Which Polonaise?

[pigscanfly]

I'm just looking for advice on which polonaise I should learn next.

Polonaise Opus 40-1 Military or Polonaise Opus 53 Heroic

There both amazing songs and I can't decide which one I should put my time into.  I was going to go with the easier one first but I'm not sure which one would be easier. 

I believe these songs are in my skill range but I'm not sure.  Could somebody also compare theses Polonaises to F-impromptu and Ballade in G minor because I just finished these two songs.

thanks

[chopinisque]

Well, op.40 no.1 is just above grade 8, according to one of Bernhard's incredible lists... so is f-impromptu...

[pigscanfly]

ok thanks also I don't have the sheet music yet so I don't know.

Do all the Polonaises have really big chords that could be unreachable for me.  I can only reach about 1 more note than an octave.

[richard w]

Op.40 No.1 is much easier than Op.53, in my opinion. If you get on well with chords then Op.40 No.1 will come quite easily. It sounds and looks really impressive, but it really does fit under the hands nicely. Op.53 is a brilliant piece, but it is also quite awkward in parts, and is much more of a challenge to get the clarity of technique needed. Both pieces offer a real challenge in terms of musicianship though, especially Op.40 No.1, which on account of its comparative ease can be played really badly by someone with limited experience. Make sure you listen to a few good recordings to get a feel for the 'interpretative' elements.

If you can play the FI you should have no problem with Op.40 No.1, and I would encourage you to see how you get on with Op.53. Look at some of the other Polonaises as well - they are all brilliant.



Richard.

[sharon_f]

Op. 53 is much, much more difficult than Op. 40, No. 1.

Op. 53 is much longer, requires a lot of stamina and demands an advanced technique. The opening requires a very clean double-note technique. In the main section there are those long upward unison scales that have to be absolutely clean. (If you've perfected the G-minor Ballade, this shouldn't be a problem.) And the infamous E major section requires strong, fast left-hand octaves.

Also, since every concert pianist on the face of the planet has recorded the Op. 53, people are very, very familiar with it  Unless it is played absolutely solid from begining to end, it can easily become "so much noise."

[pigscanfly]

thank you guys this is exactly what I needed

[chopinguy]

oh and someday in the future learn the polonaise-fantasie.  it is an AWESOME piece!