Just can't resist the first Sonata, especially as I just heard L.Zilberstein's recording of the piece, it must be played more, and I shall oblige quite humbly soon.

It actually is a good piece, I think. I can see why people would prefer the 35 and 58, but that might be unfair to compare Op. 4 with 35 and 58, just because it has the term "sonata" tacked onto it. That might be like comparing Beethoven's Op. 49s or Op. 2's with the Op. 109, 110, and 111?

It's all good music. I, and I'm sure many others, would love to hear how you play it!

Yes -- but the 'trouble' is, almost all the rest of Chopin is much more than that.


Nevertheless, this is very true too.

Or anything else, for that matter. dolce is one of our "anonymous" concert pianists who piques our curiosity...


-J

Yeah, I want to hear any example of his playing. Like... Alkan concerto, Ravel Miroirs, Saint-Saens Etude en forme de Valse, etc.

Screw that -- I'm still waiting for him to answer if he got his name from that passage in Chopin's Barcarolle.

It's the one and only "dolce sfogato" I've ever seen.

And, BTW, speaking of concert pianists, I gotta look and see if our guy Jason31425 posted yet about his recital....

He did get "dolce sfogato" from the Chopin piece. I think I remember him saying that once...

It's about on the level with a Hummel or Weber sonata... and those have their adherents, too, even though they can seem similarly diffuse and insubstantial. There's some interesting writing here, but I never really feel like it rises above the level of parlor tricks into anything special.

I think that's about right, and if anything maybe it gives the Chopin sonata the benefit of the doubt. Come to think of it, I'm surprised that we don't see more discussion here of those two composers. Lots of other not-so-famous composers and pieces get their share of love, but.....what about Weber's sonatas, especially #2 (the A-flat)?

Thanks for reminding me about it. I might pick it back up and take a look at it....

BTW, I have an old LP of a couple of Hummel's chamber works, and love them.

IMO, the Hummel sonatas are far better pieces than this failure. I really think that if Chopin's name were not attached to it, none of us would know about it at all, unlike Hummel and Weber.

i enjoy this piece as well. the fact that anyone believes this to be a failure amazes me.