Schumann, Symphonic Etudes...

[xhunterjx]

What does everyone think of this piece? 

I was wondering how they relate in difficulty to the Chopin etudes, and also if it is inapropriate to play, say just one variation, in a recital.

Thanks

[amanfang]

I LOVE this set.  Unfortunately it doesn't fit my hands well and is just very awkward for me.  If one is extracted, it is usually the last one. 

[imbetter]

sorry if it wasnt in the library id post it

[xhunterjx]

I actually never asked for the sheet music...

I asked for opinions, and how they relate to the Chopin studies...

[m]

how they relate to the Chopin studies...

They are unrelated, with completely different musical and pianistical goals.

Best regards, M

[imbetter]

I actually never asked for the sheet music...

I asked for opinions, and how they relate to the Chopin studies...

sorry thought this was in sheetmusic requests lol

[xhunterjx]

I know they are different...I want to know which set is harder...why?  what difficulties do the schumann etudes have versus the Chopin...

GEEZZZZZZ

[Mozartian]

I'd say the Schumann. Chopin's etudes at least tend to be pianistic and full of patterns, whereas Schumann's are almost always incredibly awkward. Highly textured music also- you'll be spending a lot of time mastering bringing out the voices in a balanced manner, and pedalling in Schumann is extremely difficult to master as well. Also, it seems to me that the Symphonic would be more difficult interpretevely, since it's variations on the same theme- so each variation must have something special about it- 18 times, but you also want to have a flow to the finish; the Chopin are just sets of pieces and you can do what you want with each piece without regard to the rest of the set. It may be just me, but the Chopin etudes on the whole seem much more straightforward and dry than the Schumann- the Schumann just seem so full of colours and shades; ah, I love them.

I honestly don't see why you couldn't play a few of the variations separately - they're each so wonderful, IMO! If you do some, definitely post the recs- I LOVE the Symphonics (though won't touch them with a 10 foot poll- not for awhile yet, haha).

Hope this helps.

[xhunterjx]

Ha, I don't think I am at the level to attempt them yet...just very interested in them...

Thank you very much for a post with substance 

[dnephi]

They're very sophisticated variations, and beyond that, not all of the etudes are variations, so there's no worry about them becoming monotonous.

As always in Schumann, voicing and pedaling are issues.

Personally, I don't think they're technically useful, and I recommend instead Brahms Op. 9 Variations on a Theme of Schumann- an excellent set, and not so hard.

[phil13]

What does everyone think of this piece? 

I was wondering how they relate in difficulty to the Chopin etudes, and also if it is inapropriate to play, say just one variation, in a recital.

Thanks

Yes, it is inappropriate to play just one variation in recital. It would be like playing one piece out of Kreislerana.

Does anybody here play with the extra variations? If so, where do you add them?

Like with a lot of Schumann's works, I actually really like some of the variations, but not the piece as a whole, because Schumann does the same thing in many of his works- he creates something beautiful and adds something which seems tacked on and inappropriate, like, say, the finale...

Phil

[Mozartian]

Yes, it is inappropriate to play just one variation in recital. It would be like playing one piece out of Kreislerana.

I actually read someone making an argument for the Kreisleriana (along with Fantasiestucke, op. 12) being thought of more as single pieces- still, I agree, Kreisleriana seems too much of a cycle to be taking apart.

Hunter- I think you'd probably want to start with the Chopin etudes anyway, before starting something like the Symphonics.

[bsbrega]

I find the Chopin Etudes to be monstrously difficult.  I've never seen (or heard) the Schumann ones, but if they're as difficult or more so, I'll never get them under my fingers.
Actually, I've just about mastered "Lightly Row". . . j/k