Chopin for a Liszt guy

[donjuan]

I would like to try a work of Chopin.  However, those who know me on the forum know that I'm a Liszt guy!  I havent played and kept any piece of Chopin in the past, but I would like to get something different so my recitals are not all "Liszt, Liszt, Liszt, et encore Liszt" (Cziffra says)

Can you recommend a piece of Chopin that would be an appropriate step forward for someone like me?  I was wanting to do something big like a Ballade or the 3rd Sonata, but I am concerned about where my lack of Chopin experience will screw me over.

thanks,
donjuan

[tds]

Can you recommend a piece of Chopin that would be an appropriate step forward for someone like me?  I was wanting to do something big like a Ballade or the 3rd Sonata, but I am concerned about where my lack of Chopin experience will screw me over.

liszt

[kriskicksass]

Oh my God! Someone on this forum who actually cares about experiecnce with a composer? w00t w00t!!!

Ehem...Anyways, Chopin wrote almost exclusively for the piano, so there's plenty to pick from. If you're looking to play some 'big' Chopin, you'll want to try some preludes and maybe an etude, if only to get his configurations under your hands. Then, I'd recommend a few waltzes and a nocturne. The c# minor waltz (Opus 64 No. 2, I think) is a good first waltz. It's representative of Chopin's style, but not terribly difficult, especially for someone who's used to Liszt. Any of the nocturnes are good, but steer away from the Opus 9 nocturnes. They're very difficult, very sophisticated music. Even if you're used to Chopin, the memorization will drive you insane.

[zheer]

Try his piano concerto in E minor, i love it am sure you will too. Also if you can play a lot of Liszt you have the tec for his 1st PC.

[allthumbs]

Can you recommend a piece of Chopin that would be an appropriate step forward for someone like me?  I was wanting to do something big like a Ballade

I really like the Op.23, No.1, Ballade in G minor. It has some challenging sections and would be a great addition to your repertoire.


Cheers

allthumbs

[cherub_rocker1979]

Do the F Major Ballade or the B Minor Scherzo.

[joeplaysthepiano]

You can't go wrong with the ballades or scherzi.  You should probably avoid the 4th ones of those genres, but try out any of the other 6.  You seem good enough that having no chopin experience won't hinder you too much at all.  Good luck and let us know what you have chosen.

[shasta]

Donjuan, since you handle Liszt regularly, take a look at:

Bolero
Galop Marquis
Ecossaise (any)
Le Carnival de Venise Variations (Paganini)

There's more to Chopin than just his same old Waltzes, Nocturnes, Ballades, Scherzi that everyone plays...     

[Kassaa]

Start small with some preludes, mazurkas waltzes etc to get a Chopinistique feeling. After you got some more feeling for Chopin you can play bigger works like early polonaises (the one with opus numbers) and the first ballade etc.

[musicsdarkangel]

I say do a couple of nocturnes, and a bigger Polonaise,

and then tackle any big work that you enjoy.


Try the Triosome Ballade!

[steinwayargentina]

I would like to try a work of Chopin.  However, those who know me on the forum know that I'm a Liszt guy!  I havent played and kept any piece of Chopin in the past, but I would like to get something different so my recitals are not all "Liszt, Liszt, Liszt, et encore Liszt" (Cziffra says)

Can you recommend a piece of Chopin that would be an appropriate step forward for someone like me?  I was wanting to do something big like a Ballade or the 3rd Sonata, but I am concerned about where my lack of Chopin experience will screw me over.

thanks,
donjuan

Hi I understand that you play liszt a lot, this make me asume that you have the necesary skills and technique to play that kind of repertory; if we follow that line of think we will conclude that probably you did not need to make a big effort to play the chalenging pasages of an etude or a ballade or scherzo but you certanily will have problems with the expresive language and sophistication of Chopins Mazurkas for example. I am convinced that the mazurkas have an internal complexity (rithms, rubatos, touch styles,etc) that make its the better choice for anyone who wants to start with Chopin (in an expresive way), I think that who can plays a mazurka perfectly have a well understanding of chopins musical world. Try to hear some Argerich, Rubinstein or Horowitz mazurkas.

Pablo Rocchietti

[donjuan]

wow so many replies so fast!  thanks for your help.

I love playing pieces no one else does, so Waltz in C# minor or Fantasy Impromptu is kind of out of the running for me..

I have been listening to your suggestions, as well as some other stuff and I am most tempted to do something like Barcarolle Op. 60, or Ballade No. 3, just based on the kind of style I like.

I like Scherzo in Bflat minor and Ballade No. 1, but these are so overplayed and I tend to stay away from these kind of pieces, no matter how great they are. 

Donjuan, since you handle Liszt regularly, take a look at:

Bolero
Galop Marquis
Ecossaise (any)
Le Carnival de Venise Variations (Paganini)

There's more to Chopin than just his same old Waltzes, Nocturnes, Ballades, Scherzi that everyone plays...

I cant find a recording of 'Le Carnival de Venise Variations' or any "Ecossaise", but Ill go to the library some day and look. 


What is everyone's favorite Prelude? (please dont say 'raindrop') Mazurka? .....so many of them, I dont know which one is good place to start.

Thanks for your suggestions!

[bennom]

I was a Liszt guy!!!!

But I've changed, I have repented.

There is a way out, my dear friend, but, Liszt will always be closest to your soul. People find him shallow. They are nothing but empty pedantic little old ladies. Do not trust them.

Now to your question.

I would recommend you, being a Liszt guy myself, to start off with a lengthy work without formal structure. Such as the (not-at-all-over-rated!) Fantaisie-polonaise or the barcarolle. The ballads... I personally don't care for them, but they share this characteristic.

DO NOT ATTEMPT to play any of the sonatas, you will find yourself stuck in a dead form. Later, when you truly love chopin, you will be able to find warmth in these pieces too.

Being a Liszt guy, there is no shame in playing the great etudes. That is good concert stuff.

In my humble opinion,

BennoM
 

[shasta]

I cant find a recording of 'Le Carnival de Venise Variations' or any "Ecossaise", but Ill go to the library some day and look. 

Hey Donjuan, you can listen to audio snippets via Amazon of Chopin's Ecossaises and his 'Le Carnival' Variations (also called Souvenir de Paganini) on this CD: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000000T9K/qid=1143033553/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/102-6675952-3705744?s=classical&v=glance&n=5174

I agree that the Barcarolle is also a lovely choice for you.

[Kassaa]

I agree that the Barcarolle is also a lovely choice for you.

I totally disagree on the Barcarolle tbh. The Barcarolle is Chopin at his finest, and requires knowledge of Chopin's style to be played properly.

[demented cow]

If you want unusual Chopin, as suggested above, try the Allegro de Concert, op. 46. It's very seldom played, but the melodies are pretty catchy. It's as difficult as the ballades/scherzi, though.
I would have to disagree with the post above about the Galop Marquis. It is the only piece by Chopin that I wish I had never heard. It once got unpleasantly stuck in my head for days like an annoying advertising jingle, so I think it's only fair to warn people against it.
If you could do with a very short, very simple & unknown Chopin piece, try the Contradanse. It will probably take you 5 minutes to learn. It also has a nice chord in it.