Fantasie-Imp or Revolutionary?

[chopintod]

Howdy all--new to this forum and I can't wait to get involved.   

OK, I have a serious question that I've been wrestling with for a bit now.  I'm an upper-advanced pianist; nearly 18 and I've been studying since 7.  I'm going to college next year, and my teacher wants me to play something really impressive for my last recital (in August).  She's pushing Chopin's Fantasie-Impromptu, which I LOVE to listen to, but I'm starting to doubt my ability to learn it completely by August (the 3 vs 4 is really messing me up).  Meanwhile, I found the music for Chopin's Revolutionary Etude today, and I can play through the first 3 pages after about half-hour of practice (not at speed, of course, but accurately).  My question: Should I try to stick with the F.Imp and hope that I learn it by August?

Actually, more to the point, which would be easier for me to learn (by August, remember): Fantasie Imp. or Revolutionary Etude?

Thanks in advance! 

[kilini]

Both are impressive. I say go with Revo. and learn FI if you have time. You should also search in this forum about the rhythm, hopefully you can find a solution and be able to learn both.

[sznitzeln]

Its very hard to say whether or not you can learn FI by august, since I barely know anything about you, but if all you worry about is the 3 against 4, then no problem.
It feels a bit complicated in the beginning, but after a few days or weeks you will probably figure it out, and then it will feel extremely easy.

Practice like this:
Play 3 notes from any bar repeatedly with the left hand and listen.
Then play the corresponding 4 notes with the rh in the same tempo (use metronome if you want).
Then go back to LH, then RH, etc...
Then play LH and try to add RH, do it over and over again util you fall into hypnosis
And try to make it more and more even. Play both hands and listen to LH, then listen to RH , and so on... and later try to hear both if possible.

Its good if you emphasise the first note of every beat.

And most importantly practice SLOWLY, but not too slowly, and try to practice in different tempi, but first only slowly.

Rev. etude is probably more difficult if you want to play it fast, but it depends on how developed your left is.
I remember that I thought the left hand in FI was a bit annoying too.
Also make sure you get that light leggiero in the right hand in FI and that you dont play too romanticly.

[nanabush]

I'm starting to polish up the rest of FI, and I also tried revolutionary a while back, and found it much harder...I guess if I play now it'll be easier, but is it actually harder than FI?  Generally....

[pianiststrongbad]

I would pick something that isn't overplayed probably.  Of course this is because at one time I ended up learning both of these pieces because I liked them so much.  Both of these pieces are pretty repetitive which makes it nice for memorization.  Out of the two I would say that i probably had an easier time memorizing the Revolutionary Etude since it is shorter. 

[sznitzeln]

I think rev. is more difficult because most people have faster right hands than left...
But if both hands are good, then I guess FI is more difficult

[alphabox]

I would go with fant imp because once you get the gist of it, it really isnt all that hard and with your experience, im guessing you should be able to get it done by august. Ive been working it almost two months now, and i cant vouch for it being perfect, im just a 16 year old 9-month self-taught, so my technical skills arent all that great and maybe my opinion shouldnt mean much, but i'm just testing my limits, and im almost done with the piece. Ive been touching the first two pages of revolutionary, and im trying to perfect those before moving on to the rest, but right now im more occupied with fant imp, revol is definately harder in my opinion (even though its shorter and sort of more repetitive).

[Awakening]

I'm in a similar position as you, only I didn't consider the Fantasie Impromptu.  I turned 18 in april, and have been learning since I was 7, the same as you.  I decided that I would like to try learning Etude 10/12 about six months ago, and now I'm pretty close to having it finished.  It hasn't been my top priority until recently, but I've been working on it steadily and it's not too bad.  I personally prefer it to the Fantasie Impromptu and think it is a better composition overall, and also seems easier.  The cross rhythms in FI seem to give everyone problems, while the 3-against-4 seen in the Revolutionary is good entry-level cross rhythm.  Both are obviously very popular, and impressive for the listener.

I'd say just go with the etude, especially if you've found it fairly easy to sight-read.  It's an actual "study," so it's probably better for teaching technique than the Impromptu.  It'll really put your left hand to the test, and it's a lot of fun to play. 

[Sketchee]

The etude is fairly short. The left hand is fairly chordal and it's pretty easy to memorize.  I would choose that over the Impromptu easily.

Although if you want a completely different piece than either of these, there are some that you might like as much

[chopintod]

Thanks all for your advice.
     I'm starting to get the F-Imp a little bit more...right now my main problems are bars 7 and 8, where the right hand goes up two octaves then comes back down.  Although the rest of it is slow right now, I can play it pretty much in the rhythm.  Like one post said on a different thread, it's all in the title: "Fantasie-Impromptu".  The key is to learn both hands separately at speed, then just sit down and play it--play it off the cuff, on the fly, etc. etc.
     This may be just my opinion, but the Revo. is much easier.  After two days of study, I can play through the first two pages nearly at speed and I have the first page and a half memorized.  Like Sketchee said, althought the left hand's fast, it's easy to memorize (very repetitive). 
     Right now I'm going to concentrate on the Rev. but still work on the F.-Imp.  Maybe I can get both done by August. (Now there's wishful thinking.)
      Thanks all again! 

[chopintod]

I've GOT IT!! Hahahaha!!!  After two+ weeks of struggling without any apparent gain, I've finally got it!!  I can play the 3 vs 4~!   

I can't believe it...I had just finished my Revo Etude practice for the night and I just sat there at the piano...I picked two keys...one with one my left and one with my right...and without thinking, I played the 3 vs 4!! Incredible!  Whoo-whee!! A miracle!  Practice actually works!

Terry!