Piano Forum

Topic: Which Polonaise?  (Read 3898 times)

Offline pigscanfly

  • PS Silver Member
  • Newbie
  • ***
  • Posts: 14
Which Polonaise?
on: March 02, 2005, 07:30:37 AM
I'm just looking for advice on which polonaise I should learn next.

Polonaise Opus 40-1 Military or Polonaise Opus 53 Heroic

There both amazing songs and I can't decide which one I should put my time into.  I was going to go with the easier one first but I'm not sure which one would be easier. 

I believe these songs are in my skill range but I'm not sure.  Could somebody also compare theses Polonaises to F-impromptu and Ballade in G minor because I just finished these two songs.

thanks
Sign up for a Piano Street membership to download this piano score.
Sign up for FREE! >>
Sign up for a Piano Street membership to download this piano score.
Sign up for FREE! >>

Offline chopinisque

  • PS Silver Member
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 227
Re: Which Polonaise?
Reply #1 on: March 02, 2005, 08:11:28 AM
Well, op.40 no.1 is just above grade 8, according to one of Bernhard's incredible lists... so is f-impromptu...
Mad about Chopin.

Offline pigscanfly

  • PS Silver Member
  • Newbie
  • ***
  • Posts: 14
Re: Which Polonaise?
Reply #2 on: March 02, 2005, 09:32:47 AM
ok thanks also I don't have the sheet music yet so I don't know.

Do all the Polonaises have really big chords that could be unreachable for me.  I can only reach about 1 more note than an octave.

Offline richard w

  • PS Silver Member
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 200
Re: Which Polonaise?
Reply #3 on: March 02, 2005, 01:39:18 PM
Op.40 No.1 is much easier than Op.53, in my opinion. If you get on well with chords then Op.40 No.1 will come quite easily. It sounds and looks really impressive, but it really does fit under the hands nicely. Op.53 is a brilliant piece, but it is also quite awkward in parts, and is much more of a challenge to get the clarity of technique needed. Both pieces offer a real challenge in terms of musicianship though, especially Op.40 No.1, which on account of its comparative ease can be played really badly by someone with limited experience. Make sure you listen to a few good recordings to get a feel for the 'interpretative' elements.

If you can play the FI you should have no problem with Op.40 No.1, and I would encourage you to see how you get on with Op.53. Look at some of the other Polonaises as well - they are all brilliant.



Richard.

Offline sharon_f

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 852
Re: Which Polonaise?
Reply #4 on: March 02, 2005, 05:55:29 PM
Op. 53 is much, much more difficult than Op. 40, No. 1.

Op. 53 is much longer, requires a lot of stamina and demands an advanced technique. The opening requires a very clean double-note technique. In the main section there are those long upward unison scales that have to be absolutely clean. (If you've perfected the G-minor Ballade, this shouldn't be a problem.) And the infamous E major section requires strong, fast left-hand octaves.

Also, since every concert pianist on the face of the planet has recorded the Op. 53, people are very, very familiar with it  Unless it is played absolutely solid from begining to end, it can easily become "so much noise."
There are two means of refuge from the misery of life - music and cats.
Albert Schweitzer

Offline pigscanfly

  • PS Silver Member
  • Newbie
  • ***
  • Posts: 14
Re: Which Polonaise?
Reply #5 on: March 02, 2005, 11:41:07 PM
thank you guys this is exactly what I needed

Offline chopinguy

  • PS Silver Member
  • Jr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 55
Re: Which Polonaise?
Reply #6 on: March 03, 2005, 02:15:03 AM
oh and someday in the future learn the polonaise-fantasie.  it is an AWESOME piece!
For more information about this topic, click search below!
 

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