How far out of reach are these pieces? (Yepp, another "difficulty" topic)

[pseudopianist]

EDIT: I'M NOT SAYING I'M GONNA LEARN ALL THESE PIECES RIGHT THE *** RIGHT NOW LIKE SOME OF YOU MIGHT THINK. I just wonder how far I am from these pieces so I can set my goal, not waste time and know how "skilled" I am.

Liszt:

Un Sospiro
Sonata in B minor 3 Mov "Andante Sosentunto"


Chopin:

10:1
Prelude in D minor No24
Ballade in G minor (The reason I started playing)
2nd movement  F minor Concerto
2nd movement  E minor Concerto


Bach:

Prelude and Fugue in G minor NO 16 WTC Book 2



My current tiny "repertoire" consists of

Bach - Gavotte French Suite No 5
Chopin - Preludes 4,15 | Nocturnes Op9:2 and Op55:1 | Fantasie Impromptu (Half a page left and some polishing)
Liszt - Transcendental Etude No 1 Preludio

I'm currently learning the Allemande from Bachs Frencuh Suite No5



Any replys are gold worth, and yes, I'm aware that threads like this suck. 

[Pianostudy]

The thread doesn't suck at all!  I think it's a fair question...  First off, if you have only been playing for two years, I would say the ballade is definitely a ways down the road yet.  That work particularly is considered one of the major piano works, tackled by piano students who have established their technique, performance skills, etc for many years.  Un Sospiro, however, may be a bit closer, although I would say to keep working on your technique for another year or so before trying this.  The Bach you could probably take on before too long; that happens to be one of the less challenging p&f that Bach wrote.  The Chopin etude opus 10 no. 1 (or 10:1 as you put it) I would say is probably in the same rung as Un Sospiro--I would wait a little while before taking that one on as well.  I'm not too familiar with the Liszt sonata you mentioned, but I'd imagine it would be later on rather than sooner.  Sorry my thoughts are all rather random.. just how it came to me!  Hope this helps.

[pseudopianist]

The thread doesn't suck at all!  I think it's a fair question...  First off, if you have only been playing for two years, I would say the ballade is definitely a ways down the road yet.  That work particularly is considered one of the major piano works, tackled by piano students who have established their technique, performance skills, etc for many years.  Un Sospiro, however, may be a bit closer, although I would say to keep working on your technique for another year or so before trying this.  The Bach you could probably take on before too long; that happens to be one of the less challenging p&f that Bach wrote.  The Chopin etude opus 10 no. 1 (or 10:1 as you put it) I would say is probably in the same rung as Un Sospiro--I would wait a little while before taking that one on as well.  I'm not too familiar with the Liszt sonata you mentioned, but I'd imagine it would be later on rather than sooner.  Sorry my thoughts are all rather random.. just how it came to me!  Hope this helps.

Thanks for your reply.
Now I know what to aim for the nearest future.  Un SOspiro scares me too, I have the scores and some of the arps with thrids in them looks like Satan himself. :p
I thought that P&F by Bach was one of the more difficult, good for me then. The fugue is breathtaking!

[Pianostudy]

Hmm.. whoops..  I misread that to be the G Major p&f from book two.  The G minor, is as you said, definitely one of the more difficult ones.  But a good one to aim for as well!

[SteinwayTony]

Based on what I know about you, here is some advice to chew on:

- Finish the French Suite (you were probably going to anyway).  It will be very rewarding; the suites are much better to perform in public than the preludes and fugues.

- Speaking of the WTC, don't even think about starting these until you've mastered the contrapuntal technique that is initiated in the 2- and 3-part inventions.  When your teacher thinks you have a good understanding of polyphony under your fingers, move onto either a fughetta (not WTC) or a simple three-voiced fugue from the WTC.  It is important to note that, even in the inventions, the "notes" are hardly the focus of the pieces.  Rather, it is the concept of independent voices and their interactions with one another.

- Forget about the Liszt pieces.

- You picked the most difficult Chopin Prelude.  Try the G major or the C-sharp minor first.  

- You are likely not ready for the Ballade, which is very involved, note-wise and emotionally.  

- The second movements of the Concertos, well, yes, they are second movements, but Chopin's concertos are very awkward to play, beautiful as they sound.  

- I would say you could start 10-1.  The stretching exercise will come very much in handy.  
Ever since I've gotten it up to tempo, it's been my favorite warmup exercise (beats the hell out of Hanon).  From experience, I'll advise you to stop practicing (meaning, take a 15+ minute break) if your right hand starts to hurt.  That's a very bad sign.  When you play C-G-C`-E`, your thumb needs to get off that note as rapidly as possible and head toward your index finger on the G.

- The Gigue from the French Suite is addictive.  The Sarabande is gorgeous.

Good luck!  Any questions, let me know.

[pseudopianist]

Based on what I know about you, here is some advice to chew on:

- Finish the French Suite (you were probably going to anyway).  It will be very rewarding; the suites are much better to perform in public than the preludes and fugues.

- Speaking of the WTC, don't even think about starting these until you've mastered the contrapuntal technique that is initiated in the 2- and 3-part inventions.  When your teacher thinks you have a good understanding of polyphony under your fingers, move onto either a fughetta (not WTC) or a simple three-voiced fugue from the WTC.  It is important to note that, even in the inventions, the "notes" are hardly the focus of the pieces.  Rather, it is the concept of independent voices and their interactions with one another.

- Forget about the Liszt pieces.

- You picked the most difficult Chopin Prelude.  Try the G major or the C-sharp minor first.  

- You are likely not ready for the Ballade, which is very involved, note-wise and emotionally.  

- The second movements of the Concertos, well, yes, they are second movements, but Chopin's concertos are very awkward to play, beautiful as they sound.  

- I would say you could start 10-1.  The stretching exercise will come very much in handy.  
Ever since I've gotten it up to tempo, it's been my favorite warmup exercise (beats the hell out of Hanon).  From experience, I'll advise you to stop practicing (meaning, take a 15+ minute break) if your right hand starts to hurt.  That's a very bad sign.  When you play C-G-C`-E`, your thumb needs to get off that note as rapidly as possible and head toward your index finger on the G.

- The Gigue from the French Suite is addictive.  The Sarabande is gorgeous.

Good luck!  Any questions, let me know.

Yeah, I'm thinking about learning that whole suite, it is lovely esp the Gigue as you said (And the Allemande). The Gavotte was the real piece I learnt (I hate it. ).

I know parts of the 2 part inventions but not fully so I can't include them in my repotiore but sure, I'll start of with some more simple contrapunct, my fingers must adjust them self. But I know most of the theory behind it... not that it helps me but I've written my own fugues and canons.


I'll try learn the 10-1 in a five-six months or so. I already got the first page up to speed (mainly because I used it also as a warmup and a stretch exerice)


Thanks for your posts, both of you. This really helps me to understand where I should set my future goals.

[SteinwayTony]

EDIT: I'M NOT SAYING I'M GONNA LEARN ALL THESE PIECES RIGHT THE *** RIGHT NOW LIKE SOME OF YOU MIGHT THINK.

Relax.  It wasn't a personal attack.

I'm aware that threads like this suck. 

So then, what's the problem with my post?

[pseudopianist]

Relax.  It wasn't a personal attack.




So then, what's the problem with my post?

Ah touché 

The thread does suck but these were questions I need answers too.
The problem was that you made me look like "breadboy" in your thread.