Reflets dans l'eau or Pagodes?

[cinnamon21]

which of this piece is harder? and what r the main technical issues?

[j_menz]

OK, I'll bite.

Please don't take this as directed at you personally, but there have been quite a few of these questions and my confusion continues.

According to your signature, you already play or are currently learning both these pieces. So, my question is, how can it be that you do not know which you find more difficult, if either? And how do you not know what technical challenges you face in tackling them?

I know the common answer is that people like to "compare notes", but to what possible end? If someone else has different challenges, they may find one or other harder in a different fashion to you. But what exactly does that tell you?  What are you hoping to learn by the question?

Here endeth the rant. As I said, not specifically directed at you, though the questions are ones you might consider answering.

[nanabush]

I'd probably say Reflets dans l'Eau.

I worked on Estampes last year, and actually found Pagodes the most straightforward of the three.  It's heavily reliant on the pentatonic scale, so it's 'simpler' harmonically.  Sure it has it's fast parts at the end, but the writing in that spot seemed so much more pianistic than the faster parts of Reflets.

I find the harmonic content in Reflets dans l'Eau makes it a little more difficult to get a fluid sound...if I consider that along with [what I find to be] more difficult fast passages, I'd say it's trickier. 

I will add, though, that if you can play one of these two, you are probably able to tackle the other.  They end up being roughly the same length, and generally in the same scope of difficulty. 

[cinnamon21]

Thanks for the answers   I just started working on Pagodes and I heard Reflets the other day and fell in love with it too. I know where the difficulties are (for me), but I'm just curious what others think about these 2 pieces in terms of difficulty and whether I should tackle one after the other.

Thanks

[celegorma]

My vote on Reflets as well. Harder harmony, harder notes and more inflection.
Pagodes is a pure "sound effect" piece. All you need to do well is your touch and pedaling. The notes and harmony are easy and repetitive.