How difficult are these etudes?

[franz_]

Chopin: Op. 25/5
             Op. 25/12

Rachmaninoff: Op. 39/5

Scriabin: Op. 65/3

Moszkowski: Op. 36 'Etincelles'




I now that difficulty is different for everybody, but just say your opinion and compare those etudes to help me.

[kitty on the keys]

They are difficult. Look the music over and listen to many recordings of them. Then choose the one you really want to learn. Also let your teacher guide you too.

Kitty

[gyzzzmo]

Theyre all very hard, but you can always START learning the chopin etudes, as long as you realise that it will take at least a year to play them as you would like them to play. Be concequent and DONT RUSH though.

gl, gyzzzmo

[fiasco]

All I know is I certainly found 25/12 more difficult than 10/12.

[gyzzzmo]

All I know is I certainly found 25/12 more difficult than 10/12.

Thats something funny too. Some people have different different strenghts in their technique than others, thats why its hard to say 'wich is the hardest'. For example, i find 25/12 alot easier than 25/10 to play well. Other people are used to playing thirds and find 25/6 a piece of cake (for example).

[lohshuhan]

Chopin: Op. 25/5
             Op. 25/12

Rachmaninoff: Op. 39/5

Scriabin: Op. 65/3

Moszkowski: Op. 36 'Etincelles'




I now that difficulty is different for everybody, but just say your opinion and compare those etudes to help me.

Opus 25/12 is fine...  just block out the chord positions, and you can get the notes easily.  the difficult part is shaping the arpeggios. 

Opus 10/4 is difficult if you are to play it at 88 minims a minute. 

i personally find opus 25/4 difficult.  The left hand is hell. 

[franz_]

Opus 10/4 is difficult if you are to play it at 88 minims a minute. 

i personally find opus 25/4 difficult.  The left hand is hell. 

Thanks a lot man, but I didn't spoke about these etudes 

Other persons who want to share their opinions?   Anyone played one of those?

[lohshuhan]

Thanks a lot man, but I didn't spoke about these etudes 

Other persons who want to share their opinions?   Anyone played one of those?

yeaps i know.  but i thought that it would be useful to sidetrack a little... 

just out of curiousity, why only these etudes?  what about things like scriabin's opus 8/12? 

[franz_]

yeaps i know.  but i thought that it would be useful to sidetrack a little... 

just out of curiousity, why only these etudes?  what about things like scriabin's opus 8/12? 

Because I love these etudes. My teacher proposed me the moszkowski but asked me also to look for some etudes, but etudes that are usefull for technic, so not to poetic/slow things.
op8/12 is nice, but i studied it yet. Indeed, not perfect, I used to play it but  there was still work to do. And I think this is the reason why I can't find the motivation to do this etude again)

[schubertiad]

I can only comment on chopet 25/5 as i haven't played any of the others. It is not too difficult per se, i.e it doesn't require any difficult/complicated/insanely fast movements or techniques, but is generally a real pain to learn. To gauge its difficulty don't go by the first two sections; look at the final two (i.e. the lyrical section in semiquavers and the e minor section with the added middle note). If you can manage these bits fine then the rest will be no problem.

[gyzzzmo]

And the trick of op25/12 is not to touch the pedal when you practise it.

[faustsaccomplice]

the scriabin may be the easiest of these... i think the challenge lies in it needing very careful balancing and a flexible touch...but then again, i could say the same for all those pieces.  the problem i've always run across in this piece is that there's a very weird sentiment put forth by it, and many people don't have it in them.  it's very sexual, but is a extremely perverse way...like marquis de sade perverse.  i never heard anybody but horowitz get it..deviant as the pianist population is...

the 25/5 is manageable, imo, but there's a very high level to bring this piece to...the rabbit hole goes further here than in the scriabin, so to speak.  the middle section can be a miracle when played well.

25/12 i haven't played, but it's never struck me as a particularly hard chopin etude (compared to 25/6, 10/2, etc). 

the rachmaninoff is very difficult, and you should have a large (or very strong, at least) hand if you want the melody to be present and it not to sound weak.  i don't think it's the best piece to develop that strength with. 

moszkovski...again, never played it...always struck me that it would be hard to make it not sound like an etude.  it's a great piece for a very colorful and creative player.