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Topic: what are the hardest pieces from the classical and baroque periods??  (Read 13393 times)

Offline lisztisforkids

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a little different than the other 8 bazillion threads similar to this one...
we make God in mans image

Offline mikey6

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In terms of clarity and finger work - Scarlatti and Mozart.
The Hammerklavier (if that's classed as classical), would probaly top the list, as it's considered one of the hardest pieces full stop.
Never look at the trombones. You'll only encourage them.
Richard Strauss

Offline klavierkonzerte

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wolfl piano sonatas migh be the hardest sonatas from the classical period specially the

grand sonata in c minor.

wolfl was a greater pianist that beethoven even beethoven admited that.

Offline pianowelsh

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Diabeli variations are up there as are Goldberg variations of Bach

Offline pianistimo

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there is a short, wicked, two-page gigue in js bach's english suite III.  it took me awhile to not get my fingers completely tangled up.  it's kind of a fughetta because you hear four voices come in, but they don't all sing at the same time.  kind of trade off and there's no development.  sort of a binary form with the second half retrograde.

Offline sauergrandson

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Chromatic fantasia and Fugue , D minor. Bach.
Goldberg Variations. Bach.
WTC II. Bach
Overture in the french style, B minor. Bach

Sonata Hob. 62, E flat. Haydn
Variations F minor, Haydn.
La foglia d'Espagne. C.P.E. Bach.

Offline sauergrandson

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"Je suis Lindor" variations, Mozart.
Sonata K. 576 Mozart
Sonata in D with variations. Mozart.

Offline bennom

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I go with mikey6.

Beethoven's Hammerklavier sonata is by far the most demanding piece, considering length, virtuosity, depth (slow movement), and clarity (the fugue).

Other works can certainly be hard to master, but this piece really needs everything you got. And much much more... 8)

Offline rohansahai

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If you have to choose just one work from either period, most people would agree with the:
1. Goldberg variations.
2. Hammerklavier Sonata.
Waste of time -- do not read signatures.

Offline iumonito

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Mozart's C minor concerto.

The art of the fugue.

Hammerklavier.
Money does not make happiness, but it can buy you a piano.  :)

Offline musicsdarkangel

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Sonata in D with variations. Mozart.

yep


after Goldberg and Hammer K, i'd put this Sonata, K 284 in D major.

Offline a1

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 :) Bach of course.........................

Offline kreso

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Bach-Goldebrg's, The Art Of The Fugue
Beethoven-last five piano sonatas (op.101.106,109,110,111)

Offline sevencircles

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Quote
Beethoven-last five piano sonatas (op.101.106,109,110,111)

Late Beethoven is romantic rather then classical.

Offline Kassaa

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Late Beethoven is romantic rather then classical.

That's debatable, I consider Beethoven more to be an opening to early romantic than to be part of the early romantics.

Offline cygnusdei

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I nominate Hummel Sonata no. 6 in D, Op. 106 for the hardest piece from the classical era. It was written 6 years after the Hammerklavier (what a coincidence with the opus number). On the surface the style is very unpretentious, but there are a lot of finger acrobatics involved. For example: the development of the first movement has a passage with parallel thirds for both hands, crossing! The last movement, which starts out like a music box, evolved into a quite a beast. There is a passage with running parallel thirds for the left hand, which imitates the right hand in the preceeding passage.

Offline khantallis123

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If you are trying to learn something lyrical, don't go for Hammerstein Sonata. It breaks your piano as if there was a hammer banging on it.

Offline khantallis123

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Not the piano, I meant the hammers.
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