chopin impromptus

[chopincat]

What is your favorite Chopin impromptu and why? Additionally, which if them do you think is the easiest to learn, technically? Which do you think is the easiest to interpret, musically?

NOT INCLUDING the Fantaisie-Impromptu.

[chopinlover01]

Personally I see no reason to exclude FI except for that it's overplayed. It's actually the first impromptu that he wrote, but for various reasons he didn't want it published (similarities to the Moscheles impromptu in E flat, and the cadenza of Moonlight sonata's 3rd movement). Julias Fontana discovered it and published it, adding the "Fantasie" bit to the rest of the impromptu.
The easiest technically would probably be the A flat impromptu, though it depends on your strengths- the main technical challenge with the Op 66 is the constant 3 against 4 polyrhythms.
As far as interpretation goes, most of the impromptus are fairly straight forward (at least the one's I've heard- there's one that I haven't, though, so don't take my word for it all).

[chopincat]

but for various reasons he didn't want it published

Part of the reason I am excluding it!

But also because it's awfully overplayed, and because my teacher and I have already established that it is not in the running for those reasons. (Part of the purpose of this thread is so I can get a better sense of the impromptus so that I can pick one. Despite being a huge fan of Chopin, I had barely heard the impromptus (besides the 4th one  ) until my teacher mentioned that I might want to work on one.)

You forgot to include your favorite!

[chopinlover01]

Well there were a lot of things he didn't want published. He asked that all the works he hadn't finished be burned. You could also argue that the 9/2 nocturne is just as overplayed, and the Op 53 polonaise, and the G minor ballade... the list goes on. Too much of anything good is still a bad thing (to quote mjames).
And yes, I didn't state a favorite Mostly because I don't care for most any of them, though if I HAD to pick one, probably the A flat would be the winner.
Chopin wrote 4 impromptus but they aren't very "well written" works, so to speak (at least IMO). The champion of impromptus IMO was and still is Schubert, though Scriabin is also up there.

[j_menz]

Surely if you are going to learn one, picking one you like is what counts.

If you're excluding the FI (and IMO it's the only one with any merit) there are only three of them, and no shortage of performances on YT. Go have a listen

Technically, they're much of a muchness.

[chopincat]

Surely if you are going to learn one, picking one you like is what counts.

If you're excluding the FI (and IMO it's the only one with any merit) there are only three of them, and no shortage of performances on YT. Go have a listen

See, I have been listening to them, but none of them really stand out to me. I wouldn't go so far to say that they're poorly written, but none of them really grab me (yet) the way that so many Chopin works do. So I'm just looking for a second (or third or fourth) opinion I guess.

[chopinlover01]

Again, the impromptus are some of his weaker works (I think they're his weakest, some people think otherwise).
Go to Schubert for impromptus, honestly  ... For Chopin around that level, several of the nocturnes are there, though much longer.
(EDIT) And, as well, like J said, if you're going to play one, play the one that you like. Don't play music based on what other people like

[visitor]

+1 w chopinlover01 and jmenz

This one is cool and has some of chopinata better known melodies/works.  Highly inspired by chopins traditional style, but vey well done and execuyed better than the std chopin impromptus

[mjames]

Meh, you guys are just haters. I mean the first two are cool and all but the 3rd one is just amazeballs.


How anyone considers this as anything but "wow" is deaf. ok sorry but its the truth ok bye

[chopincat]

Go to Schubert for impromptus, honestly  ...

Actually, my teacher and i talked about the Schubert impromptus as well. I tend to gravitate towards Chopin, but some of the Schubert impromptus honestly impress me more than the Chopin impromptus. So maybe I'll go for Schubert instead.

Right now I really like the C minor, the A flat major from op. 90, and the B flat major. How do they compare in terms of difficulty?

[mjames]

Actually, my teacher and i talked about the Schubert impromptus as well. I tend to gravitate towards Chopin, but some of the Schubert impromptus honestly impress me more than the Chopin impromptus. So maybe I'll go for Schubert instead.

Right now I really like the C minor, the A flat major from op. 90, and the B flat major. How do they compare in terms of difficulty?

completely disregard schubert and just play chopins 3rd instead


They're difficult, but manageable. Honestly just pick the one you like the most and you should be able to handle them fairly well if you practice consistently, and diligently. 

[mjames]

Meh, you guys are just haters. I mean the first two are cool and all but the 3rd one is just amazeballs.


Anyone considers this as anything but "wow" is deaf. ok sorry but its the truth ok bye

[chopinlover01]

Actually, my teacher and i talked about the Schubert impromptus as well. I tend to gravitate towards Chopin, but some of the Schubert impromptus honestly impress me more than the Chopin impromptus. So maybe I'll go for Schubert instead.

Right now I really like the C minor, the A flat major from op. 90, and the B flat major. How do they compare in terms of difficulty?

The C minor is the longest of the three you mentioned, at around ten minutes, so you may want to take that into account if it's for an exam or something (they typically don't want super long rep in my experience). The A flat is fairly difficult, but you can probably do it; your teacher would know better than us, however. I'm not familiar with the B flat major, so I can't offer advice; however, if you want a good starting Schubert impromptu, the E flat major from Opus 90 is a good one.