Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Pianist Corner Chopin-Nocturnes Op. 9-3, 15-1, and 62-1

I'm thinking about one of these three for the Nocturne recital over in ABF. I'm leaning towards 15-1. Any thoughts as to relative difficulty (I know, very subjective, but I want to hear everyone's thoughts ), or any other comments/advice/recommendations?

Thanks in advance

I think 9/3 and 15/1 are of comparable difficulty; I doubt that 62/1 is too much harder technically, but (as to be expected from one of Chopin's "late period" pieces) the difficulties are of a different sort.

As surpassingly lovely as 9/3 is (and unique among the nocturnes is several ways), its B section is awkward to play.

15/1 has a B section with tremolos, a figure not generally associated with Chopin at all!

62/1 is well known for the chain trills that adorn the melody in the reprise of the A section. It may be cliché to say this, but I think the chief requirement for this piece is "mature musicianship."

Choose the one you love the most! For me, anyway, that's the only real guarantee of sustained motivation.

Steven

Thanks! I think 15-1 may work best for me since I love it and it isn't quite as long as the others. With the Polonaise going too, I need something that isn't as long. But I love 62-1 and hope to take it up sometime (In fact, there are a couple of others I'd like to do as well, but I've got to pick my battles )

Any more thoughts are welcome!

Go for 15-1. i just studied it. the metronome markings are Chopin's so give those at least a try.

9/3 is rated a grade 10. 62/1 and 15/1 are both grade 8.

Thanks for the info, Frycek! Just for kicks, I would guess that Op. 44 is diploma level?

Now I'm convinced that judgments about difficulties of the nocturnes are as subjective as those about the preludes and etudes.

But why wouldn't they be? There are different kinds of difficulties, technical as well as musical, and they are experienced differently by different people.

Someone who can manage 9/3's central Agitato with deftness will surely wonder why it merited a 10; someone else who just can't play double note tremolos will wonder how 15/1 could be rated 8 by the same source.

I'm glad that we don't rigidly cleave to those numbered grading scales in the U.S. Their potential to mislead can both intimidate and give false hope.

Steven

I certainly do not use such a scale. Op. 44 is what should be over my head, but thanks to a top notch teacher who spends lots of time with me on technique, I am having good success with it, though it is the most difficult piece I've ever attempted. Evidently, the difficulties in op 44 "fit" my style.

Just now, I sat down with op 15-1 and played some of the RH tremolos. Though I obviously could not get them to tempo, I mastered the fingering quickly (like most Chopin, they fit the hand nicely) and almost immediately was able to play the first 4 measures of RH tremolos (RH alone!) slowly with even tempo and dynamics. So I'm very happy.