Another stupid "Which is harder!?" poll

[Waldszenen]

[Skeptopotamus]

Even though I'd like to say it's the Rachmaninov I think it's probably the Chopin.

[BoliverAllmon]

i am leaning towards the Chopin, though I am not an expert.

boliver

[Waldszenen]

heh

the reason why I'm asking this is because I'm learning both and I can't decide for myself which is harder.

[shasta]

the reason why I'm asking this is because I'm learning both and I can't decide for myself which is harder.

Hi Waldszenen.  I've done both.  I think they are both very straightforward and sound harder than they really are.  For me, the presto (16/4) is much more fun to perform and listen to.

One tricky spot for me in the presto was ~measures 29-32, trying to keep this section smooth with the rest of the piece, particularly since the LH motions you need for these 4 measures don't show up anywhere else.  Best of luck with it!  Ashkenazy does a great job, if you'd like to hear a snippet of him doing the presto here:

https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0007WQHV2/qid=1120736020/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl15/104-6841579-4375104?v=glance&s=classical&n=507846

[Waldszenen]

Measures 29 - 32 are a pain, I agree with you


And in the Revolutionary Etude there's this section right after the main part where the LH goes all... "jumpy". I hate that part.