Pre-requisites for Islamey Balakirev

[expressman70]

I am looking forward to study Islamey in a while. Like 2 years or so. I currently play Chopin ballade 1, chopin etudes op25 1, 12. op 10 11. Moonlight sonata, Rach concerto 2 1st movement. What would further be handy before Islamey?

Thank you very much for you time!

[marijn1999]

All you're going to need is the willingness and motivation to learn it. Nothing can prepare you in a sense for a certain piece. In my opinion anyway.

BW,
Marijn

[visitor]

I am looking forward to study Islamey in a while. Like 2 years or so. ...

[laura9999]

The closest I can think of as a pre-requisite would be Liapunov's transcendental etude Op. 11 No. 10 (Lezghinka), which is also quite difficult but I think more manageable than Islamey. It was modeled after Islamey and you'll really hear the similarities between the two. And honestly, after learning Lezghinka I'm not sure I'll even bother learning Islamey because in many ways I prefer Liapunov's piece. It's very fun, a huge crowd pleaser, and rarely performed. Win win win.

[visitor]

lol i'll bite. this seems appropriate similar demands but shorter.

[expressman70]

The closest I can think of as a pre-requisite would be Liapunov's transcendental etude Op. 11 No. 10 (Lezghinka), which is also quite difficult but I think more manageable than Islamey. It was modeled after Islamey and you'll really hear the similarities between the two. And honestly, after learning Lezghinka I'm not sure I'll even bother learning Islamey because in many ways I prefer Liapunov's piece. It's very fun, a huge crowd pleaser, and rarely performed. Win win win.

Awesome post. Will look into it.

[outin]

Why not learn some of his better works first? B-flat minor sonata, b-minor scherzo and one of his transcriptions...You might then realize that Islamey really isn't worth the trouble

[expressman70]

Why not learn some of his better works first? B-flat minor sonata, b-minor scherzo and one of his transcriptions...You might then realize that Islamey really isn't worth the trouble

Nah... I really feel like islamey, its like a milestone. But again prokofiev 6, Rach 2nd sonata are more interesting.

[pencilart3]

My condolences.

[diomedes]

Prerequisite? An impractical quantity of notes. If you can digest that in stride you're set.

I'd learn it, but in exchange for all that effort you could learn an entire recital program in exchange.

If you got the Rachmaninov sonata 2 figured out, sure this is your next step. Go right ahead.