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Poll

Which of the 24 Etudes is technically the most difficult?

10/1
2 (3.9%)
10/2
5 (9.8%)
10/3
1 (2%)
10/4
1 (2%)
10/5 "black keys"
0 (0%)
10/6
0 (0%)
10/7
1 (2%)
10/8
1 (2%)
10/9
0 (0%)
10/10
1 (2%)
10/11
0 (0%)
10/12 "revolutionary"
1 (2%)
25/1 "aeolian harp"
1 (2%)
25/2
0 (0%)
25/3
0 (0%)
25/4
0 (0%)
25/5
0 (0%)
25/6 "thirds"
17 (33.3%)
25/7
0 (0%)
25/8 "sixths"
3 (5.9%)
25/9 "butterfly"
0 (0%)
25/10 "octave"
1 (2%)
25/11 "winter wind"
14 (27.5%)
25/12 "ocean"
2 (3.9%)

Total Members Voted: 51

Voting closed: March 14, 2006, 11:40:17 AM

Topic: Comparative difficulty of the Chopin Etudes (Poll)  (Read 6348 times)

Offline cloches_de_geneve

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Comparative difficulty of the Chopin Etudes (Poll)
on: March 04, 2006, 11:40:17 AM
After so much discussion on the forum about the comparative difficulty of the Chopin Etudes, I decided to launch a poll to get an outcome that is based on numerous ratings instead of individual statements or opinions.

In a few days the outcome will be available.

Put in your vote!


"It's true that I've driven through a number of red lights on occasion, but on the other hand I've stopped at a lot of green ones but never gotten credit for it." -- Glenn Gould

Offline stevie

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Re: Comparative difficulty of the Chopin Etudes (Poll)
Reply #1 on: March 04, 2006, 05:04:52 PM
it all depends upon the speed

if they are all to be performed at chopin's indicated tempo, 25/11 is the hardest

Offline cloches_de_geneve

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Re: Comparative difficulty of the Chopin Etudes (Poll)
Reply #2 on: March 04, 2006, 06:03:13 PM
Yes, of course, supposing they are played at the speed indicated by Chopin.
"It's true that I've driven through a number of red lights on occasion, but on the other hand I've stopped at a lot of green ones but never gotten credit for it." -- Glenn Gould

Offline chopinfan_22

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Re: Comparative difficulty of the Chopin Etudes (Poll)
Reply #3 on: March 04, 2006, 06:43:09 PM
I voted for Winter Wind.  Chopin himself even thought it the most difficult.
"When I look around me, I must sigh, for what I see is contrary to my religion and I must despize the world which does not know that music is a higher revelation beyond all wisdom and philosophy."

Offline pianogeek_cz

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Re: Comparative difficulty of the Chopin Etudes (Poll)
Reply #4 on: March 04, 2006, 09:59:06 PM
Thirds. I was thinking whether this one or the Winter Wind, but in the end, I think that it would take me longer to master than 25/11.
Be'ein Tachbulot Yipol Am Veteshua Berov Yoetz (Without cunning a nation shall fall,  Salvation Come By Many Good Counsels)

Offline orlandopiano

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Re: Comparative difficulty of the Chopin Etudes (Poll)
Reply #5 on: March 04, 2006, 11:08:25 PM
There are a handful of Etudes I consider to be more difficult than 25/11.

Offline arensky

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Re: Comparative difficulty of the Chopin Etudes (Poll)
Reply #6 on: March 04, 2006, 11:23:57 PM
This is subjective, it depends on an individual's strengths and weaknesses. I voted for 26/6, "thirds". For me it's the hardest.
=  o        o  =
   \     '      /   

"One never knows about another one, do one?" Fats Waller

Offline shasta

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Re: Comparative difficulty of the Chopin Etudes (Poll)
Reply #7 on: March 05, 2006, 02:32:49 PM
10/7 and 25/8 to me are the hardest
"self is self"   - i_m_robot

Offline henrah

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Re: Comparative difficulty of the Chopin Etudes (Poll)
Reply #8 on: March 06, 2006, 06:20:45 AM
Thirds: my fingers just ain't up to it yet
Currently learning:<br />Liszt- Consolation No.3<br />J.W.Hässler- Sonata No.6 in C, 2nd mvt<br />Glière- No.10 from 12 Esquisses, Op.47<br />Saint-Saens- VII Aquarium<br />Mozart- Fantasie KV397<br /

Offline mike_lang

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Re: Comparative difficulty of the Chopin Etudes (Poll)
Reply #9 on: March 06, 2006, 06:46:09 AM
Thirds: my fingers just ain't up to it yet

For all those of you that think you can't do thirds, take a look at Cortot's edition of the Op. 25.  He provides a matrix of fingerings (probably 12 for each of 3 or 4 significant passages).  One of the fingerings is 32-51 for the opening trill - it was a miracle cure for me.  Maybe worth a look...

Offline pita bread

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Re: Comparative difficulty of the Chopin Etudes (Poll)
Reply #10 on: March 06, 2006, 07:52:51 AM
Fingering for the 25/6 isn't as important as the correct motion--Bernhard describes it very well in an older post.

Offline mike_lang

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Re: Comparative difficulty of the Chopin Etudes (Poll)
Reply #11 on: March 06, 2006, 08:34:42 AM
Fingering for the 25/6 isn't as important as the correct motion--Bernhard describes it very well in an older post.

This is true, but a good fingering (which, as Cortot suggests, varies for each person) facilitates correct motion.

Offline franzliszt2

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Re: Comparative difficulty of the Chopin Etudes (Poll)
Reply #12 on: March 06, 2006, 09:22:52 AM
All Chopin Etudes are easy if you have aquired the technique to do them . The thirds is  not hard if you can do thirds, same with 6ths and octaves. Winterwind is not hard if you have a strong RH.

The hard part is gaining the technique , I spent a week on 3rds etude just doing first and 2nd page, and lots of scales in 3rds and Czerny studies. Then the week later I learnt the rest with no really severe difficulty.

In my opinion the very first is the hardest for me persnonally, I just cannot do it without feeling uncomfortable. My teacher says its one of those peices not everone can play, and hand shape and stuff play a big part

Offline fredo2

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Re: Comparative difficulty of the Chopin Etudes (Poll)
Reply #13 on: March 06, 2006, 07:58:39 PM
where can i find a Cortot edition with those fingerings for the thirds etude ? Having huge trouble with thirds :(
my finger just seem to mess up and stop...

Offline mike_lang

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Re: Comparative difficulty of the Chopin Etudes (Poll)
Reply #14 on: March 06, 2006, 08:54:11 PM
where can i find a Cortot edition with those fingerings for the thirds etude ? Having huge trouble with thirds :(
my finger just seem to mess up and stop...


I believe it is published by Salabert.  I do not know who the distributor is.  You local music store should be able to get it.

Offline musicsdarkangel

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Re: Comparative difficulty of the Chopin Etudes (Poll)
Reply #15 on: March 07, 2006, 06:46:54 PM
IMO, easily the winterwind


followed by Op 25 no 12 (Ocean) and op 25 no 6 (Thirds)


I'm currently working on the thirds.  It's a blast, but a beast indeed. 

Offline pianowelsh

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Re: Comparative difficulty of the Chopin Etudes (Poll)
Reply #16 on: March 09, 2006, 06:29:40 PM
op10/10 is a pig! ;)
For more information about this topic, click search below!

Piano Street Magazine:
New Piano Piece by Chopin Discovered – Free Piano Score

A previously unknown manuscript by Frédéric Chopin has been discovered at New York’s Morgan Library and Museum. The handwritten score is titled “Valse” and consists of 24 bars of music in the key of A minor and is considered a major discovery in the wold of classical piano music. Read more
 

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