Is prelude 16 really harder than 24?

[pencilart3]

So I've lived my life assuming Chopin's prelude no. 24 was the hardest of the set of 24, those leaps sound like a nightmare to perform. When I looked on G Henle Verlag's website, it ranked no. 24 as a level 9/9 and no. 16 as a level 8/9, confirming it. But talking to some of my pianist friends, and reading other threads, everyone seems to say that 16 is much harder! I need to choose one of these to play and I would like to play the easier one because they are both AMAZING AWESOME BEAST piano pieces but I still want to play the easier one. Please let me know which you find easier.

Also which one you like better if you want

[chopinlover01]

Are these the only two preludes you have a choice to play? If you want hard preludes, there's still plenty that won't take you 3 months for a minute long piece (a la number 16, not so sure about 24, don't care for it much). The G major one is a nice piece, though very much like an etude until you get it down, lol. D major is also another difficult one, though the music is probably not to everyone's taste..
Hell, why not just sit down and take on the entire set?
(edit) Oh, and if you do decide to just go for 16, here's IMO by far the best recording of it:

[pencilart3]

Are these the only two preludes you have a choice to play? If you want hard preludes, there's still plenty that won't take you 3 months for a minute long piece (a la number 16, not so sure about 24, don't care for it much). The G major one is a nice piece, though very much like an etude until you get it down, lol. D major is also another difficult one, though the music is probably not to everyone's taste..
Hell, why not just sit down and take on the entire set?
(edit) Oh, and if you do decide to just go for 16, here's IMO by far the best recording of it:

Hi Chopinlover01, thanks for the reply. I really REALLY want to play one of these - I have a complicated repertoire requirement that would take 100 posts to explain... but I basically need to play a very hard prelude near the end of the set. I am learning 1, 3, 4, 7, 15, and either 16 or 24 to end it out. Could you tell me which you find easier? or which is generally considered easier?

[mjames]

Try both of them. Figure it out yourself, and then choose. Or if you really want to do both, just do both.

[visitor]

Try both of them. Figure it out yourself, and then choose. Or if you really want to do both, just do both.

^dis.
+1
 

[pencilart3]

Try both of them. Figure it out yourself, and then choose. Or if you really want to do both, just do both.

Um... Ok thanks I guess I'll do 24 then.

[chopinlover01]

They're usually considered about the same. Both have the main difficulty in the LH (believe it or don't), as well; with 16, the trouble is in the left hand; the "follow through" motion so to speak requires a very agile hand.
Personally I'd recommend 16.

[pencilart3]

They're usually considered about the same. Both have the main difficulty in the LH (believe it or don't), as well; with 16, the trouble is in the left hand; the "follow through" motion so to speak requires a very agile hand.
Personally I'd recommend 16.

Thanks chopinlover01. I do believe you that the main difficulty is the left hand. The right hand is insanely easy and fun on both of them. Actually they seem to be pretty similar, except that there is a bit more variety in 24 whereas 16 is just runs up and down. I can play chopin etude 25/10, 25/6 and 10/9, 25/2, and 10/5, which I feel covers all of the technique required. (Fast octaves, thirds, left hand jumps, fast right hand notes.) Why would you recommend 16? Do you just like it better? Also, have you played either of them? Or both?

[kawai_cs]

I can play chopin etude 25/10, 25/6 and 10/9, 25/2, and 10/5, which I feel covers all of the technique required. (Fast octaves, thirds, left hand jumps, fast right hand notes.)

Seriously, are you sure you can play them?
I am sorry, it is just a little hard for me to believe hearing you play the prelude on youtube.

[chopinlover01]

Thanks chopinlover01. I do believe you that the main difficulty is the left hand. The right hand is insanely easy and fun on both of them. Actually they seem to be pretty similar, except that there is a bit more variety in 24 whereas 16 is just runs up and down. I can play chopin etude 25/10, 25/6 and 10/9, 25/2, and 10/5, which I feel covers all of the technique required. (Fast octaves, thirds, left hand jumps, fast right hand notes.) Why would you recommend 16? Do you just like it better? Also, have you played either of them? Or both?

With 16 there's less pivoting of the wrist, and more jumping. I've messed around with both, but never studied them (so take my opinion with a bit of salt).

[pencilart3]

With 16 there's less pivoting of the wrist, and more jumping. I've messed around with both, but never studied them (so take my opinion with a bit of salt).

With a bit of salt - I like it! Thanks for posting on most of my threads, I really appreciate it!

Seriously, are you sure you can play them?
I am sorry, it is just a little hard for me to believe hearing you play the prelude on youtube.

If you were referring to my prelude with the pictures of the mountains and such, I had only played through it 2 times before playing, so I was basically sight-reading.

And, if you were referring to the video of me playing with the score, I had only been playing it for 2 days. And personally, I didn't think it was that horrible. Yeah, it was a little slow, but that was because I had learned it the day before. I apologize if I have offended you by posting a video of me sight reading a prelude then telling you what I played this winter and spring. Sorry if I sound rude, but last I checked, I would probably know what I can play more than you can.

[kawai_cs]

Sorry if I sound rude, but last I checked, I would probably know what I can play more than you can.

Well, it is not a competition for me, anyway. I do not really care what you can play more and better than me.
I was just surprised when you wrote about playing all those Chopin etudes and then what you post is just that very modest, let's say, version of prelude. It just did not match. That's all.
 I would like to hear you play those etudes

[pencilart3]

Well, it is not a competition for me, anyway. I do not really care what you can play more and better than me.
I was just surprised when you wrote about playing all those Chopin etudes and then what you post is just that very modest, let's say, version of prelude. It just did not match. That's all.
 I would like to hear you play those etudes

Well seeing as my prelude was completely torn to pieces when I posted it, I think I'll not be posting anything else on piano street, unless I decide to post a version of the prelude after I've played it at least a week to redeem myself... I should have never posted anything in the first place. Don't know why I did when I had only played it a day or two. 

[kawai_cs]

Was your version of prelude really "torn to pieces"?
I did not think it was bad - and I did not write it either.
Reading that somebody has played all those etudes you mentioned, one would expect a different level of playing that is why I wrote in this thread. I am sorry if it sounded like "tearing to pieces" to you.
I would never want to discourage you or anybody from posting a piece because it is fun to hear people play and I look forward to hearing every new piece here. I will post something in the future too.
I am sure if you posted one of the etudes everybody would give you constructive feedback. And not criticize just for the sake of criticizing, because everyone here knows that preparing a piece like e.g. Chopin etude to play in front of others is a great deal of work.

[pencilart3]

Was your version of prelude really "torn to pieces"?
I did not think it was bad - and I did not write it either.
Reading that somebody has played all those etudes you mentioned, one would expect a different level of playing that is why I wrote in this thread. I am sorry if it sounded like "tearing to pieces" to you.
I would never want to discourage you or anybody from posting a piece because it is fun to hear people play and I look forward to hearing every new piece here. I will post something in the future too.
I am sure if you posted one of the etudes everybody would give you constructive feedback. And not criticize just for the sake of criticizing, because everyone here knows that preparing a piece like e.g. Chopin etude to play in front of others is a great deal of work.

Ok, I see. Maybe I will post 25/6 or 10/5 when I've recovered from this "traumatic experience"

[kawai_cs]

 Ok, great, looking forward to it

[chopinlover01]

I'd love to hear your rendition of the etudes you specified- and I apologize if we came down too harsh on your (rather good) performance of the prelude.

[pencilart3]

I'd love to hear your rendition of the etudes you specified- and I apologize if we came down too harsh on your (rather good) performance of the prelude.

Looking back, you guys just gave me good feedback, sorry if I sounded rude. I definitely don't have some of the etudes up to posting level, but I will probably give 25/6 a try. It's just those darn measures 51-52... can't get them. B.T.W. what's considered an appropriate tempo for 25/6? Most people don't actually play it at the marked tempo, so what's the lowest one can go? Almost everyone commented that my prelude was too slow (which it probably was), so everyone seems to hold that pretty high in importance. What do you think would be the slowest tempo for 25/6?

[chopinlover01]

My guess would be around quarter= 108

[pencilart3]

My guess would be around quarter= 108

That sounds about right, that's where I am on a good day. I'm actually going on a long trip in a few days so I may not have time to record it and put it on I might be able to record 10/5 though it's a heck of a lot easier.