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Is Torrent Etude or Heroique Polonaise harder?

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Topic: Is Torrent Etude or Heroique Polonaise harder? (Read 748 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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Posts: 296

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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Posts: 367

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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Posts: 3

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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Topic: Is Torrent Etude or Heroique Polonaise harder? (Read 748 times)

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