Hi All:

This is the first page of a new thread created for the purpose of choosing the second Chopin composition to learn (as some have finished or are close to finishing the Db prelude).

All new forumites are welcome.[/b] You do not have had to be in the Raindrop group to join this group.

HERE[/b] is where you can make your suggestions for our next "challenge."

After a few weeks, we will take a vote.

Please remember that while some of us are pretty skilled, some of us are in the mid-middle or high beginner range. So it is difficult to find a piece that will be perfect for all.

I nominiate the F minor waltz.

Add your suggestions from here.

Kathleen

Hi Kathleen.

I would like to suggest Chopin's Waltz in c# minor.

Aside from being an exquisite piece of music, it would be a really nice challenge it learn it.

By the way, here are the suggestions from Opus' Advanced Intermediate-Early Advanced thread, along with the people who expressed a desire to learn each piece:

Mel

Here are the sheets:


Chopin Waltz in A flat, Op.69 No.1:

http://www.sheetmusicarchive.net/dlpage_new.cfm?composition_id=273


Chopin Waltz in c# minor, Op.64 No.2:

http://www.sheetmusicarchive.net/dlpage_new.cfm?composition_id=271


Chopin Waltz in f minor, Op.70 No.2:

http://www.sheetmusicarchive.net/dlpage_new.cfm?composition_id=276


Mel

Thanks Mel:

I can certainly understand why you (or anyone, for that matter) would love to learn the C#. I would too. It's magnificient!

I don't even remember what I voted on back then. I'll have to give a listen to the Ab again.

Whatever the concensus of the group mandates, then so be it, which is only fair.

Thank you, also, for the web sites for the sheet music. I'm sure it will be helpful for people to look at the music before they make up their minds.

So far, then, we have the previous suggestions from the original post(the top two) and the next listed are new suggestions. Thanks to Frycek, for a site that lists the level of difficulty of each piece, I have included that level next to the piece.

• COMPOSITION.................LEVEL[/b]
• Waltz in C#m, Op 64/2 ............7
  VOTES[/b] 2*
• Waltz in Aflat, Op 69/1...........7
  VOTES[/b] 1
• Nocturne in Fm, Op 55/1...........7
  VOTES[/b] 3
• Nocturne in Eb, Op 55/2............7
  VOTES[/b] 1

* 2 VOTES FOR SECOND CHOICE[/b]

Also Frycek gave us a great site that lists the level of difficulty of many famous piano compositions.

http://www.pianoworld.com/Uploads/files/Graded_Pieces_All.pdf


Kathleen

For reference, according to the Piano World Graded Piano Repertoire guide:

Waltz in C#, Op 69, #1 is a grade 7
Waltz in Ab, Op 64, #2 is a grade 7
Waltz in F minor Op 70, #2 is a grade 6

(Raindrop is Grade 7)

Two more suggestions from me:
either of the Op 55 nocturnes:

Op 55/1 Nocturne in F
Op 55/2 Nocturne in Bb

Both are heartbreakers and rated grade 7.

This is a link to the Piano World Graded Repertoire. It's surprising how many of Chopin's pieces are grade 7 or occasionally lower. There's a lot for us to chose from.

http://www.pianoworld.com/Uploads/files/Graded_Pieces_All.pdf

THANK YOU, Frycek! Great information!

I find it so hard to believe that the Raindrop is rated on the same level as the C# waltz. While the Db prelude wasn't exactly easy, the waltz sounds so much more difficult.

Also wonderful to know that the other suggestions are on the same level. I, for one, would be content to stay on level 7 for a while until I feel comfortable going to the next level. Taking on a piece too difficult at this point would only add to my frustration level, which, at times, is very low.

Thank you, also, for that repertoire site. It will be invaluable to many of us.

I will add your suggestions to the original post. I've yet to play a nocturne and will listen to both today.

Kathleen

I'd love to do a nocturne and the 55/1 looks good to me so that's my first vote. (I had been thinking 9/3 but it's really long). I'm also willing to give the c# waltz a try so that's my #2 vote.

I just printed out the 55/1, and it does look doable for me. I will add your vote for it to the original post and the C# and the second.

Right now I have to go the Best Buy to purchase another scanner/copier. My old one is incompatible with my laptop.

I printed out several of the compositions mentioned, but the notes are so small, I can barely read them. I need to blow them up 150% (where am I going to get that size paper...ugh?)

Hey, I can't find the Ab Op. 64 #2. Do you mean #3?

Kathleen

Don't do the C# Minor Waltz, because I wouldn't be able to stop myself from joining that group, and joining another group would really tax my resources right now .

Jeff, you have to learn to control yourself!! :p

Kathleen

I'll vote for the 55/1. I've never played a Chopin nocturne, and that one is beautiful.

Well, group, so far it looks like Nocturne 55/1 is in the lead with 3 votes (Frycek suggested 1 and/or 2, but since I received two other votes for the 55/1, I am putting Frycek's vote in for #1...I hope that's O.K.)

The C# got one vote with 2 as second choice.

I am withdrawing my suggestion from the "race," but am still undecided ...either the C# or the 55/1. I am going to listen to both again tonight, then look at the music and should be ready with my decision by tomorrow.

This is fun. I feel like that guy who announces horse races....

" and they're coming around...down to the home stretch.... and it's Nocturne 55/1 in the lead by three lengths, slowly pulling ahead, but C# is closing in fast, and it's going to be a close one, folks. Hold on to your tickets; it could be a photo finish!"

I know. I need to get a life. People have been telling me that for years.

Oh, Peyton...are you voting?

Kathleen

Yes, I voted in my previous post. 1st choice is the Nocturne and second is the waltz.

Hi.I am just getting back to playing the piano. I started a nursing refresher course in February, then started a job in June- I will be part-time in September. My vote is for the Waltz Op.69, No. 1.

In my Paderewski edition, Op.55 No.1 is in f Minor and Op.55 No.2 is in E flat Major.

I might be interested in the 55/2, but probably not the 55/1.

Mel

Sorry Mel, I got those keys from the the download site. The Bb is a typo (it's Eb.) Both titles appear to be abreviated for space. The Paderewski is correct of course.
http://www.classicalarchives.com/chopin.html

Well, I got very confused about the Opus numbers on the waltzes and left out some information. I hope it's all correct now. Check out page 4 of this thread. I've added the number of votes so far for each composition. (Let me know if there is an error somewhere.)

It was Jeff, not Peyton, whom I was asking about voting. Sorry.

Perhaps just one issue to which we might give some thought.

WHAT SHOULD WE DO[/b] if a certain composition gets the most votes, but others in the group don't like the piece or don't feel they have the skill level required?

Personally, I have no problem at all with learning whichever composition get the most votes. They're all beautiful and will present a real challenge to me, which is good (I guess.)

But I was thinking possibly of those who just might not want to learn the piece chosen. We certainly can't MAKE them go along. Nor would we want to.

I guess what I am trying to say (and not very successfully) is just how "binding" to we want to be. Is it all for one? Or would we consider splitting off into different sub-groups?

Any thoughts on the matter?


Kathleen

Hi Kathleen, thanks for thinking of me. I'll abstain from casting a vote this time since I feel I'm up to my elbows with what I'm already working on (and, doggonit, I'm still on the first page of the Raindrop...yes, I'm that slow ) ...but if I may, I might still participate, depending on what you guys select.

I suspect Chopin Groups might be around for a while. Perhaps I can jump in when you guys study the pieces that really appeal to me.

I think we could have "subgroups" on this same thread. I think any one of us would be willing to try to help another member out with whatever problem he's having whether we're actually working on that piece or not. It would be a way to educate, pique interest in different compositions and bond all at the same time, a way of allowing our diversity to bring us together instead of separating us.

Jeff: Good to hear from you. I have you pictured as being buried under a ton of sheet music, waving a little white flag. That first page of the prelude (IMHO) is the most difficult. The middle section is so loud that if you hit a wrong note, no one will notice, but that first page...has to be perfect. So no need to apologize...slow and steady wins the race. Join us when you can, and yes, I hope we will be around for a long time. There's a lot of Chopin music out there.

Frycek: My thoughts, exactly.

Kathleen

For Future Reference:

I found this on a thread on the Pianist Corner. Thought it could be useful.

*******************************
I found these interesting Chopin created by a guy called Alan Chan. From easiest to hardest, in the major compositional forms...

24 Preludes
7, 20, 4, 6, 2, 15, 21, 11, 9, 17, 13, 10, 23, 3, 14, 1, 18, 5, 12, 19, 22, 24, 8, 16

51 Marzukas
5, 9, 43, 4, 47, 11, 41, 18, 6, 44, 45, 49, 14, 31, 16, 8, 12, 39, 14, 42, 22, 46, 24, 19, 34, 15, 20, 50, 25, 36, 3, 2, 1, 27, 10, 48, 40, 29, 7, 37, 30, 23, 28, 17, 13, 21, 26, 32, 33, 38, 51

14 Waltzes
12, 9, 3, 10, 7, 8, 6, 13, 11, 14, 4, 5, 1, 2

4 Ballades
3, 1, 2, 4

4 Scherzos
2, 4, 3, 1

I would say the easiest pieces are:

Waltz in a minor op. posth
Waltz in Eb major op. posth. (the very short one entiteld: Klavierstucke)
Waltz in a minor op. 34 no. 2
Prelude op. 28 no. 4
Prelude op. 28 no. 7
Prelude op. 28 no. 20
Some mazurkas, maybe:
Mazurka in C major, op. 7 no. 5
Mazurka in F major, op. posth. 68 no. 3 & 4

Furthermore small pieces like:
Cantabile in B flat
Largo in E flat
Contredanse


Kathleen

I HIGHLY suggest you all one day work on Chopin's Tarentelle Op. 43 in Aflat major. It is incredible... and good group activity... and as in all classical tarentelles I've encountered, it's divided in to obvious sections so it will be easy for you all to stay together. And of course... the music is incredible and it's a very catchy piece.

E-mail or IM me and I can hook you up with an mp3. At the very least, you all NEED to hear this piece if you haven't already.

Oh and by the way... (I feel like I've asked this already, but I can't find the post anywhere) which Waltz in C# minor are you guys looking at again? 64 or 69? I have a recording of 64 but not 69.

I'm pretty much up for trying to learn what ever the group choses. I have a pretty loaded bunch of pieces I'm working on right now but it would be fun to do one with a group. As far as sub groups go...if that's what the majority wants that's fine with me but as many are still working on the raindrop (I'll be working on that for many weeks to come) I would think we would not want to split up into too many groups? Kathleen, like you, whatever we pick will be a real challange for me as well. I had a big head start on the Raindrop so it will be fun to start from scratch on a new one. Both the nocturne and the waltz do not look easy and I know I'll be on either one for months and months.

Chobussy, I didn't know Chopin wrote a Tarentella. I'd like to hear it.

i suggest the right hand of Opus 10/1

it's a fantastic exercise.. great for sight reading skills and will improve your facility, articulation and accuracy immensely.

plus it's gorgeous.

very doable at a slow pace..

Op.64 No.2 is in c# minor.

Op.69 No.1 is in A flat and 69/2 is in b minor.

So it's the 64/2 we're looking at.

And isn't that Tarantella the piece that injured your wrist?

Mel

Mel

Kathleen, since we're voting on 4 pieces, maybe we should take the top 2 and let everybody vote on which of the 2 they would like to play.

Sort of like a runoff election.

This way, everyone would vote for one of the 2 pieces and we would get a more concentrated and focused group decision.

Mel

Noooooo...


I suggest it anyway... we can work together to prevent any injuries.

But yes (for who ever asked)... Chopin wrote one tarentelle... and it's a masterpiece. Very rare... sheet music-wise, and general people-ever-hearing-of-it-wise. I ordered the sheet music in a book somewhere in Europe (Germany I believe). I adore it, it's wonderful. I'd really like all of you to hear it. I guess I'll host it on my site for you all to hear. Promise me you'll all listen!

http://www.tehmoosecaboose.com/mp3s/Chopin - Tarantella in A flat major op.43.MP3 (copy and paste, don't click)

Edit: Good lord. I checked out that piano difficulty guide... and seeing those 10s scare the crap outa me! I gotta check to see if I have recordings of any of those.

I've just played through the 55.1 Chopin Nocturne and heartily support the choice ... there was I having spent the weekend brushing up on Mazurkas 6.1 and 7.1 (breathtaking new territory for me) so as to steal a march on all those wild and wanton party-indulgent cohorts ... only to be brushed aside by an apparent majority vote for the Nocturne ... am feeling very put down and need a hug!

The Nocturne is a knockout ... my reference book says this of it

"Youthful aspirants to concert fame have played this number at so many debuts that it is popularly known as the "Prodigy Nocturne". In truth it is suitable for a talented child (pardon me!), though grownups need not disdain its charm (hope for us oldies yet!).

As the waggish Peter Ustinov used to say " Just thought you ought to know".

I think these little "child prodigy's" should be banned!!! The last thing I need after slaving and sweating over a piece for a year and still not "have it down" is to hear some little chubby 8 year old who's feet can barely touch the pedals slam through the thing like a walk in the park.

(That's admirable that you have already played through the nocturne. That middle part sounds like a real bear. Maybe we should ban you too. )

goofed