Chopin g minor ballade

[pianoboi666]

hello all.  I will be starting the Chopin g minor ballade I'm not sure how to go about starting it as it is an extremely challenging but beautiful piece.  I would like to hear any suggestions and words of wisdom that anybody may have for me.  thanks in advance for all your help.

Dan

[pigscanfly]

Hello I pretty much just finished this piece and its great.

I don't know what level you are so I can't tell if it will be hard for you but I found it actually pretty easy.

The notes all seem to fit pretty well to the hand and nothing is too challenging in the piece.

Do you have any more direct questions?

[chopinisque]

Easy?  Easy?!  Easy?!!!  Are you sure?

[apion]

The g minor ballade is one of Chopin's greatest works, and there are many excellent recordings of it.  When I learned this ballade, I contrasted a few of the leading recordings to get a feel for the range in interpretive styles. 

I don't know what level you are so I can't tell if it will be hard for you but I found it actually pretty easy.

Although not the most difficult work of Chopin, it is one of his more challenging pieces, and I would NOT describe this as easy.  However, it was very ENJOYABLE to play!

[presto agitato]

The notes all seem to fit pretty well to the hand and nothing is too challenging in the piece.

Ok. If it is not chellenging id like to listen to your recording.

[pianodude]

To those who have learned g minor ballad and Scherzo#2, could you please tell me which one is more difficult?

My teacher wants me to play this ballad, the music sounds kind of beautiful, however, it seems more difficult than Scherzo#2. I personally like the sound of Scherzo#2 more than the ballad.

[thracozaag]

To those who have learned g minor ballad and Scherzo#2, could you please tell me which one is more difficult?

My teacher wants me to play this ballad, the music sounds kind of beautiful, however, it seems more difficult than Scherzo#2. I personally like the sound of Scherzo#2 more than the ballad.

 I would say the 1st ballade is more challenging, technically and interpretively.

koji (STSD)

[SteinwayTony]

Ok. If it is not chellenging id like to listen to your recording.

Seriously.

[pigscanfly]

ok don't get all defensive.
I'm sorry I said that but I was saying compared to some other songs
its all relative.

There are no parts of the song that are technically extremely difficult.
But the musicality is challenging 

[thracozaag]

ok don't get all defensive.
I'm sorry I said that but I was saying compared to some other songs
its all relative.

There are no parts of the song that are technically extremely difficult.
But the musicality is challenging 

  The fact that you refer to it as a "song" speaks volumes.

koji (STSD)

[pigscanfly]

oh oops that was stupid
but how does that change anything I said?
Maybe I don't know the right terms but I still know what I'm talking about.

Maybe you don't agree with me but if somebody has pretty good technique this song isn't going to be very very difficult.
Now to make it musical is another story but I was talking about technique because thats what you need to play a song like this.

Its my opinion ok?

[Glissando]

Maybe you don't agree with me but if somebody has pretty good technique this song isn't going to be very very difficult.
Now to make it musical is another story but I was talking about technique because thats what you need to play a song like this.

Dude, you did it again.

Piece: An artistic, musical, or literary work or composition.

Song: A brief composition written or adapted for singing.

See- the words- they mean different things.

[pigscanfly]

doh! I'm an idiot I've got to learn to stop using that word.

and guys I don't want to argue about my opinion.  I'm sorry I said it was easy that makes it sound like I think its a piece of cake.  It's definitely not, I said this after trying to learn a song like La Campanella and having to walk away because of some of the crazy techniques in that piece  .  But the ballade doesn't have that so I said it was easy because I was being relative.

[Chrysalis]

aha 

[rohansahai]

But the ballade doesn't have that so I said it was easy because I was being relative.

The ballade does have an extremely treacherous presto con fuoco!

[maxy]

HAHAHAHAHA!

Sure, Ballade 1 is really easy...

That is why I NEVER heard a pianist play the end cleanly in concert...  It's so EASY that all pianists   fall asleep right before the end and mess up.  Yup yup, that explains it all...   

Back on topic:

you may want to learn the end first, it is the most challenging part mechanically.  Respect all the accents, they do help.

[dinosaurtales]

HAHAHAHAHA!

Sure, Ballade 1 is really easy...

That is why I NEVER heard a pianist play the end cleanly in concert...  It's so EASY that all pianists   fall asleep right before the end and mess up.  Yup yup, that explains it all...   

Back on topic:

you may want to learn the end first, it is the most challenging part mechanically.  Respect all the accents, they do help.

YES!!! in fact, it's those da**ned accents that make that ending so da**ned hard!!!!  The right and left hand are accented in different, seemingly random rhythms, so it's murder to put them together, but it sounds SOOOOOOOO cool when it is (or will be, in my case).  I really can't wait.  I expect it'll be a blast to play when it's all done!

[hodi]

DAMN THIS PIECE ISN'T EASY! again, piano forum members describe incredibly challenging pieces as easy 

[SteinwayTony]

*** THIS PIECE ISN'T EASY! again, piano forum members describe incredibly challenging pieces as easy 

Sarcasm. Relax.