Need help with Chopin's Scherzo

[yoshiki]

Hi, I can now play Chopin Scherzo no.2 in B flat minor alright. I would like to start the second Scherzo. I am thinking of Scherzo no.1. Can anyone here played this piece and give me some advice? Thanx

[quantum]

Scherzo No.1 is quite different from No.2.  The Fast sections require lots of thought as to the fingerings you use, as this will be a major factor in how comfortable the piece feels at performance level. 

If you play the Fantasie Impromptu it has rather straight foreward figurations that mostly fit under the hand.  The 1st Scherzo however requires many more contortions of the hand in the figurations.  There are also many jumps to be made.  Some parts of it are easy to play fast and others not so because of the complex figurations.  On the brighter side, the piece is not nearly as long as it looks because mostly all repetitions are written out in full.  Learning the notes and memorizing may not prove than much of a hasstle. 

All that said, it is a good challenge and rewarding to play.  It also is quite thrilling to anyone listening to it. 

Favourite recordings of it:
Demidenko (complete Scherzos disc)
Tryon (complete Ballades and Scherzos disc)

I learned this piece at 16, I first performed it in public at 23.  I put the piece through several revisions because I never was really satisfied with how I played it.  Please don't let me scare you away from the piece, it does take a lot of work but it is well worth the effort.