Piano Forum

Poll

Which of the following piano pieces is harder to pull off successfully (considering musical and technical aspects) in a concert?

Ravel: Gaspard de la nuit, M. 55
Liszt: Transcendental Études "Mazeppa" + "Feux follet"
Chopin: Op. 10 No. 1 + Op. 10 No. 2
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 29 "Hammerklavier", Op. 106
Schumann: Kreislerianna, Op. 16
Stravinksy: Trois mouvements de Petrouchka

Piano Street Magazine:
The Quiet Revolutionary of the Piano – Fauré’s Complete Piano Works Now on Piano Street

In the pantheon of French music, Gabriel Fauré (1845–1924) often seems a paradox—an innovator cloaked in restraint, a Romantic by birth who shaped the contours of modern French music with quiet insistence. Piano Street now provides sheet music for his complete piano works: a body of music that resists spectacle, even as it brims with invention and brilliance. Read more

Topic: Which of the following piano pieces is harder to pull off successfully  (Read 763 times)

Offline bach-busoni chaconne

  • PS Silver Member
  • Newbie
  • ***
  • Posts: 23
Which of the following piano pieces is harder to pull off successfully (considering musical and technical aspects) in a concert?
2026 Goal:
Bach-Busoni: Chaconne in D Minor, BWV 1004
Ravel: Gaspard de la nuit, M. 55
Scriabin: Piano Sonata No. 5, Op. 53
Stravinsky: Trois Mouvements de "Pétrouchka" / Stravinsky-Agosti: Firebird
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! >>
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 liszt-and-the-galops

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2321
Re: Piano pieces
Reply #1 on: November 23, 2025, 05:11:51 PM
Not too familiar with the Schumann, but IMO among the others:

Easiest (but still extremely difficult)
Chopin 10/1 + 10/2
[gap]
Hammerklavier
Liszt 139/4 + 139/5
Gaspard de la Nuit
Petrushka
Hardest
Amateur pianist, beginning composer, creator of the Musical Madness tournament (2024-26).
https://www.youtube.com/@Liszt-and-the-Galops
https://sites.google.com/view/musicalmadness-ps/home

Offline rachmaninoff_forever

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 5106
Re: Piano pieces
Reply #2 on: November 23, 2025, 06:14:32 PM
Completely impossible to answer.  It’s entirely dependent on what your strengths are and who you’re playing for
Live large, die large.  Leave a giant coffin.

Online lelle

  • PS Gold Member
  • Sr. Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2656
Re: Piano pieces
Reply #3 on: November 24, 2025, 11:15:25 AM
I don't think Kreisleriana belongs on this list. It's not easy but no where near the technical difficulty of the other works.

Given that a number of pianists who play many of these works in concert do not perform Chopin Op. 10 no 1. + 2. I cast my vote for those.
For more information about this topic, click search below!

Piano Street Magazine:
The World of Piano Competitions – issue 2 2025

The World of Piano Competitions magazine is a well-established reference for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of today’s international classical piano landscape. In this new issue, Chopin stands at the centre — not merely as the focus of a competition, but as a celebration of a unique musical legacy. 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
Customer Reviews