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Joined: Jan 2005
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OP
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I've been working on a couple of the mazurkas today and yesterday, and they actually aren't so hard (IMO). They're very repetitive and very short; if you can get a few measures, you've got half the piece. They're also fun to play, and very beautiful.
Thought some of you might be interested - they might not be necessarily 'easy', but certainly easier than the waltzes and nocturnes and polonaises...
(The two that I've been playing are Op. 68 Nos. 2 and 3)
(Op. 17 is also good, and not as difficult)
Sam
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Joined: Aug 2005
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Thanks, Sam! Now that I've just about nailed Gnossienne #1, I'd like to increase my classical repertoire by 100% (= 2 pieces ). There's so much out there in the classical canon that it's hard to know where to start, so your suggestions are helpful.
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Joined: Jan 2005
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OP
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I'd like to increase my classical repertoire by 100% (= 2 pieces ) "I only know two pieces: one is Clair de Lune and the other one isn't." -- Victor Borge
Sam
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I'm very fond of his op. 33 D major mazurka and was thinking about learning it. Only two pages long with quite a lot of repetition, quite beautiful as well. I heard it off an Ashkenazy recording and thought it was quite spectacular. Definitely easier than another etude, that's for sure. Gotta finish my blasted Pathetique and Revolutionary etude though... gah.
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Joined: Apr 2006
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Sam:
So happy you are learning some of Chopin's mazuraka. They are indeed lovely...and short and easy to play.
I'm finally up to performance on two that I truly love. Mazurka in A minor, Op 67, 4, posth...and the one in C major, Op 67, 3, posth
There is also a wonderful nocturne C minor, posth.
Pretty please...buy the Alfred Book: Chopin. An Introduction to His Piano Works.
It comes with a CD so you can hear the pieces (which, to me, is quite helpful) and it's really not expensive, $12.00.
You won't be sorry. This is the book in which I discovered that A minor waltz.
Kathleen
Chopin’s music is all I need to look into my soul.
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Joined: Jan 2005
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OP
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Right now I'm listening to the first ballade. I think I'll maybe stick to mazurkas for now.
Sam
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Originally posted by pianojerome: Right now I'm listening to the first ballade.
I think I'll maybe stick to mazurkas for now. I was actually planning on learning that piece until I figured out that it was just far, far too difficult and long. The Revolutionary is long by my standards... drilling and drilling, each page takes a ton of effort.
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Joined: Apr 2006
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Sam: think I'll maybe stick to mazurkas for now Wise choice. At least for now. That's one thing about Chopin that drives me crazy. He wrote so many huge, powerful, magnificient pieces that when we hear them, we immediately say...I have to learn to play that. But he also wrote so many, many more compositions that are within the reach of many of us. We need to listen to these more often. They may not get our hearts to pounding and our blood to boiling, but they are magnificient in their own right. As Chopin himself once said (I'm paraphrasing)...the best is the most simple. Kathleen
Chopin’s music is all I need to look into my soul.
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Joined: Apr 2005
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It is probably not what you meant with 'Easy' Chopin, but I have been playing a simplified version of the famous Nocture and enjoyed it very much. Transposed to C and without the thrills but still rather impressive (to me).
One day I will learn the real thing....
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Joined: Dec 2005
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Monica, Welcome to the world of classical music. I agree with those who suggest trying some of the Chopin Mazurkas. I have found many of them to be quite accessible. Among the ones that pose the least difficulty (except for a few passages here and there) are: Op7#2, Op30#1, Op67#2, Op68#2, Op68#3, Op 24#1.
Gaby Tu
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