Liszt vs. Chopin (Don't worry, it's not what you think it is)

[lagin]

My teacher said I could pick between Liszt's Un Sospiro, or Chopin's op. 25, no. 1

Voting time!  (Note, one does not know how to make a poll sadly, but please vote anyway!)

[pianiststrongbad]

Though i haven't played Un Sospiro I think it is much more difficult than Op. 25 no. 1.  I  prefer Un Sospiro, though they are both great pieces.

[jre58591]

i have played un sospiro. it was quite a fun piece to learn and play. it is definitely a better piece to learn, but also a harder piece to learn than 25-1. if you want an easier piece, go for 25-1. it is easily sightreadable.

[bernhard]

Which one do you love the best?

I will vote for ... both!

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[lagin]

Wow, you guys are fast!  Okay, I was already leaning towards Un Sospiro so I guess it's confirmed.  I do like it better.

The sheets for it however have vanished from gamingforce!  They were there a few days ago.  Hmmm... Anyone have them?

Thanks.

Edit:  Nevermind, it's back again today!  Wierd.

[ihatepop]

Chopin op25 no1 (it's great, but the liszt Un Sospiro is nice too)

Oh, yes, I hope you've found out how to set a poll.

[Waldszenen]

Go Un Sospiro... nicer piece, in my opinion.

[cloches_de_geneve]

I would proritize op. 25/1. It's much more of a "classic" of the piano literature than Un sospiro. Not having it in your repertoire is like pretending to be a specialist in English literature and not knowing Byron's poems. Also sospiro is not "nicer" than 25/1 in my opinion. 25/1 is one of the most amazing pieces of romantic piano literature.

In terms of difficulty I also disagree with what has been said. Ok, getting the notes right with op. 25/1 is easier than with the Liszt, BUT let any pianist play the first few bars of 25/1, and the experienced critic can immediatly tell whether the pianist is bad, mediocre, good, or superior. It's sort of easier to hide technical and especially musical deficiencies with Un sospiro imo.

This said, the best advice came from Berhard, as so often.

So I would go with op 25/1 first and second with Un sospiro (or Waldesrauschen, which I think is a more interesting etude).

[bernhard]

This said, the best advice came from Berhard, as so often.

 

[ted]

If pushed to choose, I enjoy playing the Chopin more than the Liszt, but find it difficult to justify or explain why. They're both nice pieces so just listen to them and play the one whose sound you prefer.

[Waldszenen]

Op. 25 No. 1 is pretty easy, IMO.

[thorn]

I've played both of them, and prefer Sospiro, although as people have said Op 25:1 is easier...

but i would say that Sospiro, probably just for the fact it is more difficult, is the more rewarding piece

[gyzzzmo]

You impress other musicians more with un sospiro. Though sospiro has very different difficulties than 'the harp'. So do you want to train, if yes what, or do you want to impress your fellow piano buddies.

[chopinfan_22]

I have played neither of them, but I prefer hearing Un Sospiro.

[Waldszenen]

From an objective compositional viewpoint, Un Sospiro was the better-written piece. It's one of Liszt's most unique, characteristic pieces whereas Op. 25 No. 1 is slightly repetitive and the same.