Looking for a level 6 Chopin piece.

[lucy_a]

Hello All!

As I said in the subject, I am looking for an interesting Chopin piece level 5-6. I have to mention that I am not really interested in something overly cheery at the moment. Looking for something more deep with a lot of emotion. I should also note that I am open to any other suggestions besides Chopin! Looking forward to hearing your ideas!

Lucy

[outin]

Hello All!

As I said in the subject, I am looking for an interesting Chopin piece level 5-6. I have to mention that I am not really interested in something overly cheery at the moment. Looking for something more deep with a lot of emotion. I should also note that I am open to any other suggestions besides Chopin! Looking forward to hearing your ideas!

Prelude 28-6

[j_menz]

There's a list of them here.

[steve_uk]

I think the Raindrop Prelude would be ideal.

[awesom_o]

I don't know.... Chopin was definitely a level 10 pianist, so that means even his level 6 pieces are really just level 10 pieces in DISGUISE as level 6 pieces.

[marielofredwall]

I think some of his nocturnes are relatively easy, but I'm not sure of the exact level...  The one in c sharp minor is really beautiful, and not too hard.

[awesom_o]

I think you've been gullwhackered on the head, mariel. It's most certainly level 10.

[marielofredwall]

Oh, sorry... I meant C minor.

I'm not really familiar with ABRSM levels and such.

[prestoconfuocco]

I don't know the grading system very well, can you tell me of other pieces you've been playing?

[musicman99]

The nocturnes in C minor and C# minor (opus posthumous) are very good. I recommend these. The F minor nocturne would also be good. Liszt Consolation #3 is nice, as well.

[ale_ius]

I should also note that I am open to any other suggestions besides Chopin! Looking forward to hearing your ideas!

Lucy

----Alee Marie.

[the_fervid_pig]

The Nocturne in G Minor 15/3 is very beautiful. I've been playing for just short of a year and I'm learning it at the moment, I'm finding it challenging (one part in particular) but not impossible. It's meant to be one of the easier ones.

[bsharp77]

I would recommend waltz in a minor op 34/2 - technically undemanding and very beautiful. Or perhaps op 69/2 in b minor, also about grade 6.

[awesom_o]

I still maintain that Chopin was a level 10 pianist and as a result, even his shortest and simplest-seeming works are in fact level 10.


 

[musicman99]

I still maintain that Chopin was a level 10 pianist and as a result, even his shortest and simplest-seeming works are in fact level 10.


 

I think that you've contradicted yourself. First off, Chopin was an exceptional pianist of a very high standard. That doesn't mean that he couldn't write technically simple pieces like the E minor and the C minor preludes. And "level 10" is a grade given to a piece of a difficulty X. If a piece is simpler than X then it is not level 10.

[j_menz]

I still maintain that Chopin was a level 10 pianist and as a result, even his shortest and simplest-seeming works are in fact level 10.


 

+ 1

I think some people confuse difficulty of playing the notes for difficulty of playing the music.

[awesom_o]

I think that you've contradicted yourself. First off, Chopin was an exceptional pianist of a very high standard. That doesn't mean that he couldn't write technically simple pieces like the E minor and the C minor preludes. And "level 10" is a grade given to a piece of a difficulty X. If a piece is simpler than X then it is not level 10.

I don't feel I've contradicted myself at all. I've played over one hundred and twenty of Chopin's works and I think they're pretty much all level 10.

Perhaps the Prelude in A major is only a level 6.5, but we're practically splitting hairs by this point. I don't think I ever heard a good performance of it by a pianist who wasn't at least level 7 or 8.

[outin]

Anything by Chopin is horribly difficult, so I guess I'll have to agree with awsome, although the actual level/grade seems irrelevant. His music requires flexibility and control of the hands in a way that seems impossible (at least for me) without having much more experience at the piano. I can sort of play some of the easier pieces, but I am not at all pleased with the results.

[hfmadopter]

I agree with others in that what perhaps may be rated lower is not really so with Chopin. My teacher back when I had one made me do Clemente, Mendelssohn, Schumann and Mozart works before ever introducing me to the easier Chopin pieces and mid Beethoven Sonatas. Then we moved on to using Chopin Etudes sectionally as studies for other composers works. With her a lot of Bach was important as well. So in ten years of study with her Chopin was about last on the list of to do works. You had to be able to play with full emotion, yet reserve that ability ( hold back a bit, in other words control it) before she would introduce me to it.

[musicman99]

I don't feel I've contradicted myself at all. I've played over one hundred and twenty of Chopin's works and I think they're pretty much all level 10.

Perhaps the Prelude in A major is only a level 6.5, but we're practically splitting hairs by this point. I don't think I ever heard a good performance of it by a pianist who wasn't at least level 7 or 8.

I misunderstood; I apologise. Now I understand what you mean. What I meant, however, is that they can't all be level 10 pieces, technically. I do agree with you about how an easier piece must be played by a more experienced performer. I can play some Chopin pieces and there are other that I can't (quite a lot ).

Carlos R.

[awesom_o]

Some of Chopin's pieces are longer than others. Some of Chopin's pieces contain more notes than others. All of Chopin's pieces contain a vast amount of music for the pianist.

I played the B minor and E minor Preludes when I was about 7. Chopin rolled around quite a bit in his grave. I've been working quite hard to redeem myself in his beautiful eyes ever since.

Chopin demands virtuoso control of the hands at all times. All of his works, great and small, require the pianist to make the instrument come alive in a very peculiar manner.

Making something that is dead come alive is necromancy!

 

[j_menz]

I played the B minor and E minor Preludes when I was about 7. Chopin rolled around quite a bit in his grave. I've been working quite hard to redeem myself in his beautiful eyes ever since.

Given the number of pianists out there in the same boat, I suspect Chopin is on permanent spin cycle.