Which are the easiest Chopin Etude and Mazurka?

Chopin did not write a lot of easy music!!

I've got a book produced by the Associated Board called 'Chopin - an Introductory Album" which is a collection of his 'less difficult' works. The G minor Mazurka in there is about grade 6 - I think that's probably one of the easiest. I'm working on it now - just finished the G sharp minor Mazurka, which is a good bit harder but *wonderful* to play. Also looked at the Nocturne in G minor, that doesn't look too difficult. I may tackle that later in the year - I would *love* to play a Chopin Nocturne.

Etude: Op. 10 No.6
The notes are quite easy, but to play it right... That needs some work. :S

StuMac is right. Chopin is insane! (But I still love him)

Although I agree with you that the etude Op.10 No.6 is easier than other etudes, I don't have the motivation to practise this etude. I like the others more!
His music is good! I like Chopin!

QUOTE (StuMac @ Jul 4 2004, 03:23 PM)

Chopin did not write a lot of easy music!! I've got a book produced by the Associated Board called 'Chopin - an Introductory Album" which is a collection of his 'less difficult' works. The G minor Mazurka in there is about grade 6 - I think that's probably one of the easiest. I'm working on it now -

I also use this book and likewise am working on the G minor Mazurka I have also played the Prelude in A and the Prelude in E minor. I would like to do the Prelude in C minor also but I think there a big stretches in that one. I also like the Raindrop prelude and like you StuMac am really looking foward to doing a nocturne.

No where near the standard to do an etude yet.

I love the Raindrop Prelude too. I'd love to play it but it looks seriously hard, a lot more difficult than the G minor Nocturne I would say. Also think the G minor mazurka is good bit easier than the G sharp minor.

That book certainly includes some tough pieces for an 'introductory' album!!

Another thing about the Raindrop - has anyone else notice how much 'Maria' from West Side Story resembles it?? Think of the section where the singer sings '...and suddenly that name, will never sound the same again...'. I think Bernstein must have been a Chopin fan!!!

The Prelude in A Major can easily be labelled Grade Two piano.

QUOTE (Yaranak @ Jul 5 2004, 06:58 PM)

The Prelude in A Major can easily be labelled Grade Two piano.

Can't say that I agree with you. My daughter is about Grade 2 standard and she certainly wouldn't be able to play it.

QUOTE (Yaranak @ Jul 5 2004, 06:58 PM)

The Prelude in A Major can easily be labelled Grade Two piano.

Rubbish!!!!

Just had a quick look at the piece again. Three sharps in the key signature, dotted rythms, chords with 8 notes including multiple accidentals, grace notes, notes with up to three ledger lines, tied notes, part playing and pedalling instructions. Can you find any piece from the grade 2 sylabus with that lot??????

Moreover, to quote the Associate Board

...."The pieces in this selection - five preludes, five mazurkas, three walzes, one nocturne and five miscellaneous items - have been chosen for their comparative lack of technical difficulty in the hope that a study of these works, even if they cannot be completely mastered, may lead to an appreciation of Chopin's lyrical genius"

I'm sorry but that does not sound like an introduction to an album containing grade two pieces!!

Whoa! Don't kill me for it! It's just an opinion.

Sorry!!! It is quite easy actually - but definately more than grade 2!!!

Absolutely right, Stumac !

The word "easy" doesn't seem to go with Chopin's work...

The first Chopin piece I played was the Waltz in A minor(op 34, no2). I tried it after my grade 5. Some of the preludes are also not too difficult.

However, I believe the "level of difficulty" can sometimes depends on how you approach the piece. An easy looking piece can become "difficult" if you put all the technical bits (eg tone control etc ) into it. Don't you agree?

QUOTE (the shy pianist @ Jul 12 2004, 12:17 AM)

However, I believe the "level of difficulty" can sometimes depends on how you approach the piece. An easy looking piece can become "difficult" if you put all the technical bits (eg tone control etc ) into it. Don't you agree?

Absolutely. Just playing all the correct notes in the correct order doesn't mean you can play a piece well.