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Is Torrent Etude or Heroique Polonaise harder?

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Topic: Is Torrent Etude or Heroique Polonaise harder? (Read 8212 times)

spiderman

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Is Torrent Etude or Heroique Polonaise harder?

on: May 18, 2025, 01:58:04 PM

I always wanted to play these two pieces they both sound good. The hardest pieces I’ve ever played is Ballade no.1. I want to know if these two pieces are much harder than the ballade or has similar levels. And I don’t know if I’m ready for it.

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ned174849

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Re: Is Torrent Etude or Heroique Polonaise harder?

Reply #1 on: May 18, 2025, 02:59:29 PM

I think it is best for you to sight read both pieces for yourself to determine if they would be doable or not. That being said, if you can play the ballade very well, neither of the pieces should be too much more difficult imo. How long did it take you to learn the ballade?

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liszt-and-the-galops

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Re: Is Torrent Etude or Heroique Polonaise harder?

Reply #2 on: May 18, 2025, 06:12:21 PM

Both of them are a fair bit easier than Chopin Ballade no. 1. If you're referring to Liszt's 1st Ballade then I'm pretty sure it's decently more difficult but I don't remember it very well lol.
Would 10/4 be your first ChopEt?

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lelle

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Re: Is Torrent Etude or Heroique Polonaise harder?

Reply #3 on: May 18, 2025, 08:01:31 PM

I'd argue the heroic polonaise has the section with the octaves which, depending on your strengths and weaknesses, could be experienced as harder than executing anything in the Etude or the Ballade. Apart from the octaves though, I'd argue the Etude is harder overall.

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essence

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Re: Is Torrent Etude or Heroique Polonaise harder?

Reply #4 on: May 19, 2025, 09:12:30 AM

degree of hardness is a very personal individual thing.

Hammerklavier slow movement is not technically hard, but extremely hard to play convincingly.

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dizzyfingers

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Re: Is Torrent Etude or Heroique Polonaise harder?

Reply #5 on: May 19, 2025, 01:08:58 PM

Quote from: spiderman on May 18, 2025, 01:58:04 PM

I always wanted to play these two pieces they both sound good. The hardest pieces I’ve ever played is Ballade no.1. I want to know if these two pieces are much harder than the ballade or has similar levels. And I don’t know if I’m ready for it.

You're ready for both!

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liszt37

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Re: Is Torrent Etude or Heroique Polonaise harder?

Reply #6 on: June 18, 2025, 04:45:25 PM

Definitely the polonaise. I have played the torrent and it’s not extremely difficult. It’s mostly about left hand stamina. I haven’t played the polonaise, but I have looked at the music and listened to it and it seems much harder. There are fast runs, double notes, and big fast chords. The middle section is nasty with those octaves in the left hand.

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eee-_-

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Re: Is Torrent Etude or Heroique Polonaise harder?

Reply #7 on: October 16, 2025, 05:08:37 AM

10-4 is way easier than the ballade , polonaise is harder than 10-4 by a lot . and based on what you are good at , it could be equal to or harder than the ballade , for some people polonaise can also be a fair bit easier , if you have played ballade 1 , at a decent lvl , you should be more than ready for both of the pieces

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dsch313

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Re: Is Torrent Etude or Heroique Polonaise harder?

Reply #8 on: October 22, 2025, 11:12:12 PM

imo, polonaise is harder because it requires a lot more stamina, and the octave section is a whole new technique that you have to learn if you haven't played fast octaves before. Etude is still hard but I don't think it's unusually difficult for Chopin. I'd say both are easier than ballade 1

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pianok3ys

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Re: Is Torrent Etude or Heroique Polonaise harder?

Reply #9 on: November 27, 2025, 10:42:14 AM

Quote from: liszt-and-the-galops on May 18, 2025, 06:12:21 PM

Both of them are a fair bit easier than Chopin Ballade no. 1. If you're referring to Liszt's 1st Ballade then I'm pretty sure it's decently more difficult but I don't remember it very well lol.
Would 10/4 be your first ChopEt?

for me polonaise is harder

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dizzyfingers

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Posts: 595

Re: Is Torrent Etude or Heroique Polonaise harder?

Reply #10 on: November 27, 2025, 03:07:57 PM

the original post is spiderman's first and only post .. no followup

if you don't bring ADD to the internet, it will bring it to you

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spiderman

PS Silver Member
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Posts: 3

Re: Is Torrent Etude or Heroique Polonaise harder?

Reply #11 on: January 08, 2026, 07:35:46 AM

Thanks guys! I have played both and I feel they both seem a notch easier than the ballade!

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Piano Street Magazine:New Piano Market Statistics: Inside the Quiet Transformation of Piano Playing

Topic: Is Torrent Etude or Heroique Polonaise harder? (Read 8212 times)

Piano Street Magazine:Argerich-Alink’s Piano Competitions Directory – 2025 Edition

Piano Street Magazine:
New Piano Market Statistics: Inside the Quiet Transformation of Piano Playing

Piano Street Magazine:
Argerich-Alink’s Piano Competitions Directory – 2025 Edition