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Does anyone know of any pieces by that stress the same technical exercises as the Chopin etudes but are by a different composer? It's kind of bothersome to learn some of these when I've heard them all way way too many times and are too overplayed. Suggestions are welcome.

Chopin: There IS no alternative.

Apologies, I'm feeling rather festive tonight, to borrow argerichfan's term.

I've known and loved the Chopin etudes for many years -- and never considered them "technical exercises."

You're not the first one here that I've seen talk about them that way, but I just don't see it. The Chopin etudes are pieces that you play if you have those techniques, not to develop or improve them. All IMO of course.....

Horowitzian basically summed it up.

Godowsky made a bunch of paraphrases on Chopin's etudes, some of which I like a little better (like the Winter Wind).

When it comes to etudes, I recommend some Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Debussy. Also, here are some Alkan's "technical-study" etudes (aka NOT THE CONCERTO OR SYMPHONY OR OVERTURE OR FESTIN D'ESOPE OR ANYTHING ELSE MORE LIKE A STAND-ALONE PIECE) I've handpicked:

Op. 76 No. 3
Op. 27 "Le Chemin de Fer"
Op. 35 Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 11, and 12.
Op. 39 No. 1

(Op. 35 Nos. 1, 2, and 3 are the easiest, and I think Op. 76 No. 3 and Op. 39 No. 1 are the hardest.)

You hit the nail! Id say so too.

Yeah I guess I understand that. I don't question that they are a bit more than just merely pieces for technical exercises, that is, they do contain some musicality.

Mark, I think you can use Chopin's etudes to develop the technique they call for... You'd just have to study them for a long time!

Good suggestions.

Yes, but the main thing I meant was how HARD the etudes are. They're not for developing technique, not particularly; they're to play once you have it.

Well - yes they are overplayed - but not by you. Every serious classical pianist should tackle at least a couple of these beautiful etudes. If you want something a tad easier and perhaps less familiar try Chopin's three Nouvelle Etudes.

I don't think so.
Or at least I don't think they're anything close to the best way, or even a good way. If you don't basically have the techniques that are required for a particular etude (except for the "easy" ones), either you'll be playing them so slowly that what you're doing will have little to do with the technique, or you'll be playing it very badly, or you'll be wrecking your hand, or all three.

What about the Debussy Etudes? In their own way, they're just as treacherous and musically rewarding as the Chopins.

Le Chemen De Fer is almost impossible though

Well then let it remain in the ruins of pianistic rubbish.

Let it be known, I am quite the (selective) fan of Alkan, but this piece is just sheer waste. Unlike Liszt, Chopin and Schumann, Alkan can descend into the most embarrassingly inept pits of idiocy.

Frankly I'm tired of it all. Alkan has moments wherein he touches greatness (the Op. 39 Etudes, Sonatine, Grand Sonata, some of the misc. pieces), but there's a damn good reason why he is not in the Pantheon. He's just too bloody inconsistent.

Le Chemen De Fer is a perfect and ideal example of tosh that just isn't worth the trouble to learn. Hah!

Not any worse than Op.25 no.3 (musically-wise)

Well said!

Lisztonian: Chopin's etudes contain some musicality? SOME?

Well, some of them are more marvelously musically juicy than others. And perhaps they just don't speak to you the way they do to me. But I think you'll find that they are well worth your efforts. Try at least one or two. And the suggestion of the Trois Nouvelles Etudes is a worthwhile idea, especially the F minor. (Mark, I learned to play 3 against 4 from that piece-- it definitely taught me technique that I didn't already have.) If Chopin's are overplayed, it's because pianists have found them to be of such value.

Best wishes for your studies one way or the other. I assume, from your name, you must be playing plenty of Liszt?

Elene

I'm very fond of the Op. 25 No. 3; it's one I studied at one point, although it eventually defeated me. I find Chopin's variations on the simple but engaging theme quite ingenious by varying the harmony and the texture throughout.

Granted, it's not a profound work, but I find it musically interesting and - like all the Etudes - immensely challenging but producing rewarding results.

Regards,

Remember, I did say "except for the 'easy' ones."

(With "easy" in quotes, because none of them are really easy.)

And I don't think the OP meant etudes like this one, but the "hard" ones, and that's what I meant too. It's true, there are a handful of the etudes that could serve a purpose like what you said. It's a great example. Good that you mentioned it.

Chopin himself used Cramer and Moscheles.

Other options would include:
Mendelssohn - Songs without Words
Schumann - Op 15 & 68
Debussy - Preludes or Children's Corner

I am personally enjoying my journey through Chopin Op 25.

M