Chopin

[schubert960]

I'm currently learning the F Minor fantasy, op.49. I'm looking to complement this with one or possibly more of the ballades. To me the third seems of comparable difficulty and should be a relatively straightforward learn but I'm a bit wary of programming the two together (perhaps too much A-flat major?) although I feel the fourth might complement the fantasy nicely despite being in the same key (having said that, they both have a fairly substantial mix of F minor and A-flat, so maybe it's just personal taste). Having said that I don't really want to take on the fourth having not played any of the other ballades. I have however played several of the nocturnes and the third scherzo, so I feel well equipped to take on at least op.49. I'd be interested to hear what others might do in this situation, which ballade(s) would you put with op.49 were you playing them in the same concert?

[chopinlover01]

If I had to choose a ballade to complement the Op. 49, I'd definitely go with the A flat (and not just because I'm currently studying it, and can't play any of the others).
That said, I'd be hesitant to use a ballade in the first place, as they are all substantial pieces of music, as is the Fantasy. I'd complement the fantasy with a couple nocturnes, and perhaps a mazurka.

[rubinsteinmad]

If you're going to allow kids at your concert (You'd better ), then the best ballade is the 1st one (it starts with an A-flat Major chord anyway ).  The 4th Ballade is the 2nd best, but it is really hard to not make boring. But for older people, yeah, 3rd Ballade is good. 2nd Ballade is dull and ugly though. Chopin dedicated it to Schumann.

[chopinlover01]

Allowing children at a public concert is mandatory, unless there's alcohol involved.
Again, I'd push for having one major piece and not two, because then you're having to split time between the two.
Playing the Ballades as a set is different because you're showcasing the entire set of works as a whole (which can almost be considered one giant cohesive set of works)

[kevonthegreatpianist]

At the B Major section, everyone would be falling asleep, and when the new theme comes up, everyone's like, "Whoa!" loll

If you allow kids, I would definitely not recommend this piece, because half of the time, everyone would be falling asleep or be on their Facebook or something. I mean, it's 12 and a half minutes, which is Chopin's longest piece besides his sonatas and probably the 4th ballade. I'd say you could play the 4th scherzo, which is definitely a challenge, but at least it's like ffffffffffffffffffffffff the whole way.

[rubinsteinmad]

At the B Major section, everyone would be falling asleep, and when the new theme comes up, everyone's like, "Whoa!" loll

If you allow kids, I would definitely not recommend this piece, because half of the time, everyone would be falling asleep or be on their Facebook or something. I mean, it's 12 and a half minutes, which is Chopin's longest piece besides his sonatas and probably the 4th ballade. I'd say you could play the 4th scherzo, which is definitely a challenge, but at least it's like ffffffffffffffffffffffff the whole way.

The Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise is longer

[pencilart3]

The Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise is longer

Both concerti, La Ci Darem La Mano, Introduction & rondo in e flat, and Fantasia on polish airs are longer than Fantasie in F minor, if that's what this discussion is about. Sorry I just jumped in having no clue what's being talked about! I do that a lot... 

[ganymedger]

If you're going to allow kids at your concert (You'd better ), then the best ballade is the 1st one (it starts with an A-flat Major chord anyway ).  The 4th Ballade is the 2nd best, but it is really hard to not make boring. But for older people, yeah, 3rd Ballade is good. 2nd Ballade is dull and ugly though. Chopin dedicated it to Schumann.

the first ballade starts with a neaopolitan sixth. That means C minor with a minor sixth, i.e. C - E-Flat and G Flat. That looks like A flat but its important in the context of the work to regard this first chord as a subdominant chord of g minor with a minor sixth.

[rubinsteinmad]

Both concerti, La Ci Darem La Mano, Introduction & rondo in e flat, and Fantasia on polish airs are longer than Fantasie in F minor, if that's what this discussion is about. Sorry I just jumped in having no clue what's being talked about! I do that a lot... 

lol we were talking about solo pieces

[rubinsteinmad]

the first ballade starts with a neaopolitan sixth. That means C minor with a minor sixth, i.e. C - E-Flat and G Flat. That looks like A flat but its important in the context of the work to regard this first chord as a subdominant chord of g minor with a minor sixth.

Oh, OK, thanks for the info! I'm not really a smart person, so..... yeah.....

What I meant was that the Fantasie and the  Ballade sound like the share a same key signature (even though they don't)

[pencilart3]

lol we were talking about solo pieces

Oh... oops      

Grand polonaise is w/ an orchestra...  never mind I'll shut up 

[rubinsteinmad]

Oh... oops      

Grand polonaise is w/ an orchestra...  never mind I'll shut up 

Oh, right My dumbness is slipping out again   Luckily, the solo piano version was composed by Chopin

[kevonthegreatpianist]

The Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise is longer

And the Polonaise-Fantasy. But the ASGP is usually considered as two pieces; the Andante being around 4 minutes and the Grande Polonaise about 9. I think.

AND OF COURSE, THE PIANO CONCERTOS.

Did everyone forget about the Polonaise-Fantasy? I know I started this, but it's one of the greatest pieces to come on earth.

The Rondo Op.16 is about 10 mins. The Scherzo 4 is about 11. The 1st ballade around 10. First Scherzo about 9. There are much enormously long Chopin pieces. But Beethoven's longest piece is close to an hour.
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