Chopin's "Military" Polonaise

[drexo]

I really like this piece and I want to learn it, but I'm not that advanced in playing the Piano yet, so I don't know if I'm ready for it. From the look of the sheet music, the piece isn't that hard... But that's only the look of it.


I'd like some opinions about this piece. What passages in the piece did you had a struggle with? And in wich grade would you rate this piece?


Thanks in advance!

[dnephi]

Looks extremely messy to me  .  Have you seen a video of it?  Cziffra's video is on Youtube.  Then you might be able to adequately judge its difficulty.  Although he is deceptively calm. 

[drexo]

Looks extremely messy to me  .  Have you seen a video of it?  Cziffra's video is on Youtube.  Then you might be able to adequately judge its difficulty.  Although he is deceptively calm. 

I didn't saw Cziffra playing the Military Polonaise yet!?... Aren't you mistaking with the "Heroic" Polonaise (Polonaise Op. 53) ?


I mean this Polonaise:

 

[dnephi]

I didn't saw Cziffra playing the Military Polonaise yet!?... Aren't you mistaking with the "Heroic" Polonaise (Polonaise Op. 53) ?


I mean this Polonaise:

 

Oh lol sorry.  Yea, it seems quite easy to take off the page.  I don't know your level, but I'm really sorry for thinking the A-flat Polonaise  .

[acha114]

I really like this piece and I want to learn it, but I'm not that advanced in playing the Piano yet, so I don't know if I'm ready for it. From the look of the sheet music, the piece isn't that hard... But that's only the look of it.


I'd like some opinions about this piece. What passages in the piece did you had a struggle with? And in wich grade would you rate this piece?


Thanks in advance!

IMHO, it's not too hard. You do need a bit of endurance as the whole piece is playing chords, and you may tire easily if you aren't relaxed. However the chords fit the hand nicely so they aren't too awkward to play. One or two chords may require your hand to stretch a 9th or so. I haven't played it in ages, but found it rather easy to learn. It's also quite repetitive so that always helps in learning.

[netzow]

I believe that it is a grade 7 piece, according to that collection of graded pieces. (The link is around the forum somewhere.) I havn't played this piece (I've only fooled with the first page.) and can confirm that you will need big hands. I can do a 10th with out to much trouble and I was having big problems trying to get the reach on some of the chords apart from that It really wasn't that hard. I would not recommend learning this piece based on the way the music "looks" looks can be decieving.

[drexo]

Thanks for the replies!


I'm lucky that I have quite big hands, I can reach a 12th if I want to. Also, instead of playing scales (wich is my worst technical ability), I'm quite good in playing chords. Those are the main reasons why I want to learn this piece.

netzow: you're right with that, I shouldn't learning a piece based on what the sheet music looks like!


Any comment about this piece is appreciated!

[brewtality]

You know, this pieces is deceptively difficult. Of course you can learn it quickly and easily to a reasonable standard. But imo the piece only sounds good when you play it fast (3'30"ish) and with brio. If it's played properly, it sounds even more smashing and patriotic than the heroic. But you have to achieve all this without banging.

[pianistimo]

agreed.  i think when people hear 'military' they automatically assume loud.  as i hear it now, much faster, and lighter.  second beat accented - and not so much first.  almost as if one or two beats are the most important and everything inbetween is fast filler.  those precise 'da da's'  have to be exactly in time.  everything else is fair game for any sort of rubato or speeding up.  (even more precise on the 'da, da ,da,da')  perhaps think of an automatic?