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Piano Board => Repertoire => Topic started by: fred smalls on June 05, 2005, 05:30:53 PM

Title: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: fred smalls on June 05, 2005, 05:30:53 PM
     So what do you guys think is Chopin's most beautiful piece?  Yes, yes, it is a ridiculously hard question, and no doubt there are tons of amazingly beautiful pieces by him.  If fact now that I think of it, there are many I'm thinking of right now, ahhhh, so many, must restrain from listing all of them.......................

     Ok, I'm back from the asylum, I would have to say, of course, the Barcarolle op.60 and the second movement of Piano Concerto No.2.

     AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, theres so many more............................


Peace  ;)
Fred Smalls
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: Goldberg on June 05, 2005, 06:06:00 PM
Well I'm not the most enormous or faithful fan of Chopin but I will list a few pieces that are timeless as far as I'm concerned, and I am currently so enthralled by them that I can't resist trying to learn them:

Variations Brillantes, 3rd Impromptu (and indeed the 2nd, which resembles the Barcarolle), Fantasie in F minor, 4th Ballade, the three Grand Valses, nocturnes like op. 9 no. 3, op. 15 no. 1, op. 62 no. 2, and a handful of others whose numbers I can't recall right now; the cello/piano polonaise, the Fantasie-Polonaise, and finally the 2nd movement of the E minor concerto, which I plan on learning in the Balakirev transcription.

That doesn't sum up my favourite pieces by the composer, though. My favourite set in general is that of his mazurkas, but I think it would be kind of ridiculous to go through those and pick out individuals.

Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: FranzLiszt369 on June 05, 2005, 06:23:36 PM
I encourage everyone to listen to Chopin's Scherzos No. 1 and No. 2.  They are very beautiful pieces.  Technically challenging, but very beautiful. 

And, his Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise are truly majestic as well. 
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: paris on June 05, 2005, 07:05:49 PM
there is NO way to choose just one, but on my top are piano concerto e-minor   and sonata op.35 b flat minor , especially 1st and 2nd movement

i like ocean etude too...and F major ballade...and f sharp minor polonaise...heh i told ya i can't choose just one  ;)
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: milkcarton08 on June 05, 2005, 07:14:08 PM
I love his ballades! 2nd and 4th are the best, beatiful peices of music,

- michael
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: joeplaysthepiano on June 05, 2005, 07:15:55 PM
I would say:

Barcarolle: the middle part that returns at the end in octaves I think is insanely beautiful
Ballade no.1, no.4
Mazurka op.17 no.4
andante spianato
Cello etude, harp etude
Nocturne op.9 no.3, op.48 no.1

But if I had to pick one, I would pick the andante spianato
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: Fugue on June 05, 2005, 07:16:40 PM
I've always had a fondness for his Waltz in f minor (op. 70 I believe).
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: Teddybear on June 05, 2005, 08:06:12 PM
Barcarole F# major op. 60. Chopin is not among my favourite composers, but if I only could play five pieces in my life this would probably be one of them.

T
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: liszmaninopin on June 05, 2005, 08:57:27 PM
For me:

Fantasie in F minor
Ballade #4
Impromptu #3
Etude op. 25 #5
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: nanabush on June 05, 2005, 09:33:32 PM
Nocturne Op. 9 No. 1
Ballade in A flat Major, especially the part in C sharp minor near the middle..
Prelude in C major, and G major
Prelude Op. 45
Polonaise Heroique
Cello Etude
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: chelsey on June 05, 2005, 09:59:48 PM
nocturn op9 no1, ballade #3, etude op25 no7 ('cello) are my favourites (perhaps for sentimental reasons)
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: Barbosa-piano on June 06, 2005, 02:24:25 AM
I love each piece by Chopin greatly, and I don't think there is a way I could make this decision. My top favorite ones are: Ballade No.1, Grande Polonaise Brillante, Concerto No.1, but there is no way I could choose only 1. :P
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: nanabush on June 06, 2005, 02:29:19 AM
If I could pick any of his pieces to learn, just one piece, it'd have to be the Winterwind etude, although it is purely incredible, and still beautiful, it is not his top on the beautiful list... but it's so 'dazzling' as my teacher said, so I'd want to learn that one, but if I were to pick his most beautiful piece, I said earlier...
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: NoamKrief on June 06, 2005, 05:54:29 AM
last movement of last sonata...

Also fantasie impromptu is probably his best one. Most wouldn't like to admit it because it's SO OVER PLAYED but there is a reason why it's so famous...
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: apion on June 06, 2005, 06:25:18 AM
I love his ballades! 2nd and 4th are the best, beatiful peices of music,

- michael

IMPOSSIBLE TASK: There is no possible way to choose Chopin's most beautiful composition, because they're all so beautiful!  Even among the 4 ballades, one can't choose "the most beautiful."  If forced to choose a favorite ballade, I would choose no. 1 -- but I'm not sure it's the most beautiful .........  ::)    :-\
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: kilini on June 06, 2005, 10:45:51 AM
last movement of last sonata...

Also fantasie impromptu is probably his best one. Most wouldn't like to admit it because it's SO OVER PLAYED but there is a reason why it's so famous...

HAHAHAHA. Listen to it about 100 times and you'll hate it instantly.
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: C-A on June 06, 2005, 11:53:56 AM
HAHAHAHA. Listen to it about 100 times and you'll hate it instantly.
Heheh, right-o! It's so overplayed, and I'm beginning to get tired of it- the middle section too repetative, just like Nocturne 9/2. These 2 can give me a headache sometimes... and those 2 are very mawkish. Why are these considered to be "One of the world's most famous?"
But for me, the most beautiful are the:
Fm Piano Concerto, the 2nd and 3rd is very serene and calming...
The 9/1 sometimes make me cry, and it's so beautiful to hear...
The 9/3, do I have to tell you?!!! Whenever there are pretty and sexy women nearby, and whenever I hear that nocturne, I suddenly become...umm,  you don't wanna know.
The 15/2 makes me think I'm in a 1st class restaurant, while the Barcarolle Op.60 just makes me relax and calms me down...
The Heroic, Military and the Op.44 Polonaise are also nice to hear, but my favorite would be the Heroic. Whenever my older cousin plays it, everyone would demand an encore.
Other nice music to hear are:
Impromptu Op.29, 36 and 51, Ballades, Scherzos (the B-flat minor is my favorite), and Sonatas in B-flat minor and B minor (The 3rd movement is my favorite part), The nocturnes and others, oh what the heck?!!! They're all nice.
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: pianojems on June 06, 2005, 04:48:52 PM
 ;D
Andante Spianato and Ballade #4 are some of the most beautiful pieces out there!
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: NoamKrief on June 06, 2005, 06:04:56 PM
let me ask you this - which piece can you listen to more than a 100 times and not hate it????

:)
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: nanabush on June 06, 2005, 08:24:43 PM
Scherzo in B flat minor, just heard it's incredible!  How difficult is it actually compared to ballades or etudes?
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: robert on June 06, 2005, 08:25:22 PM
A terrible difficult question but I go with a couple of others and name out his first Nocturne which is op.9 no1 in B-flat minor. Perfect key for beauty. I should definitely polish this one up!
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: viking on June 06, 2005, 08:43:12 PM
....... and the second movement of Piano Concerto No.2.

     AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, theres so many more............................


Peace  ;)
Fred Smalls

I would have to agree there.  IMO, chopins most beautiful lyrical peice of music, possible the most beautiful piece of all time.
SAM
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: MattL on June 06, 2005, 10:22:22 PM
let me ask you this - which piece can you listen to more than a 100 times and not hate it????

:)

Op. 35 4th mvmt..... love it

And of course the Sonata in B minor Its like my crack addiction
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: fred smalls on June 06, 2005, 10:35:37 PM
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DOESN'T ANYONE LISTEN TO THE BARCAROLLE?????  IF YOU DO, IT WILL INSTANTLY BECOME THE MOST BEUTIFULL CHOPIN PIECE YOUR HEARD!!!!! 

(Cept maybe 2nd mvt pc no.2)

Peace
Fred Smalls
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: Hamfast on June 06, 2005, 11:00:21 PM
     So what ...

     Ok, I'm back from the asylum, I would have to say, of course, the Barcarolle op.60 and the second movement of Piano Concerto No.2.



certainly!!!!
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: Rach3 on June 07, 2005, 07:22:28 AM
Besides everything mentioned before, I'm surprised no one mentions his 27/1 nocturne, or op.48. Or etude 10/3, or 10/11.
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: fowler on June 07, 2005, 02:09:04 PM
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 1 In E minor, Op.11: Romance - Larghetto, oh yes, one of the most beautiful pieces EVER wrote for the piano, used also for good effect in the 'truman show'. The main theme in this movement is almost too sublime for the ears.
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: Bouter Boogie on June 07, 2005, 03:48:23 PM
I encourage everyone to listen to Chopin's Scherzos No. 1 and No. 2.  They are very beautiful pieces.  Technically challenging, but very beautiful. 

And, his Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise are truly majestic as well. 

I played the 2nd Scherzo for a lóóóng time and yea, it's technically challenging, indeed  :) AND very beautiful.. But I overplayed it, so I prefer Ballada nr. 2 and nr. 4  :D

Also not to forget.. Chopin's Cellosonate op. 65  :-*

Almost forgot to mention his piano concertos  ;D I luv 'em!
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: Siberian Husky on June 07, 2005, 03:50:44 PM
his 24th prelude..its vigorous and that ending is simply REMARKABLE!
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: NoamKrief on June 07, 2005, 03:51:33 PM
I always like that one - 24th prelude!
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: raffyplayspiano on June 07, 2005, 06:38:35 PM
ballade # 4 is amazing,
piano sonata # 3 is just as good

those would have to be my favorite, but its really hard to pick..
:)
raffy
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: Sergey R on June 08, 2005, 08:44:40 AM
Chopin's best pieces are his Ballades, Etudes, Impromptus, Mazurkas, Nocturnes, Piano Concertos, Polonaises, Preludes, Scherzos, and Waltzes. ALL of them. :D
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: ryno200sx on June 08, 2005, 06:05:15 PM
The Raindrop Prelude.
Ryan
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: pianoguy on June 08, 2005, 10:31:54 PM
I'd have to say either Etude op. 10 no. 3 or Berceuse op. 57
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: 6ft 4 on June 09, 2005, 11:00:00 AM
let me ask you this - which piece can you listen to more than a 100 times and not hate it????

:)

Any piece by Bach.....
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: robert on June 09, 2005, 08:40:34 PM
Quote
Quote
let me ask you this - which piece can you listen to more than a 100 times and not hate it?Huh


Any piece by Bach.....
True!
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: redbaron on October 29, 2007, 04:48:48 PM
Raindrop Prelude
Etude in Gb - not the Black Keys, the other one, I think it's called the Butterfly Etude. That ending is just so whimsical
Etude Op 10 No 3
Fantaisie Impromptu
Several of the Nocturnes, exactly which escape me right now
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: pianowolfi on October 29, 2007, 04:58:14 PM
To me it's the third sonata, especially mvts. 3 and 4. It changes every once in a while but these are something special to me. Andsnes is my favorite recording. :)
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: pianogeek_cz on October 29, 2007, 10:22:37 PM
The Top Three (surprisingly easy to pick):

3) Barcarolle
2) Scherzo no. 2
1) Third sonata, esp. last movement.
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: chopinfan_22 on October 30, 2007, 12:48:33 PM
Chopin is the reason I love the piano (among others). My votes for the most beautiful compositions:

1. Ballade Op. 23
2. Etude Op. 25 No. 2 "Butterfly"
3. Etude Op. 25 No. 1 "Aeolian Harp"
4. Berceuse Op. 57
5. Nocturne in C# Minor
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: gyzzzmo on October 30, 2007, 02:51:24 PM
If i were allowed to say only 1 piece, it would be Chopin's nocturne no 8 in Db
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: frigo on October 30, 2007, 03:01:48 PM
Hard choose:
waltz no 3 Opus 34/2
mazurca opus 68/2
ballade n 1
barcarolle
piano concerto no 1
the fantastic minute waltz,...
... et cetera et cetera

Kevin Ferreira
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: gyzzzmo on October 30, 2007, 03:39:58 PM
Chopin's worst pianopieces: His pianoconcerts lol. I gues he was too much of a pianist to make a decent one.
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: clhiospzitn on November 02, 2007, 11:15:16 PM
It's way too difficult to pick Chopin's most beautiful piece, and no matter what you choose someone else will disagree with it, but I personally think that the following are the best contenders in this category:

Etude in E major, op. 10 no. 3
Nocturne in D-flat major, op. 27 no. 2
Waltz in C-sharp minor, op. 64 no. 2
Prelude in A-flat major, op. 28 no. 17
Piano Concerto no. 1 in E minor, op. 11 - 2nd movement (Romance)
Piano Sonata no. 3 in B minor, op. 58 - 1st and 4th movements
Polonaise in B-flat major, op. 71 no. 2
Barcarolle in F-sharp major, op. 60
Berceuse in D-flat major, op. 57
Ballade no. 1 in G minor, op. 23 / Ballade no. 3 in A-flat major, op. 47
Scherzo no. 4 in E major, op. 54
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: maxy on November 23, 2007, 09:43:25 PM
 my pick : Ballade 4
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: verywellmister on November 25, 2007, 01:23:40 AM
The etude in c minor, 25/12 is my favorite piece (by any composer) and most beautiful composition imo.
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: s1d1f1 on November 25, 2007, 09:19:50 PM
They are all very nice but for my taste is preludes
 C major,and gminor
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: dnephi on November 25, 2007, 09:24:00 PM
In my opinion, there is little contest, if any at all, with Chopin's Op. 52 Ballade in F Minor.
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: ihatepop on November 30, 2007, 06:59:08 AM
If I would list them to you, they would reach at least 10. Some of them include Waltz Op70 No1, Ballade No1 and many others.

ihatepop
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: gerry on November 30, 2007, 08:06:19 AM
Polonaise - Fantasie, Op. 61
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: ganymed on November 30, 2007, 05:49:02 PM
the ballade opus 23 is among the best pieces by chopin for me
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: jepoy on December 04, 2007, 02:41:04 PM
I'm currently addicted to the following:

Fantasy in Fm
Nocturne in C#m (not the posthumous one... forgot the no.)
Etude in Op10 No3
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: chong777 on December 05, 2007, 06:20:46 AM
Chopin's nocturnes are my first loves. Nocturne op 27 No. 2 is so dreamy. So out of the world feeling...
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: a1 on December 05, 2007, 06:38:15 AM
let me ask you this - which piece can you listen to more than a 100 times and not hate it????

:)
     
         Debussy Clair de Lune !!!
         i listen more than 1000 times but still beautiful (play by professional pianist of course )
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: mikebechstein on December 10, 2007, 04:12:00 AM
I think that, being true music lovers, we often mixing up pure beauty with musical satisfaction. I agree with some of the choices above and the final movement of the 3rd sonata is one of my favorite pieces - but I would never call it beautiful. However, if you follow the name of this thread in a literal sense and only consider beauty (of sound) then it has to be, for me, Berceuse Op. 57.
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: dan101 on December 10, 2007, 06:19:53 PM
This is an intriguing and, of course, near-impossible question to answer. In my opinion, the preludes and nocturnes offer some of Chopin's most beautiful moments; in particular, the first Bb minor nocturne and the wild and crazy prelude in the same key.
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: damien on December 16, 2007, 12:04:55 PM
4th ballade and most of nocturnes
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: pmz310 on December 19, 2007, 11:49:29 PM
C Minor Op. 48 No. 1
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: pianorin on December 22, 2007, 02:04:52 PM
nocturne op.9-1. (immediately fell in love with this nocturne when I 1st heard it!!)
waltz in C# minor op.64-2
waltz in E minor.
Piano Concerto No.1 2nd movement

last but not least.... Fantasie Impromptu..
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: vuvais on December 23, 2007, 03:40:50 AM
Valse Op.64 N.2
Valse Op.34 N.2
Nocturne Op.9 N.1
Fantasie Impromptu Op.66
Nocturne Op.20
Scherzo Op.31 N.2
Prelude Op.25 N.15
Etude Op.25 N.11

And many more!
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: bapdoo on August 29, 2013, 01:39:15 PM
Definitely the harp etude, Op. 25 no. 1
I love how the melody is so flowing and there's background harmony that really sounds like a harp.

Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: bsharp77 on August 29, 2013, 02:06:17 PM
I love the waltzes, especially op 69 no 1 and 2   
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: prestoconfuocco on August 29, 2013, 03:35:23 PM
There's no way I can pick between the second ballade in F major op. 38 and that Fantasy in F minor op. 49. Both amazingly beautiful.
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: gvans on August 29, 2013, 05:05:10 PM
Chopin himself weighed in on this question: He stated that the A-section melody in Opus 10 No. 3 was his most beautiful, and doubted he could ever surpass it.
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: gapoc459 on August 30, 2013, 11:40:34 AM
What's the big deal regarding the second movement of the Fm concerto? Sure, it's beautiful, but IMO it's the least interesting movement of both the concertos. I don't think it can hold a candle to the middle movement of the Em (which is just sublime). The rest of the Fm is pretty awesome, possibly even better than much of the Em...

I think when asking a question like this it's very important to recognize the immense differences between early Chopin and late Chopin. I'd say, starting from Op. 52, every subsequent piece is remarkably profound on so many levels. When I first listened to the Op. 58-3, I thought it was remarkably tedious, but after a few listens I discovered just how profound it is. Early Chopin rarely finds such depth (I'd say his first real masterpiece was the 1st ballade), but the beauty exists in an entirely different form. Among his earlier works, though, I especially love Opp. 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16 (VASTLY underrated), 19, 21.
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: camille101 on August 31, 2013, 04:20:46 AM
Nocturne in g major op 37 no.2.  Not popular, no idea why.  The whole thing is amazing
Title: Re: Chopin's most beautiful piece?
Post by: prestoconfuocco on August 31, 2013, 09:00:29 AM
Nocturne in g major op 37 no.2.  Not popular, no idea why.  The whole thing is amazing
WOW, YES.
The second theme is amazing. The nocturne is even better once played right after the G minor one before it.