Chopin Prelude op. 28, nr. 19 in E-flat: Is it just me?

[cloches_de_geneve]

Is it just me or is this sweet and harmless sounding piece nearly unplayable?

[pianowolfi]

It's also me, so far

[kriskicksass]

You'd never know it, but this sweet little prelude is as difficult as many of the etudes. My teacher assigned it to me when I wanted to learn all 24 Preludes. Looking back, I'd say he was trying to discourage me (I never learned them).

[pianistimo]

there must be a method to the madness.  what is it?  focusing only on the broken octaves and letting the other notes fall where they may.  does anyone notice if a note or two are off?  (can't believe i'm saying this).

one person titled this prelude 'throbbing' because the dynamics alternate going  soft/loud/soft/loud.

[cloches_de_geneve]

You'd never know it, but this sweet little prelude is as difficult as many of the etudes.

I think it is not implausible that Chopin, who was working on the etudes op. 25 and the preludes op. 28 at about the same time, originally conceived this piece as an etude rather than a prelude. However, being satisfied with the op. 25 compilation as we know it, he had no place left for this piece and shifted it to the preludes. At least to me, it is as difficult as the most difficult etudes.

[quasimodo]

I wouldn't ever have perceived that piece as "harmless"...

[opus10no2]

Yes, along with 28/12 and perhaps a couple others I'd say it may be the hardest of the set.

It's underrated, op28 are all gems.

[cloches_de_geneve]

I wouldn't ever have perceived that piece as "harmless"...

I just meant to say that it does not strike one as supra-difficult when simply listening to it, unlike preludes 8, 16, and 24, but in reality it is at least as difficult as those three.

[dnephi]

Depends on your hand size.