Chopin's most beautiful piece?

[fred smalls]

     So what do you guys think is Chopin's most beautiful piece?  Yes, yes, it is a ridiculously hard question, and no doubt there are tons of amazingly beautiful pieces by him.  If fact now that I think of it, there are many I'm thinking of right now, ahhhh, so many, must restrain from listing all of them.......................

     Ok, I'm back from the asylum, I would have to say, of course, the Barcarolle op.60 and the second movement of Piano Concerto No.2.

     AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, theres so many more............................


Peace 
Fred Smalls

[Goldberg]

Well I'm not the most enormous or faithful fan of Chopin but I will list a few pieces that are timeless as far as I'm concerned, and I am currently so enthralled by them that I can't resist trying to learn them:

Variations Brillantes, 3rd Impromptu (and indeed the 2nd, which resembles the Barcarolle), Fantasie in F minor, 4th Ballade, the three Grand Valses, nocturnes like op. 9 no. 3, op. 15 no. 1, op. 62 no. 2, and a handful of others whose numbers I can't recall right now; the cello/piano polonaise, the Fantasie-Polonaise, and finally the 2nd movement of the E minor concerto, which I plan on learning in the Balakirev transcription.

That doesn't sum up my favourite pieces by the composer, though. My favourite set in general is that of his mazurkas, but I think it would be kind of ridiculous to go through those and pick out individuals.

[FranzLiszt369]

I encourage everyone to listen to Chopin's Scherzos No. 1 and No. 2.  They are very beautiful pieces.  Technically challenging, but very beautiful. 

And, his Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise are truly majestic as well. 

[paris]

there is NO way to choose just one, but on my top are piano concerto e-minor   and sonata op.35 b flat minor , especially 1st and 2nd movement

i like ocean etude too...and F major ballade...and f sharp minor polonaise...heh i told ya i can't choose just one 

[milkcarton08]

I love his ballades! 2nd and 4th are the best, beatiful peices of music,

- michael

[joeplaysthepiano]

I would say:

Barcarolle: the middle part that returns at the end in octaves I think is insanely beautiful
Ballade no.1, no.4
Mazurka op.17 no.4
andante spianato
Cello etude, harp etude
Nocturne op.9 no.3, op.48 no.1

But if I had to pick one, I would pick the andante spianato

[Fugue]

I've always had a fondness for his Waltz in f minor (op. 70 I believe).

[Teddybear]

Barcarole F# major op. 60. Chopin is not among my favourite composers, but if I only could play five pieces in my life this would probably be one of them.

T

[liszmaninopin]

For me:

Fantasie in F minor
Ballade #4
Impromptu #3
Etude op. 25 #5

[nanabush]

Nocturne Op. 9 No. 1
Ballade in A flat Major, especially the part in C sharp minor near the middle..
Prelude in C major, and G major
Prelude Op. 45
Polonaise Heroique
Cello Etude

[chelsey]

nocturn op9 no1, ballade #3, etude op25 no7 ('cello) are my favourites (perhaps for sentimental reasons)

[Barbosa-piano]

I love each piece by Chopin greatly, and I don't think there is a way I could make this decision. My top favorite ones are: Ballade No.1, Grande Polonaise Brillante, Concerto No.1, but there is no way I could choose only 1.

[nanabush]

If I could pick any of his pieces to learn, just one piece, it'd have to be the Winterwind etude, although it is purely incredible, and still beautiful, it is not his top on the beautiful list... but it's so 'dazzling' as my teacher said, so I'd want to learn that one, but if I were to pick his most beautiful piece, I said earlier...

[NoamKrief]

last movement of last sonata...

Also fantasie impromptu is probably his best one. Most wouldn't like to admit it because it's SO OVER PLAYED but there is a reason why it's so famous...

[apion]

I love his ballades! 2nd and 4th are the best, beatiful peices of music,

- michael

IMPOSSIBLE TASK: There is no possible way to choose Chopin's most beautiful composition, because they're all so beautiful!  Even among the 4 ballades, one can't choose "the most beautiful."  If forced to choose a favorite ballade, I would choose no. 1 -- but I'm not sure it's the most beautiful .........     

[kilini]

last movement of last sonata...

Also fantasie impromptu is probably his best one. Most wouldn't like to admit it because it's SO OVER PLAYED but there is a reason why it's so famous...

HAHAHAHA. Listen to it about 100 times and you'll hate it instantly.

[C-A]

HAHAHAHA. Listen to it about 100 times and you'll hate it instantly.

Heheh, right-o! It's so overplayed, and I'm beginning to get tired of it- the middle section too repetative, just like Nocturne 9/2. These 2 can give me a headache sometimes... and those 2 are very mawkish. Why are these considered to be "One of the world's most famous?"
But for me, the most beautiful are the:
Fm Piano Concerto, the 2nd and 3rd is very serene and calming...
The 9/1 sometimes make me cry, and it's so beautiful to hear...
The 9/3, do I have to tell you?!!! Whenever there are pretty and sexy women nearby, and whenever I hear that nocturne, I suddenly become...umm,  you don't wanna know.
The 15/2 makes me think I'm in a 1st class restaurant, while the Barcarolle Op.60 just makes me relax and calms me down...
The Heroic, Military and the Op.44 Polonaise are also nice to hear, but my favorite would be the Heroic. Whenever my older cousin plays it, everyone would demand an encore.
Other nice music to hear are:
Impromptu Op.29, 36 and 51, Ballades, Scherzos (the B-flat minor is my favorite), and Sonatas in B-flat minor and B minor (The 3rd movement is my favorite part), The nocturnes and others, oh what the heck?!!! They're all nice.

[pianojems]

 
Andante Spianato and Ballade #4 are some of the most beautiful pieces out there!

[NoamKrief]

let me ask you this - which piece can you listen to more than a 100 times and not hate it?

[nanabush]

Scherzo in B flat minor, just heard it's incredible!  How difficult is it actually compared to ballades or etudes?

[robert]

A terrible difficult question but I go with a couple of others and name out his first Nocturne which is op.9 no1 in B-flat minor. Perfect key for beauty. I should definitely polish this one up!

[viking]

....... and the second movement of Piano Concerto No.2.

     AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, theres so many more............................


Peace 
Fred Smalls

I would have to agree there.  IMO, chopins most beautiful lyrical peice of music, possible the most beautiful piece of all time.
SAM

[MattL]

let me ask you this - which piece can you listen to more than a 100 times and not hate it?

Op. 35 4th mvmt..... love it

And of course the Sonata in B minor Its like my crack addiction

[fred smalls]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DOESN'T ANYONE LISTEN TO THE BARCAROLLE??  IF YOU DO, IT WILL INSTANTLY BECOME THE MOST BEUTIFULL CHOPIN PIECE YOUR HEARD!!!!! 

(Cept maybe 2nd mvt pc no.2)

Peace
Fred Smalls

[Hamfast]

     So what ...

     Ok, I'm back from the asylum, I would have to say, of course, the Barcarolle op.60 and the second movement of Piano Concerto No.2.

certainly!!!!

[Rach3]

Besides everything mentioned before, I'm surprised no one mentions his 27/1 nocturne, or op.48. Or etude 10/3, or 10/11.

[fowler]

Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 1 In E minor, Op.11: Romance - Larghetto, oh yes, one of the most beautiful pieces EVER wrote for the piano, used also for good effect in the 'truman show'. The main theme in this movement is almost too sublime for the ears.

[Bouter Boogie]

I encourage everyone to listen to Chopin's Scherzos No. 1 and No. 2.  They are very beautiful pieces.  Technically challenging, but very beautiful. 

And, his Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise are truly majestic as well. 

I played the 2nd Scherzo for a lóóóng time and yea, it's technically challenging, indeed  AND very beautiful.. But I overplayed it, so I prefer Ballada nr. 2 and nr. 4 

Also not to forget.. Chopin's Cellosonate op. 65 

Almost forgot to mention his piano concertos  I luv 'em!

[Siberian Husky]

his 24th prelude..its vigorous and that ending is simply REMARKABLE!

[NoamKrief]

I always like that one - 24th prelude!

[raffyplayspiano]

ballade # 4 is amazing,
piano sonata # 3 is just as good

those would have to be my favorite, but its really hard to pick..

raffy

[Sergey R]

Chopin's best pieces are his Ballades, Etudes, Impromptus, Mazurkas, Nocturnes, Piano Concertos, Polonaises, Preludes, Scherzos, and Waltzes. ALL of them.

[ryno200sx]

The Raindrop Prelude.
Ryan

[pianoguy]

I'd have to say either Etude op. 10 no. 3 or Berceuse op. 57

[6ft 4]

let me ask you this - which piece can you listen to more than a 100 times and not hate it?

Any piece by Bach.....

[robert]

let me ask you this - which piece can you listen to more than a 100 times and not hate it?Huh

Any piece by Bach.....

True!

[redbaron]

Raindrop Prelude
Etude in Gb - not the Black Keys, the other one, I think it's called the Butterfly Etude. That ending is just so whimsical
Etude Op 10 No 3
Fantaisie Impromptu
Several of the Nocturnes, exactly which escape me right now

[pianowolfi]

To me it's the third sonata, especially mvts. 3 and 4. It changes every once in a while but these are something special to me. Andsnes is my favorite recording.

[pianogeek_cz]

The Top Three (surprisingly easy to pick):

3) Barcarolle
2) Scherzo no. 2
1) Third sonata, esp. last movement.

[chopinfan_22]

Chopin is the reason I love the piano (among others). My votes for the most beautiful compositions:

1. Ballade Op. 23
2. Etude Op. 25 No. 2 "Butterfly"
3. Etude Op. 25 No. 1 "Aeolian Harp"
4. Berceuse Op. 57
5. Nocturne in C# Minor

[gyzzzmo]

If i were allowed to say only 1 piece, it would be Chopin's nocturne no 8 in Db

[frigo]

Hard choose:
waltz no 3 Opus 34/2
mazurca opus 68/2
ballade n 1
barcarolle
piano concerto no 1
the fantastic minute waltz,...
... et cetera et cetera

Kevin Ferreira

[gyzzzmo]

Chopin's worst pianopieces: His pianoconcerts lol. I gues he was too much of a pianist to make a decent one.

[clhiospzitn]

It's way too difficult to pick Chopin's most beautiful piece, and no matter what you choose someone else will disagree with it, but I personally think that the following are the best contenders in this category:

Etude in E major, op. 10 no. 3
Nocturne in D-flat major, op. 27 no. 2
Waltz in C-sharp minor, op. 64 no. 2
Prelude in A-flat major, op. 28 no. 17
Piano Concerto no. 1 in E minor, op. 11 - 2nd movement (Romance)
Piano Sonata no. 3 in B minor, op. 58 - 1st and 4th movements
Polonaise in B-flat major, op. 71 no. 2
Barcarolle in F-sharp major, op. 60
Berceuse in D-flat major, op. 57
Ballade no. 1 in G minor, op. 23 / Ballade no. 3 in A-flat major, op. 47
Scherzo no. 4 in E major, op. 54

[maxy]

 my pick : Ballade 4

[verywellmister]

The etude in c minor, 25/12 is my favorite piece (by any composer) and most beautiful composition imo.

[s1d1f1]

They are all very nice but for my taste is preludes
 C major,and gminor

[dnephi]

In my opinion, there is little contest, if any at all, with Chopin's Op. 52 Ballade in F Minor.

[ihatepop]

If I would list them to you, they would reach at least 10. Some of them include Waltz Op70 No1, Ballade No1 and many others.

ihatepop

[gerry]

Polonaise - Fantasie, Op. 61