music suggestions

[dj]

i've been wanting 2 play some chopin and rachmaninoff stuff lately, but im not really familiar with a whole lot of their works that aren't extremely hard. im currently working on pathetique by beethoven and schubert's impromptu op. 90 no. 2....so that's about the level im at. does anyone know any good chopin or rach stuff that isn't any harder than that? i was thinking about rach's prelude in G- ....i think it's op. 23 no. 5, but im also looking 4 more options cuz i don't feel like wandering all over the internet listening 2 every file i can get my hands on. thanx 4 any help anyone gives me.

[chopinetta]

i have a friend who had been working on pathetique as well. but before that, our teacher (we have the same teacher) gave him chopin's etude op10 no5 and he had chopin's ballade no.1 as well.

you should try on chopin's etude! all of them are beautiful!

[amp]

I think the minatures are great. There are a few Chopin Nocturnes that you could easily learn, others that are more difficult. All the Waltzs are great. Also, the preludes.  www.sheetmusicarchive.net....probably has most of Chopin's music.

Like Chopinetta said, Etudes are great. But, with the smaller works you could do several before "accomplishing" an etude. So, that depends on the type of learning you do. Studying one piece longer vs. studying smaller pieces (equally challenging just less) for a shorter time.

Rach...unfortunatly I don't know much about yet.

[Celeste]

I'm also playing the Pathetique sonata (only the 3rd movement). My favorite piece that I'm playing right now is Rach's prelude in C# Minor. It's difficult  (more difficult than the 3rd movement of the Pathetique) but very beautiful. You might want to try that one. It all depends on your taste and style, though.

[dj]

well thanx 4 the input.....although i must say, u've got 2 b  kidding (chopinetta) about the etude op.10 no.5.....unless it's just one of those songs your hands just naturally play all the notes super fast with relative ease anyway, i'll check out some more chopin etudes and i liked the rach preludes...so thanx again

[dj]

o and btw, i practically live at sheetmusicarchive. it's awesome

[amp]

Dj, try some of Chopin's smaller works, Nocturnes, Waltzs. I swear to you will get something out of them. A piece doesn't have to be virtuistic to be good.

PLEASE,  don't try a ballade you should learn the minatures. I don't know why people are suggesting pieces like that with out accomplishing the smaller works. ie. One to be ready to play the Etudes should study the preludes.

I'm mentioning this out of frustration, people recently (especially young teens) suggest these virtuistic pieces to others that have not accomplished "pre-req" type music, DJ b/c he is asking about rep of Chopin I'm assuming he has played none or little. Why not work up to the hardest of Chopin's reportoire instead of starting there? Not trying to be offensive, but it's not all about the technic.

Does what I'm saying make sense? I think I'm not explaining myself well, anybody else think this?  

[tph]

I agree wholeheartedly with with amp.  No need to rush into excessive difficulties without the tools.  That's not to say you should avoid tackling them, but you might want a solid foundation first, lest you get turned off early to his works.

The most difficult thing about successfully performing Chopin (technique aside) is his style.  Getting an idea of Chopin's idiom, to appreciate the characteristic phrasing, rhythms, flair, etc., should probably be your first aim, if you've never played his works.  Maybe reading through a waltz, a nocturne, a couple of short mazurkas, and then perhaps tackling the "Military" polonaise would be a good introduction.

tph

[dj]

wow i had forgotten about this post for a while there. thanx 4 all the advice......since i posted this, i got a new piano teacher, and he assigned chopin's walse op. 64 no. 1, it sounds really cool and looks super fast when u play it but it's actually quite easy thanx again for the advice and i promise won't do a ballade