the mendelssohn fantasy f# minor op.28

[hodi]

well i finished the first part (which is so beautiful!, i love this piece so much)
but the presto part looks like hell, is it worth studying the whole piece?
anyone who played the presto part can tell if it's difficult?

[BoliverAllmon]

I don't know the piece, but you should learn the whole thing. Don't stop halfway.

[amanfang]

I am working on this right now, and I LOVE it!!!  The third just took time but eventually it came, and I would say it is well worth it.  I think that the fire in it, and just the sheer drive is so satisfying once it has been conquered.  The development section is probably the hardest part in my opinion.  It took a lot of work to get the RH smooth and sufficiently bring out the LH and get it all up to "Presto".  So yes, it will take a lot of effort, but I think it is well worth it to play the entire thing.

[hodi]

look how this gifted young pianist plays this fantasy
https://www.serg.vangennip.com/www/video.html
in the video..
looks like a whole piece :-)
and he doesn't play it all..
i mean... i can learn other pieces.. which are more beautiful than the 2nd and 3rd movements of this fantasy... but.. leaving it incomplete makes me feel uncomftrable with this ((
what do u suggest (even pianists who don't know this piece..)

[amanfang]

"Play pieces more beautiful than the second and third...."  Whatever floats your boat.  I suppose it depends on what you want to communicate.  I wanted to do the whole thing.  I think that playing the whole gives a more complete meaning to the piece.  However, in sonatas and other multi-movement pieces, people often play only one movement.  If you are just playing it to play it, do whatever you want.  If you plan on performing, then I would learn the entire thing.

[jlh]

This is one of my all-time favorite pieces to play.  I learned it about 7 years ago and still play it from time to time.  Yes, it is definitely worth studying the rest of the piece.  I would approach the Presto as one should approach an etude -- take it slow and make sure you make all the notes count.  Later you can speed it up, but just enjoy the sonorities while the notes become part of your hands.