Trying to gauge the difficulty of Chopin's Grande Polonaise Brilliante?

[steven_thebear]

Hey Guys! First post here,
I've no idea why, but Grande Polonaise Brilliante is one of my favourite Chopin pieces of all the pieces he has composed. Of recent, after finishing Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata 3rd movement, I've been considering this piece. But I was wondering if anyone around here has any experience in playing the piece. Unfortunately, being a Leaving Cert (British equivalent would be A-Levels) student, time is a bit on the short side. I'm currently learning the Revolutionary Etude (or trying at least!), and I would just like to know if this piece is worth my time or end up discovering that the piece is too difficult. I can tell from looking at the sheet music that the timing seems a bit awkward for both left and right hand with the repeating chord and melody patterns. If I do decide to do it, would you have any tips for me from those who might have experience in playing it? Sorry if I'm being a bit vague, but all help would be appreciated!
Thanks for your time

[mjames]

forget about it

[steven_thebear]

Helpful reply

[awesom_o]

It is very difficult. The Andante Spianato is not easy by any means. The Polonaise is quite flashy and acrobatic. I would not advise anyone to play this piece until they have 6-8 Chopin Etudes firmly under their fingers. It's not difficult to butcher it, but to play it with the elegance it deserves takes real command of the instrument.

[j_menz]

If the rhythm seems strange to you, I would recommend that you do some of the easier polonaises first, just so that gets firmly established. No need to get them up to performance level, just solid enough rhythmically.

[mjames]

Helpful reply

Will it help if I tell you it's really difficult and you're probably going to end up giving up? You're trying to advance too fast. Trust me I've been there.

I recommend tackling the easier polonaises. Doesn't have to be the posthumous ones; try the op. 26 or op. 40 ones. BEATIFUL works,and still challenging too. Oh and more Beethoven sonatas!!

[symphonicdance]

Not a perfect good way to gauge it, but let's see how Trinity (UK) diploma says about it...

www.trinitycollege.com/resource/?id=4001
piano syllabus (pg 18-25)

Andante spianato et grand polonaise brilliante is on fellowship syllabus, other polonaises are on associate and licentitate syllabus.  As mjames said, why not try other polonaises and/or works of Chopin first.

[throwawaynotreally]

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[steven_thebear]

Dia dhuit a chara
I'm gonna advise against doing this atm. It's an awesome piece, but is truly difficult. I think it's a bit too much of a leap from what you're doing right now. If you can already figure out that it's a bit awkward, chances are that it would be a bit out of reach, as others have said.

With that being said, I don't think it'll be considered time wasted if you discover that it's too difficult, since you like the piece. You should give it a try anyway, "for the craic". However, I'd also recommend learning more things before tackling this as well, such as Chopin Etudes, Polonaises, substantial works like a Ballade or Scherzo, and music by other composers.

You have my support in giving a try to learn this, but don't try to rush it or push yourself to learn it by a deadline(for competitions or exams or anything), since it needs a lot of time, which you don't have a lot of (feckin' LC).

Ok thanks! I'll take a look at some more of the pieces you mentioned. Good to see a fellow Irishman(woman?) on the forum! Dia is mhuire duit!

[throwawaynotreally]

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