Chopin sonata 1

[comme_le_vent]

what do you guys think of chopin's first sonata?

i really think its great, it kicks ass

[joell12068]

Overall, I like it too.  I especially like the finale, and the second movement minuet, but I don't really care for that 5/4  slow movement.  I don't know if Chopin was experimenting with that metre, but for me, it doesn't seem to work.    

[thracozaag]

what do you guys think of chopin's first sonata?

i really think its great, it kicks ass

 Always felt that this piece has been unfairly maligned.

koji

[comme_le_vent]

yeah, the finale kicks ass.

i think its probably chopin's most neglected work, of course it isnt as great as the other 2. but its still a very worthy piece.

i actually prefer it in some ways to the later sonatas, so you can see why one would be a tad pissed.

[L.K.]

Actually, I don't like the finale, but I like the otther 3 movements of it. It is a great work, but it doesn't surpass the other Chopin sonatas.

[trix]

I love this sonata.  It's way too obscure: it may not have the sophistication and mastery that the later two have but I find it very passionate and full of energy and it's among my favorite Chopin.  I believe he wrote it at the age of 17 as a composition assignment.

[transitional]

I must have a really unorthodox taste. Because this is my favorite Chopin work by far. I love how the development of the 1st mvt doesn't modulate much but instead evenly spreads the action out. It doesn't seem like it's trying to brag to you, it just penetrates into you because it's amazing. It's one Chopin's only uses of counterpoint (besides the Fugue, which isn't that impressive). Plus, the 5/4 in the 3rd movement is pretty cool, the 2nd mvt is pure Chopin with enhanced counterpoint and touches of the classical period. And the 4th movement is just cool, but honestly not as good as the other mvts.

Maybe I have a seasoned ear that just doesn't match with other people. Because most of the nocturnes are boring and my favorite of them is the Op. 37 No. 2, my favorite Ballade is No. 3. Plus I'm one of those people that are more blown away by Bach because of their intellectual ability in composition (probably because my own theory is ridiculously weak)