first Noturne - Chopin

[marao]

hello,

I'm planning to start my first nocturne - Chopin.

Is there any  difficulty level that you guys recommend?

I suppose so, could you help me in this choice?

thanks

[onwan]

The easiest ones are Op.9 no.2 and Op.15 no.3. But none of them is really easy, to get the right sound is kind of challenge.
What were the last pieces you were playing?

[marao]

The last pieces were chopin prelude 15, Bach 2voice inventions Bb and Haydn sonata D - 37 1mov.

[onwan]

I think that the Nocturne OP.9 no.2 is a nice intro to the nocturnes. Then you could choose some of easier walzers...

[mjames]

None of them are really easy, but here you go

Op. 9 no. 2
Op. 15 no. 3
Op. 32 no.1 and 2
Op. 37 no. 1
Op. 48 no.2
Op. 55 no. 1

[winstonian3]

Don't learn op 48 no. 1. I'm learning it now and that sh*t is difficulty

[nanabush]

Ya Op 48 #1 has a lot of qualities you'd see in the Ballades... it's pretty massive as far as the Nocturnes go... but I think Op.9 #3 is deadlier 

If you play a bit of Liszt, Op 48 #1 will come a little easier... but 9/3, when it picks up... the left hand really exerts itself... it also has the fast/glittery passages that there are none of in the C minor nocturne.

Op.9 #2 is an excellent choice though.  Memorable melody, a good piece for harmonic analysis, not too long, and is a good introduction into his writing style that you see in the other nocturnes.

[ianw]

The Piano Syllabus site (https://pianosyllabus.net16.net/default.php) shows 33 entries for Chopin Nocturnes, of which just 3 are at grade 7: Op 15/3, Op 37/1 and Op 55/1.  The rest are harder - mostly much harder!