Chopin Ballades

[chopiabin]

I know that perhaps even posting this probably makes me a "trained piano monkey," but I really eventually want to play one of them. I'm wondering if someone can give me a list (Chopin or otherwise) of pieces that could lead up to the Ballades. Eventually I want to play the first and the fourth, so I would just really appreciate some advice. Also, I was wondering if I could have a list of them in order of difficulty. I know this is a lot for one post, but it would really help me.

Thanks,Chop

[liszmaninopin]

I don't think this makes you a piano monkey at all-the ballades are wonderful music.

As for pieces that lead up to them-I would suggest somewhat easier Chopin pieces-perhaps some of his etudes that have the particular difficulties found in the ballade you want to work on.  Also, a nocturne could be good training-there's one in C minor in op. 48 that is quite interesting.  Basically, though, for technical difficulties-I'd say pick some Chopin etudes for the ballade you want to work on specifically.  When we know which ballade you want to do, we might offer etude suggestions.

As for order of difficulty-I feel that the fourth is the most difficult, and the first should be in second place.  To tell you the truth, I'm not sure whether I'd call the second or third ballade more difficult-but I feel that neither one is as challenging as the other two (both musically and technically).

[chopiabin]

I actually performed the C minor nocturne at my senior recital - it's one of my favorite Chopin pieces - and right now I am working on the C minor etude op.25#12  and Rachmaninov's B minor prelude op.32#10. Both of these pieces are almost performance level, so I'm looking for something new. My college piano teacher probably wouldn't want me to do more Chopin since I already have so much, so I'm looking for something other than Chopin to work on. I would probably start with the third ballade, so, with that in mind, could anyone help me out?  

[jon]

This is a great song. It's sad but almost everything i know how to play is Chopin. It's hard to want to play something else when all of his music is so beautiful,but anyways about the third ballade i think there are some chopin etudes that could be helpful.First I think the etude in a minor op24 no.4 would be helpful for the first few pages and then  etude in a flat major op10 no.10 for when the piece gets pretty tough.Also etude in f minor op10. no 9 could be helpful for some left hand parts in the ballade but there is only about a page that i see this etude being helpful.I love this song because it seems different from the other three ballades,much more of a "happier" mood than the others even though the fourth is my favorite.

[SandyMC]

Looking for playing ballade eh.. well then, i suggest you play ballade no 1 in G minor by F Chopin.. technically and musically difficult. It's a great piece, everbody played it. But the last cadenza or the last part of this piece is quite difficult..

[Hmoll]

I know that perhaps even posting this probably makes me a "trained piano monkey," but I really eventually want to play one of them. I'm wondering if someone can give me a list (Chopin or otherwise) of pieces that could lead up to the Ballades. Eventually I want to play the first and the fourth, so I would just really appreciate some advice. Also, I was wondering if I could have a list of them in order of difficulty. I know this is a lot for one post, but it would really help me.

Thanks,Chop

What else have you played?  In general pieces that lead up to the Ballades might be - speaking of Chopin only - easier preludes, maurkas, nocturnes, waltzes, polonaises, etudes, and more difficult preludes.

In order of difficulty from hardest to easiest (I've played them all except the A flat).

1 - F minor
2 - F major
3- G minor
4 - A hlat

Some people say the G minot is harder than the F major, though.

[liszmaninopin]

I've always wanted to start learning the F minor-it's on my "to do" list, but I've never quite gotten around to it.

[Max]

What else have you played?  In general pieces that lead up to the Ballades might be - speaking of Chopin only - easier preludes, maurkas, nocturnes, waltzes, polonaises, etudes, and more difficult preludes.

In order of difficulty from hardest to easiest (I've played them all except the A flat).

1 - F minor
2 - F major
3- G minor
4 - A hlat

Some people say the G minot is harder than the F major, though.

I've played 1, 2 and 3, and found 3 more difficult than 1. 1 has a much more flowing feel, and while it doesnt have a coda like the rest, it is geniunly hard to interpret well (there are few recordings which follow the scores markings, especially in the dolce) and it's got an awkward left hand passage.

[rohansahai]

For the first ballade, the presto con fuoco is the highlight. The Ab major etude op. 10-10 can work as a nice preparation.
I haven't played the fourth, so I can't say about that.

[chopiabin]

I think I'm going to work on number 3 as soon as I have the chance. Other stuff I have worked on relatively recently includes : The Military Polonaise in A major, Nocturne op.9 #1, the Funeral march movement of the second sonata, Scriabin's etude op.2#1, and op.8#11.

[hewton]

From my experience, G minor is technically most demanding overall. Some of the measures in F minor could even more difficult, though. But, it doesn't matter since all of his 4 ballades are equally beautiful. I think F major is considered a good "intro" ballade, but still it's not an easy piece to play.  

[Rach3]

The accepted order of difficulty according to my teacher is 4 - 1 - 3 - 2, which I think I agree with. I love no. 4 more than any, perhaps Chopin's greatest piece? I don't think no. 2 is a great 'intro' piece - for all its diminutive nature, its a poignant tragic masterpiece which might demand a strong musical and musicological background (note the dedication - R. Schumann -to me this speaks volumes). No. 3 is probably a better 'first' choice, it's quite challenging (they all are), maybe more so than no. 2, but it's more orthodox. I like a lot of things from no. 1, but the piece as a whole I find 'annoying' for some reason - maybe the incessant repetition of the motive?

While it is much too late for an audition piece, I think I shall be starting on no. 4 (well I already have...), if not just for the shear pleasure of it it would be a great piece to start working with a new teacher next year at conservatory (I hope!).

[Rach3]

About preparatory etudes, what other opinions are there here? I think for no. 4, the thirds and sixths etudes might be helpful (I play neither), and probably a good understanding of his nocturnes and similar pieces (alas, that I lack as well!). I strongly suspect op. 10/8 would be very useful for the second ballade, why they are even in the same key!

[chopiabin]

I've been thinking and I'm getting so frustrated about trying to pick a piece. I decided to do Mozart's K310 because I have almost nothing classical in my repertoire, but I also really want to do another Chopin. I love the third Ballade, but I fear that I'm not ready. Then I thought I would do the 3rd Scherzo - I really love it, but there's the coda and a lot of stuff that would take a while to get perfect. Then I thought about the 2nd Scherzo, which I know I could do, but I don't like it as much as the 3rd and I know it is not as challenging. Then there's my teacher - I don't want him to think I'm somehow pretentious or over-confident. So I guess I need some help picking out a piece - can anyone help me?