Chopin '.'

[richterfan1]

Hi People, i know this is kinda stupid and strange question,  but

Whats hARDER oP.10 nO.1, OR 4TH BALLADE 

[djealnla]

The 4th Ballade.

[richterfan1]

I agree

[richterfan1]

My favorite is Ashkenazys interpretation, Richter is attractive too, and Martha is perfect!

[emilye]

In my opinion musically - op. 52 but technically op. 10 no 1

[pianisten1989]

Oh comeon! You really can't compare op 10/1 with the forth ballade!

[emilye]

I play 4 ballade and what can I say? It isn't harder piece than etude (technically). Of course I agree we shouldn't compare op.10/1 with the 4 ballade but... if you give e.g. your friend about 4 months to prepare 4 ballade I can say that it is possible, but op. 10/1 ... I don't think so.

[richterfan1]

I play 4 ballade and what can I say? It isn't harder piece than etude (technically). Of course I agree we shouldn't compare op.10/1 with the 4 ballade but... if you give e.g. your friend about 4 months to prepare 4 ballade I can say that it is possible, but op. 10/1 ... I don't think so.

hmmm, 4th ballade have really "nasty" coda

[emilye]

etude no. 1 is complete nasty

[nataliethepianist]

I think the ballade would be a hard piece to really nail and perfect, although the etude has so much technique behind, how could I compare them and declare one a winner!

[nanabush]

The etude has one technique!!  I've been learning the Op 10 #1 this year, and it is one of the ultimate pieces of muscle memory.  For those who are familiar with it, the second F major sweep (with the A in the bass) is one of the nastiest things at first, but once you are used to it, your hand will form itself to it as it would a regular four note chord.

I have a long reach (I can play the opening arpeggio figure as a solid chord: CGCE), and that may have some influence, but the etude really has the one difficulty of playing compound arpeggios.

The ballade has some arpeggios that are about as tough as well as about a dozen other insane technical demands.  I think the people who say the etude is harder are the people who have tried the first bar and gave up after 2 minutes.

The etude is about 5 times shorter than the Ballade, has extremely simple dynamics and pedaling (comparatively), and doesn't have brand new material coming up pages and pages into the piece.

As mentioned earlier, it is insane to even compare the two on difficulty.

[richterfan1]

yes, know that chord, its CFCF WITH A in th bass, when i 1st time saw it, i was like "im never gonna do this 1" but i did it, i can play it well now