Chopin piece and baroque

[xpletus]

I have recently learned a few Chopin pieces (op. 10 no. 12, nocturne in E minor) and I really like his pieces but I want to learn something more difficult and longer. Can anyone recommend a piece not as advanced as the fourth ballade (or other pieces of its caliber e.g. polonaise fantasie) but harder than most etudes?
I also need to learn a Baroque piece, maybe a prelude and fugue from TWC.

Thanks

[frederic]

Have a look at his 4 Scherzos. I like No.3 and 1 the best. Also no.2 but its played to often and im a bit sick of it. That just leaves the No.4 which i don't find particularly great.
His Fantasie in F minor.
His three sonatas.

Have a look at Bach's Dminor prelude and fugue in Book 1.

[Diabolos]

Well, I wouldn't look at Chopin's Scherzi at all. They are pretty pieces, but also the most difficult ones he composed. You should check on some of his Preludes (just read through them, they are all pretty, and playable)..you might also have a look at some of his Waltzes and Polonaises; but don't rush, and don't start with the most difficult. These pieces all possess their own soul, combined with a general passion based on their folklore origin, and discovering them is the beginning of playing them. Or better: playing them well. ;-)

For baroque pieces, there's a lot more Bach out there than just the preludes and fugues. If you go for one of these, check out Nr.2 WK I, it's widely known and not too difficult to memorize - a good start for working on Bach. Or else, check out his French and English suites. They're interesting, since they offer a good insight e.g. on baroque dances and contrapunctual composing.

Good luck!

Regards,

[BuyBuy]

About the Chopin, harder than etudes but easier than the 4th Ballade ? Well, that is pretty subjective... How about the first Ballade ? My favorite, and a little easier than the 4th. The Barcarolle is one of his most beautiful works, and in some aspects harder than many Etudes. The Polonaise-Fantaise is pretty hard too and quite long.

About Baroque, look and Bach French suites. They are very dynamic, dance like, and good performance pieces, I think. If you don't like Bach, look at Scarlatti sonatas, there are a bunch of them, with different levels of difficulty.

[tosca1]

These are among my Chopin favourites and some of them have already been mentioned:

the Berceuse, the Barcarolle, the F minor Fantasy or one of the Impromptus.  

A lovely Bach choice would be the B flat Partita.

Thank you,
Robert.