Why do people like pieces, that are almost impossible to play, most?

[counterpoint]

This is a general question, not limited to a special composer or a special style.

What is the fascination of hyperdifficult pieces, and why get pieces, that are beautiful but "easy" to play so little interest ?

[pk]

Well, people like us here likes challenges to progress.
but people in general dont really care as long as it sounds good i think 

[bob3.1415926]

Also I think there is something to be said about complexity. Musical complexity often makes for better listening. Clearly very simple pieces cannot have multiple counter melodies, or complex harmonies, both of which make for interesting listening.
Also I think there is a human aspect to it. As a pianist, it gives you something to aspire to. Non-pianists tend to love Fur Elise, Moonlight 1st mv, and Chopin Nocturne in in E-flat, none of which are super challenging. That said HR2 is also v popular, but that is written deliberately to be fun and crowd pleasing.

[thalberg]

Anyway, counterpoint, now that I no longer practice, I actually prefer easier literature that has simple beauty, like Mendelssohn's Songs without Words, or something like the Beethoven Nel Cor Piu variations.

When I was practicing "full-time" I did gravitate toward the difficult stuff.  Partly this was by accident, since I just happened to fall in love with Prokofiev 7 and other pieces, but partly it was because I was young and wanted to prove myself.

[counterpoint]

Anyway, counterpoint, now that I no longer practice, I actually prefer easier literature that has simple beauty, like Mendelssohn's Songs without Words, or something like the Beethoven Nel Cor Piu variations.

Hmmm, a joke? Or are you serious?

That's what common people think: easy pieces are for people, who don't practise much 

[leonidas]

I agree with bob, but must also say, difficult works are just more interesting to talk about.

[slobone]

Non-pianists tend to love Fur Elise, Moonlight 1st mv, and Chopin Nocturne in in E-flat, none of which are super challenging. That said HR2 is also v popular, but that is written deliberately to be fun and crowd pleasing.

I'll bet if I thought long enough I'd figure out what HR2 is, but...

I agree there are some pieces that are so easy (and familiar) that it's almost impossible to make them sound interesting. I'd add the easiest Chopin Preludes and the most famous Mozart C major sonata (the one that starts daah dee-dee dum, diddy dum.)

[slobone]

I don't. They're fun occasionally, like Volodos's encores. But not as a steady diet.

Which is not to say that there aren't a lot of great pieces that are technically demanding. But an awful lot of that stuff is just musical junk food.

[bob3.1415926]

I'll bet if I thought long enough I'd figure out what HR2 is, but...

I'll save you the brain strain - Hungarian Rhapsody No.2

[soliloquy]

I respond to nothing more than the thread's title, as to create an example of the ridiculousness of an actual, entire thread stemming from it.


Do they?

[viking]

Because humans aren't limited to the emotions of happy and sad.  Some pieces, like the before mentioned Prokofiev 7th Sonata describe war.  I dont think you could compose an adequate war piece without using many notes.  Similarily, pieces written such as Ravel's Jeux d'eau would not be successful without the use of complex harmonies that give the listener the impression of water.  Easy enough to figure out...

[thalberg]

Hmmm, a joke? Or are you serious?

That's what common people think: easy pieces are for people, who don't practise much 

Well, I am serious, but I am only speaking for myself.  I simply don't practice enough to play Prok. 7 anymore.  So the easier literature is all I can manage until I find more time.

I don't think that easy pieces are less valuable, though.  The best pianists I know play easy pieces all the time for their musical value.  A hard piece is not always a beautiful piece.  That's why I'll never play the Concord Sonata.

[pianochick93]

(the one that starts daah dee-dee dum, diddy dum.)

Haha, I love that description of it.

[slobone]

Haha, I love that description of it.

Too lazy to look up the Kerkle number 

[counterpoint]

Too lazy to look up the Kerkle number 

It's not Kerkle, it's Köchel, it's a cooking book 

[term]

I think partly out of the desire to impress.
If you're skills are at the outer limit it shows that you've gone through hours of hard work. Hard work is respected, doesn't matter what you do, just that you worked hard.

I love to play extremely difficult and complex music, but my respect goes to those who manage to say more with less words. (ie notes). I mean it's good to make music with drama and complexity and difficulty, telling epic stories about heavenly beauty or purest evil, but sometimes i like simplicity, profound beauty expressed with objective clarity and without superfluous excitement.
Like a pure and simple melody, without chords and intervals, just the melody. I think all that we have today started from making melodies without any kind of accompaniment - the point at which simplicity and complexity become intermingled and create worthwhile music.

[amelialw]

because they are challenging and even if you don't suceed in bringing it up to performance standard, you will still have learnt something from it

[pianochick93]

Too lazy to look up the Kerkle number 

K575

[ramithediv]

K575

I think you may find it's K545 

(the one that starts daah dee-dee dum, diddy dum.) 

A dead give away. 

Anyway, I like to learn pieces that are beyond my level, (which is very low), because I get a bigger sense of achievement when I finish it.