Brahms or Chopin?

[lagin]

Brahms Ballade in d-, which is very beautiful, with fun hand crossing in the faster section, but fairly easy for where I'm at, or Chopin Nocturne in F# major, which is more of a challenge, but good for learning?  Both are in the syllabus for my next grade.  Which would you recommend and why?  I'm thinking of just doing both, but if i had to pick.  Oh, and which one would be the best to take exams with?  Thanks

P.S. Please be open minded all you Chopin fans!

[steinwayguy]

I like the Brahms more, so you should do it.

[lagin]

very cute, but not quite the answer i was looking for

[fred smalls]

I like the Brahms more, so you should do it.

lol.

Lagin, come on, don't do pieces from the book.  Look in the syllabus, you'll find way better and way less played pieces there.  The examiners hear these pieces all the time, so they know everything about them. Choose a beautiful, unknown piece, they're great!!!

(Well, maybe not way better than that chopin nocturne.)

Peace
Fred Smalls

EDIT: If you're definately going to learn one of these, learn the Chopin

[lagin]

Hey Fred,
Do you think I really would get a lower exam mark by taken pieces out of the book?  The Pathetique isn't in the book, but i'm doing it.  Is that dangerous territory?  I don't care about exam marks too much, but I want to know if I'm going to set myself up for trouble.  Hey since you're familiar with the book, would you do the Bach Cappricio to a Lost Brother or the Allemande and Gigue beside it?  I already did a prelude and fugue in grade nine.  Yes, it's sad.  I am a "book girl."  I really didn't listen to classical music until less than two years ago, so I'm not familiar with what's out there.

I was also going to do Kabalevsky's variations in a minor, Suite Francaise for list D, and yah, that's it.  Any input?  I start in two days.

[fred smalls]

Hey Fred,
Do you think I really would get a lower exam mark by taken pieces out of the book?  The Pathetique isn't in the book, but i'm doing it.  Is that dangerous territory?  I don't care about exam marks too much, but I want to know if I'm going to set myself up for trouble.  Hey since you're familiar with the book, would you do the Bach Cappricio to a Lost Brother or the Allemande and Gigue beside it?  I already did a prelude and fugue in grade nine.  Yes, it's sad.  I am a "book girl."  I really didn't listen to classical music until less than two years ago, so I'm not familiar with what's out there.

Nono, you won't get a bad mark, you will just have to work really really hard on those certain pieces.  I am also learning the Pathetique which i will have to work very hard on.  I thought you were doing your grade nine this june? I don't think fretting over your grade ten is too necessary, yet...  ummmmm, i havent heard those bach pieces because i really don't like the book, just because alot of people i know play piano and those pieces are very played.  Umm, you must be doing your grade nine in august then?  Get started on a bach really quick and dont worry about the grade ten yet, bach is the hardest category to learn in a short time. (well, for me at least).  Do you have the syllabus? If you do, try looking in it for pieces.  There are some nice ones in grade ten for romantic and some very good bach pieces in grade nine.  I would recommend the p+f in e- (amazing, sounds really impressive too) or the sinfonia in b- (i did that one in january for my exam, great piece!). I think ive done enought rambling, so.....

Peace
Fred Smalls

(btw: i just found out i got 85% on harmony 3, omfg, thats  soooooooooo good, i thought id get like 70%. so im stoked and in a delirious state, anyway, yeah, harmony is soooo hard compared to rudiments, wow)

(pps: we're tied in posts)

ok, enough

[chozart]

well, how do you define "fairly easy?"
does it encompass technicality alone or musicality or both?
if it's not hard technically, it may be with musicality
if you'd be able to get through it well quickly in both these areas, then I'd go with the Chopin Nocturne. It, too, is very pleasant.
I personally prefer the Brahms because of its style and emotions it provokes in me, and it's an interesting piece to work with too.

[lagin]

no,no Fred, I am doing grade nine this Thursday, but then I'm starting grade ten right away.  In fact I'm already working on it.  My grade nine songs are already learned and secure.


I mean the Ballade is easy both technically and musically for me because it is very similar to a piece i just learned by shubert.  The chopin was harder in the rhythms and what not.

[Siberian Husky]

lagin is gunna slap me for this..but its okay cause i love her slaps

CHIPPITY CHIPPITY CHAWPIN!!

[lagin]

BAD DOG

[Siberian Husky]

Lagin you arethe queen of the worlds..the apple of my eye..the gust in my winds..etc etc etc....

[steinwayguy]

You should seriously do Brahms though.

[lagin]

Okay guys, if i can learn both equally well......which one should I take to the festival or exam when i'm ready for it.  Which one should be my hobby piece and which one should be my perfection (you know what i mean) piece?

[fred smalls]

Hey Fred,
..........
 I already did a prelude and fugue in grade nine.

Yes, i see my interesting mistake.  Anyway, don't do either....

[apion]

I personally prefer the Brahms because of its style and emotions it provokes in me, and it's an interesting piece to work with too.

Agreed.  Go with Brahms.

[Barbosa-piano]

 I would go with Chopin's Nocturne, has a better showcase of technique, on my opinion. I also like Brahms' Ballade in D, but I believe that the Nocturne fits the case better...

                                                                  Mario  Barbosa     

[galonia]

If I was picking which one to present in an exam, I'd pick the Brahms, because my teacher is always correcting my Chopin by complaining that my playing of it is "too Brahmsian" - so that's my style of playing.

It depends on how you play and which piece you like to play.

[Selim]

It is more interesting to change and to try to play Brahms once, it is a really deep music , in which it is harder to go, but once you are in! Ohh my god what a musical pleasure!