6 Difficult pieces; any suggested prep pieces? Please read!

[yooniefied]

Can anyone please suggest any pieces which would lead up to and aid in the learning of the following songs?

1.) Chopin - Etude, op. 10, no. 3
2.) Chopin - Scherzos #2 and #1
3.) Bach - Prelude & Fugue #2 from WTC I
4.) Chopin - Prelude #22
5.) Liszt - Danse Macabre transcription
6.) Liszt - Transcendental etudes (specifically #4 and #10)

Thanks in advance! 

[kriskicksass]

1.) Chopin - Etude, op. 10, no. 3
2.) Chopin - Scherzos #2 and #1
3.) Bach - Prelude & Fugue #2 from WTC I
4.) Chopin - Prelude #22
5.) Liszt - Danse Macabre transcription
6.) Liszt - Transcendental etudes (specifically #4 and #10)

Numbers 3 and 4 are significantly easier than the rest. C minor is a good first p&f, so if you've played a few inventions and sinfonias you should be good to go. Just take it slow and work very carefully to keep the voices separate in the fugue. G minor is a medium Chopin prelude, so it  shouldn't be too bad. The main difficulty in that one is the left hand octaves, so maybe you should practice scales and arpeggios in octaves with your left hand.

Leave the others alone until you can play 3 and 4. The synchopation and sixths in the E Major etude are a bit much,  especially if you're worried about the g minor prelude. The b minor and b-flat minor scherzi are very advanced pieces that require rather broad techniques. The Danse Macabre transcription is a beast filled with tremolandi, octaves, and playing the two hands in unison, plus it has the added difficulty of requiring orchestration at the piano. The transcendentals are monsters, too. I'm not familiar enough with the set to know which ones you're talking about,  but I think it's safe to say that those are the farthest off.

If you want to work up to the Liszt and Chopin, I recommend some Chopin nocturnes, preludes, and mazurkas and possibly some of Liszt's Years of Pilgrimedge or the Consolations.
EDIT: The Years of Pildrimedge and Consolations may be too  hard. Try Nuanges Gris for tremolandi like those in the Saint-Saens transcription.

[rimv2]

Can anyone please suggest any pieces which would lead up to and aid in the learning of the following songs?

1.) Chopin - Etude, op. 10, no. 3
2.) Chopin - Scherzos #2 and #1
3.) Bach - Prelude & Fugue #2 from WTC I
4.) Chopin - Prelude #22
5.) Liszt - Danse Macabre transcription
6.) Liszt - Transcendental etudes (specifically #4 and #10)

Thanks in advance! 

Start with the easier works of Chopin, Brahms (ehm), Rachmaninoff and Beethoven.

After two years of dabbling with these mofos you should be ready from number one on your list.

Play the more intermediate works of the above composers (now add liszt as well) for 1-2 years. Then you will be ready for number two on your list.

After you've mastered #2 (1-2 more years) you stand a chance of moving to number 5 and 6.

So after 4-6 years of dabbling with these pregnant cat you should be ready to play anything on your list.

By dabbling I mean studying hardcore 2-4 hours a day the right way.

[nanabush]

I'd go ahead with the Bach you mentioned, I think the Chopin prelude is more difficult than the Bach (G minor prelude from chopin right?)... After that, try Liszt Liebestraum which contains nothing overly difficult, but does satisfy several technical needs (3rds section, leaps, octaves, running notes).  Try the Brahms Rhapsody in G minor if you want after.  While learning the Brahms you could probably to the Chopin etude and prelude.  All I can come up with between the transition of the pieces I listed and the Chopin Scherzos would be something along the lines of the Revolutionary Etude or Fantaisie Impromptu.  Try rachmaninoff etude op 33 #6 Eb +.. I say this everywhere, I find it really helpful with some really awkward hand positions, with this your right hand will be able to morph into a good variety of positions  .... Or don't use either of those etudes, but just find something that will be around your level after completing the pieces mentioned, but covers the majority of technical difficulties found in the Scherzos... Then just proceed on... after that I got nothing to add, just keep working 

[yooniefied]

Wow, thanks everyone for your helpful replies.

The funniest thing is...!

I just went straight to work at these pieces after making this post, and have had quite the success!
I've already learned three of the six pieces off that list. I would like to tackle more advanced repetoire, though, before I bother learning any Liszt etudes...they are a bit scary. 

Chopin - Etude, op. 10, no. 3:  It was ***MUCH*** easier than I had anticipated once I got the general hand motion going. It's very logical.
I'm still working on perfecting the con bravura section, it was the only part that gave me much trouble. This piece is a workout for my arms! 

Bach - Prelude & Fugue #2 from WTC I: I learned this quickly. It wasn't so bad, and I haven't even played much Bach since I was a child. It's a very nice piece, I especially enjoy the ending of the Prelude.

Chopin - Prelude #22: I am working on it now. Again, not as hard as I had expected. I learned and memorized the LH in one session...now on to work with the RH chord insanity! 


My question is, which Chopin etude to tackle next?
My favorites are as follows:
10: 3, 4, 12
25: 2, 4, 5, 10, 12

I'd especially like the learn the 10/4 and the 25/12 next, but they seem a bit daunting, even impossible. Maybe I should learn the 10/12 and 25/2 first...?
Any opinions?

[bella musica]

When you get to the Scherzi, I'd do the first one first (novel thought).  I've played 1 and 2 and found 2 to be more difficult than the other.