I'm a little unsure about this so here goes,
Anyway, I took GCSE music and my friend and I were talking to my music teacher in school when my friend asked what grade she was. She told us that she had just recently done her DipABRSM and I had a book of Chopin Nocturnes with me at the time so I asked her to have a look at them and tell me if she thought they were all managable by grade 8. She had a look through and didn't directly answer my initial question, but pointed out that she played Nocturne in E Minor, Op. 72 for her grade 8 exam.
I've started playing it and I've learned about half of it to a good standard from memory, but some parts on the third page seem to be a bit demanding for grade 8.
Does anyone know if this is a grade 8ish level piece or not? Also if not what sort of grade is it?
Also, does anyone know how long ago this piece was in the grade 8 syllabus?
Thank you in advance forumites!

(Sorry for making you read all of this, I should've just asked the question outright without the rather long boring story!)

I have played this for years, it should be easily manageable for Grade 8. When it appered in the syllabus (approx 8 yrs ago) I would have said it was one of the easier options in list C. Its also not too bad to memorise.

In list C?
Good heavens!
I would've thought this would be a List B piece for certain!

List B are usually classical sonata movements . (until early 90's you used to have to do a whole sonata.. eg my daughter did the whole of the B flat Clementi, but this year the same one is only the first movement).
Anyway I will find the appropriate syllbus when I'm home this evening , and check exact year and which list it was on.

Agreed. It is playable long before reaching Grade 8 standard. But ask Solari - he is learning it now.

I would say grade 8 to play it musically and have the technique and control needed. It's a beautiful piece.......

Well I'm no grade 8 student myself, and I'm learning it with no difficulties, but I'm just a little cautious of the demi semi quaver passages.
Also I've listened to Richters version of the piece most and so the DSQ passages are being played very flashily and quickly (for want of a better phrase). I think that may be what is worrying me as I haven't actually tried the DSQ's yet so maybe I will get on OK with them.

As promised in an earlier thread, I couldnt find The E Minor in grade 8 syllabus, may have been further back than I thought.
The most recently Grade 8 set Nocturnes are Op62 No1 in E (The one preceding the E Minor) and the F minor , two before that. The E is quite tricky compared with the E Minor.. The F Minor was in the ALCM syllabus when I did it in 1963 ! I considered it as possibility and learned it then, but chose something else. Chopins E Minor Waltz has also been set as Grade 8 recently.

I know what you mean aobut the DSQ passages looking scary, wurlitzer, but actually they're not as bad as they look! One of them is a chromatic scale, which obviously looks a bit daunting in print (demisemiquavers, accidentals and ledger lines), but is probably something your fingers can already do quite well!

I've been bitten by Chopin like this a few times actually. Several of the Nocturnes start with a beautiful, captivating melody which draws you in and makes you want to play, but frequently I've forgotten how there are generally an increasing amount of embellishments as the piece unfolds. Advice to myself and anyone else trying Chopin: try learning the hardest bit first: if you think you can cope with it, then learn the easy bit! Either that, or be happy just to play the easier (but probably not very easy at all) opening section!

That's very true Twinkle. C Minor Nocturne is a bit like that, and the early (no 3?) in C#minor.