how fast should chopin's op. 66 be played?

[idreamofpiano]

i have heard different ideas.  to me no more than 84 bpm.  when i play it any faster the notes seem to run together and it doesn't sound pretty.   i have heard some say 115 bpm? what is the general speed for performing this piece?

[gyzzzmo]

Pick a part that has an obvious melody and adapt the speed to that part. In case of FI thats the middle part of the fast movement.
Do what sounds good to you, alot of people tend to claim that there is a fixed speed but that is not true. As long as the melody part sounds good together, combined with the global tempo/mood indication from the composer, it is fine.

Gyzzzmo

[idreamofpiano]

thank you! that makes me feel better! 

[geze]

Any suggestions on how to best practice this?

[gerryjay]

gyzzzmo was very happy in his remark: there is no fixed speed to any piece. even when the composer himself puts a metronome mark, it must not be regarded as a law (the reasons to that are subject to another discussion).

anyway, in the academic approach we do have boundaries, and between them you are safe and fine. an allegro to chopin means a fast moving flow, but not an absurdly fast moving flow. he did use his presti quite precisely.

just for the sake of the argument, i mean the academic approach because outside this, you simply do what you want to the piece. wanna play this piece at 40 MM, go and play. btw, a lot of people will love it, and some will actually think that your is THE version. if you have enough lobby, you may even reinvent chopin.

it happens all the time!

[sephethus]

Idil Biret plays Chopin quite well, so does Martha Argerich. I'd go at their pace.

[idreamofpiano]

thanks to everyone who has posted on this topic ! plz continue to add ideas, as i am teaching my self how to play? maybe someone else can learn along the way as well (=

[celestialriceball]

The thing is with this piece is that a bunch of notes are jumbled up and you're expected to create a melody, so I say exaggerate every technique and expression you have. Play at a speed you're comfortable to not make any mistakes and bring out the melody. You can start advancing your speed if it seems fit to your own liking of your own interpretation. I usually play the first and last sections very very fast while the middle is extremely emotional and romantic, in that I slow down/speed up exaggerate every dynamic. The best thing is to learn it slow and experiment. The piece shouldn't be too slow yet it shouldn't be a garble of fast bunched-up notes either.

[benechan]

[Piano Sage Blog] How to play Chopin's Fantasie Impromptu C# Minor: analysis, tips, masterclasses Opus 66
https://pianosage.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-to-play-chopins-fantasie-impromptu.html