hand eliminates the leap and assures a strong delivery.”

Submitted by Michael Clark with thanks to Robert Roux

Published on 4/18/2020

Solo PianoMichael ClarkOctober 18, 2019Ludwig van Beethoven, Michael Clark, facilitate leap, hand crossing, wide accompaniment pattern, redistribution, Piano Sonata in D Minor (Op. 31/2), maximize powerComment

BEETHOVEN | Sonata in F Minor, Op. 57 ("Appassionata"): I. mm. 25–30

Piano fingerings for Beethoven's Appassionata Sonata

Submitted by Michael Lenahan

Published on 12/15/2022

Solo PianoMichael ClarkOctober 11, 2019Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Sonata in F Minor (Op. 57), Michael Lenahan, redistribution, repeated notes, hand crossing, avoid crowdingComment

BRAHMS | Sonata in D Minor for Piano and Violin, Op. 108: I. mm. 72–83

Piano fingerings for Violin Sonata No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 108, by Johannes Brahms

“This hand distribution helps reduce the number of position shifts to as few as possible.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 1/1/2020

Chamber MusicMichael ClarkAugust 7, 2019Johannes Brahms, Violin Sonata (Op. 108), Michael Clark, hand crossing, redistribution, reduce position shifts, facilitate leap

BRAHMS | Sonata in F Minor for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 120, No. 1: II. 49–52

Piano fingerings for Sonata for Clarinet and Piano in F Minor, Op. 120, No. 1, by Johannes Brahms

“This redistribution allows the tied notes to be held without crossing over the thumb or finger substitutions.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 1/1/2020

Chamber MusicMichael ClarkAugust 2, 2019Johannes Brahms, Clarinet Sonata in F Minor (Op. 120/1), Michael Clark, hand crossing, redistribution, facilitate tie, avoid finger crossing

CHOPIN | Nocturne in E Major, Op. 62, No. 2: mm. 78–79

Piano fingerings for Nocturne in E Major, Op. 62, No. 2, by Frédéric Chopin

“Taking the double-stemmed note in the left hand helps to voice it distinctly from the other notes in the arpeggio.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 1/1/2020

Solo PianoMichael ClarkJune 4, 2019Frédéric Chopin, Nocturne (Op. 62/2), Michael Clark, hand crossing, redistribution, improve voicing

CHOPIN | Sonata for Cello and Piano in G Minor, Op. 65: III. m. 27

Piano fingerings for Cello Sonata in G Minor, Op. 65, by Frédéric Chopin

“This fingering minimizes position shifts and looks nice.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 1/1/2020

Chamber MusicMichael ClarkJune 2, 2019Frédéric Chopin, Cello Sonata (Op. 65), Michael Clark, hand crossing, redistribution, avoid finger crossing, choreography

COPLAND | Piano Sonata: I. mm. 14–16

Piano fingerings for Piano Sonata by Aaron Copland

“The A-flat and C-flat are within the hand position of the held F octave in the right hand, so it’s much less crowded to simply take these notes in the right hand and finish the gesture with the left.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 1/1/2020

Solo PianoMichael ClarkApril 13, 2019Aaron Copland, Piano Sonata (1941), Michael Clark, avoid crowding, redistribution, hand crossing

DANIELPOUR | Piano Fantasy ("Wenn ich einmall soll scheiden"): mm. 31–33

Piano fingerings for Richard Danielpour's Piano Fantasy ("Wenn ich einmall soll scheiden")

“I divide the septuplet between the hands in this way, finishing with the right-hand thumb to more reliably project the strong accent.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 3/8/2023

Solo PianoMichael ClarkMarch 5, 2019Richard Danielpour, Piano Fantasy ("Wenn ich einmal soll scheiden"), Michael Clark, redistribution, facilitate articulation, maximize power, hand crossingComment

DEBUSSY | Images, Book I: Reflets dans l'eau: mm. 50–53

“Taking the top of the gesture in the right hand in m. 50 increases brilliances. I find that taking more notes in the right hand in m. 53 is more reliable for me.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 1/1/2020