Chopin Rondo

[jon]

Has anyone heard Chopin's rondo op 73in c major for 2 pianos?I have never seen this piece discussed anywere before and i was wondering why. I know this song isn't in the upper echelon of Chopin music but I think it is pretty good and I was wondering why it is not more widely known?

[Goldberg]

It seems like, to me, Chopin composed a very large body of music that perfectly fits his "style," as it's defined and accepted by pianists or otherwise--that body consists of pieces like the Nocturnes, Preludes, Mazurkas, Waltzes, Polonaises, etc. Chopin was generally a perfectionist of sorts, as well, and as various antecdotes illustrate, he disliked those (*cough* Liszt) who strayed too far from his own compositions. Point being, most of his music is well-liked and it's hard to find one that Chopin could have composed to a "better" level. There are exceptions, however, including the Rondos, Variations, 1st Sonata, Cello Polonaise, and Allegro De Concert (and several others that I can't really name). These pieces, as you say, are not Chopin's best attempts and thus have kind of settled at the bottom of the barrel. His OTHER pieces, though--the excellent ones--are often performed and there are enough of them to challenge musicians for a lifetime.

I hope that's somewhat helpful. I personally enjoy the Rondos (in fact, I like the other "lesser" pieces I mentioned more)--specifically the one in F major and the first in C minor--but I would most certainly work on other pieces before preparing them for a recital. They're quirky and unique, but somewhat lacking as far as "obscure" pieces go.

[kissinfan]

the rondo in c major op 73 exists in 2 forms, both of wich the original solo version (not published until 1954, and a later arrangement for 2 pianos first issued in 1855. its imposin introduction is full pof harmonic strenght and chromatic daringand the rondo itself contains some of Chopins most brilliantly virtuosistic writing. of the 2 versions, the 2 piano arragement is the more atractive and convincing. while it remains structurally identical to its model, the 2nd pair of hands allows for more contrapunctal elaboration, enriching the overall harmonic texture and ironically, enhancing the effect of the near Lisztian bravura passages. Jeremy Siepman

now my opinion: i think Chopins conception of the piano was kinda different and quite special both the rondoes and minor works, mostly his polyphonic sense transformed at the piano and his weird  rythmic richness makes it a superb interesting works

an awesome rondo btw