Hello everyone - I'm new here and thought to ask a question to break the ice. I started playing the piano in July and am thinking about taking an AB exam; however, I do know which level might be most suitable. I haven't really played much else apart from some chopin preludes, and I've noticed people seem to be pretty savvy when it comes to linking titles with potential grades levels; so here goes:

1. Prelude in C minor
2. Prelude in E minor
3. Prelude in D flat minor ('Raindrop')

Thanks
lmm

sorry i dont have my book here, i only know them by number. But I would say that the Raindrop is about Grade 7.

This was on the AB syllabus for grade 7 back in the mid- late 1970's.

Yes, Raindrop is about Grade 7
The short C Minor one in chords Grade 5 if you can manage the spreads
The E Minor one probably no higher than Grade 4-5.

That's quite surprising! Thanks very much for your replies.

Leon

E minor (Op 28 no. 4) grade 4
D flat major "Raindrop" (Op 28 no. 15) grade 7
C minor (Op 28 no. 20) grade 4

This agrees with Eleanor Baillie's assessments in her book on Chopin's works. (The Pianists Repertoire. CHOPIN. A graded practical guide)

I once tried to learn the full set of 24 Preludes in Op 28. I eventually managed to get 23 of them into reasonable shape.

So can anyone out there play No. 16. I saw Martha Argerich play it and she made it look easy. It isn't! (I estimate it is about Grade 24 or thereabouts!!)

What is the secret (other than a. starting out as a child prodigy, and b. continuing to work hard)?

23 preludes is a pretty good effort! I'd love to be able to do that.

No.16 does look pretty tough. What about no.24? I gave it a try, and it is way over my head!!!

Yes No. 24 has its tricky passages (the runs in 3rds amongst them). And No 19 took a lot of work. But No. 16 is in a different league of difficulty. It is unremitting freneticism from start to finish.

Have you noticed that all composers seem to do this. They make a set of pieces in which a few are easy, most are playable with work, and two or three you really have to slog at. But then they throw in one that is only playable by world class virtuosi. You don't mind when half the Opus is for superstars only, but when it is just ONE piece ...

Debussy did the same with the first set of Preludes. They are all approachable - except for "Ce qu'a vu le vent d'Ouest"

Maybe the world class virtuosi started off not being able to do no.16 I'll keep telling myself that. I've only been learning 5 months, and I get frustrated when I find anything I can't play. However, I've just listening to the Debussy prelude, and it is rediculous. It strikes me as something that might never be playable

I've never seen anything quite as phenomenal as this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAb2nI2hVqk

I play about half of them, and also the Op 45 prelude. If No19 is the triplet one, then if you're not too good at landing on notes without at least having a quick glance, this piece will drive you to distraction.