Piano Forum

Topic: Chopin Polonaises  (Read 51552 times)

Offline rshillen

  • PS Silver Member
  • Newbie
  • ***
  • Posts: 18
Chopin Polonaises
on: February 15, 2005, 10:38:35 PM
Can anyone give me some guidance regarding the technical and musical difficulties of the Chopin Polonaises?. Although I've studied various pieces by Chopin in the past I have never studied the Polonaises. I was going to start with the so called easiest in C sharp minor Op 26 but then have no idea which I should tackle next. I have small hands and would love to tackle the Grande Polonaise in E flat Opus 22 but am unsure where that fits in in the hierachy of technical difficulty. Any guidance would be appreciated?

Offline lenny

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 541
Re: Chopin Polonaises
Reply #1 on: February 16, 2005, 01:38:11 AM
a general bit of advice - musically, would be to listen to and research the authentic rhtyhm and feel of the polonaise.

it originated as a polish dance of course, and like the mazurake, chopin took the basics of the rhythmic and melodic sytle, and brought them to serious compositions.

im not sure who plays with the most accurately authentic 'polish' rhythm that chopin intended, but i particualrly enjoy the free feel of cziffra's performances, and the powerful steady juggernaut feel of pogolerich on his dvd performance of op44(my favourite right now).

listen to many styles and pick and choose which stylistic elements you would like to pick up and bring to you own playing.

happy listening :)
love,peace,hope,fresh coconuts

Offline Pianostudy

  • PS Silver Member
  • Jr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 70
Re: Chopin Polonaises
Reply #2 on: February 16, 2005, 07:44:15 PM
By far the best recording of the Polonaisen is Rubinstein's.  It is simply incredible.

Offline bernhard

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 5078
Re: Chopin Polonaises
Reply #3 on: February 16, 2005, 11:31:21 PM
Chopin Polonaises grades (ABRSM and subjective):

Grade 6

Polonaise no. 11 in Gm
Polonaise no.12 in Bb
(both composed when Chopin was 8 years old)

Grade 7

Polonaise no. 13 in Ab

Grade 8

Polonaise no. 1 in C#m Op. 26 no. 1
Polonaise no. 4 in Cm Op. 40 no. 2
Polonaise no. 10 in Fm Op. Posth 71 no. 3

Just above grade 8:

Polonaise no. 2 in Ebm Op. 26 no.2
Polonaise no. 3 in A Op. 40 no. 1
Polonaise no. 8 in Dm Op. Posth. No. 1
Polonaise no. 9 in Bb Op. Posth. No. 2
Polonaise no. 15 in Bbm

Advanced:

Polonaise no. 5 in F#m Op. 44
Polonaise no. 6 in Ab Op. 53
Polonaise-fantasie no. 7 Op. 61
Polonaise no. 14 in G#m (Chopin was 12 when he composed this one)
Polonaise no. 16 in Gb

Best wishes,
Bernhard.
The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side. (Hunter Thompson)

Offline Pianostudy

  • PS Silver Member
  • Jr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 70
Re: Chopin Polonaises
Reply #4 on: February 17, 2005, 12:28:43 AM
Chopin Polonaises grades (ABRSM and subjective):
ABRSM?? I'm not familiar with this acronym!..  But I would agree with Bernhard's assessment of the level of difficulty of the polonaisen.

Offline bernhard

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 5078
Re: Chopin Polonaises
Reply #5 on: February 17, 2005, 09:29:12 AM

ABRSM?? I'm not familiar with this acronym!..  But I would agree with Bernhard's assessment of the level of difficulty of the polonaisen.

Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. Google it! ;)
The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side. (Hunter Thompson)

Offline pianowelsh

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 1576
Re: Chopin Polonaises
Reply #6 on: February 17, 2005, 04:26:15 PM
Seems pretty sound. Everyone wants to play Grande polonaise op22 its a pianistic gem! it is also phenominally difficult - some pieces are as hard as they look. Grand pol is harder! - Trust me I tried it - it's one i'll be coming back to again and again!

Offline lisztrachmaninovfan

  • PS Silver Member
  • Jr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 80
Re: Chopin Polonaises
Reply #7 on: December 02, 2009, 02:30:10 AM
Perhaps the Op.71 polonaises? They are some of the easiest in my opinion (in comparison to the others, at least). And just simply the polonaises made when Chopin was still in childhood.
Currently working on:
*Prelude, Op.23 N.4 (Rachmaninoff)
*Prelude & Fugue in F major, WTC II (Bach)
...not fully decided on what else to start (most likely will be a Liszt, Schubert, or Medtner)...

Offline bmusic2

  • PS Silver Member
  • Newbie
  • ***
  • Posts: 1
Re: Chopin Polonaises
Reply #8 on: August 24, 2012, 12:23:42 AM
where are 3 polonaise op.posth. from 1822 and 1827??? no A flat major Polonaise:(

Offline lloyd_cdb

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 539
Re: Chopin Polonaises
Reply #9 on: August 24, 2012, 12:35:38 AM
where are 3 polonaise op.posth. from 1822 and 1827??? no A flat major Polonaise:(

A flat posthumous is no. 13, listed in the grade 7 category.  The B-flat minor from 1826* is no. 15, listed in 'just above grade 8'. If you mean where is the sheet music, check imslp.  To my knowledge, he only composed 16 (that have survived through the ages) all of which are listed.

Even though this is a 7 year old thread, since it's already been dragged back up...  I really can't see the G#m no. 14 as being "advanced" (I assume this means 10{+}) given no. 10 is listed as grade 8.  Having played both, they each have tricky sections, but G#m is by no means multiple levels above it.

*I believe this is the one you mean, as he didn't compose a posthumous one from 1827.
I've been trying to give myself a healthy reminder: https://internetsarcasm.com/

Offline chopin2015

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2134
Re: Chopin Polonaises
Reply #10 on: August 24, 2012, 12:57:24 AM
These pieces are exceptionally hard because the standard is very high due to many virtuosos playing these...well...at virtuoso level. hah.
"Beethoven wrote in three flats a lot. That's because he moved twice."
For more information about this topic, click search below!

Piano Street Magazine:
Women and the Chopin Competition: Breaking Barriers in Classical Music

The piano, a sleek monument of polished wood and ivory keys, holds a curious, often paradoxical, position in music history, especially for women. While offering a crucial outlet for female expression in societies where opportunities were often limited, it also became a stage for complex gender dynamics, sometimes subtle, sometimes stark. From drawing-room whispers in the 19th century to the thunderous applause of today’s concert halls, the story of women and the piano is a narrative woven with threads of remarkable progress and stubbornly persistent challenges. Read more
 

Logo light pianostreet.com - the website for classical pianists, piano teachers, students and piano music enthusiasts.

Subscribe for unlimited access

Sign up

Follow us

Piano Street Digicert