David Hurwitz

[71 dB]

13. Chopin - 24 Preludes, Op. 28.

I have actually never listened to these. When I was getting interested of classical music about 30 years ago, Chopin was one of those composers I was briefly into (his Piano Concertos), but when I got more interested of classical music, I "forgot" Chopin since there was so many other interesting composers to explore. My Chopin collection contains only 3 CDs:

Piano Concertos 1 & 2 / Naxos 8.550123
Complete Piano Music Vol. 12 (Scherzi/Impromptus/Allegro de Concert) / Naxos 8.554538
Piano Trio / Polonaise brilliante / Cello Sonata / Sony SK 53 112

Exploring these 24 Preludes seems like a thing to do...

[Daverz]

13. Chopin - 24 Preludes, Op. 28.

Exploring these 24 Preludes seems like a thing to do...

Jed Distler did a survey of the 24 Preludes on his podcast:

If you can find it, the Moravec on VAI would be my first choice (better sound than his Supraphon recording), though I recently listened to Argerich again and enjoyed that very much.

[Karl Henning]

13. Chopin - 24 Preludes, Op. 28.

Exploring these 24 Preludes seems like a thing to do...

Aye, they are a rich world.

[(poco) Sforzando]

13. Chopin - 24 Preludes, Op. 28.

I have actually never listened to these. When I was getting interested of classical music about 30 years ago, Chopin was one of those composers I was briefly into (his Piano Concertos), but when I got more interested of classical music, I "forgot" Chopin since there was so many other interesting composers to explore. My Chopin collection contains only 3 CDs:

Piano Concertos 1 & 2 / Naxos 8.550123
Complete Piano Music Vol. 12 (Scherzi/Impromptus/Allegro de Concert) / Naxos 8.554538
Piano Trio / Polonaise brilliante / Cello Sonata / Sony SK 53 112

Exploring these 24 Preludes seems like a thing to do...

I would say though that you've so far acquired a fairly tangential sampling of Chopin's output. Most people don't regard the Concertos as Chopin at his finest. The great works are the Preludes, Etudes, Ballades, Scherzi, 2nd and 3rd Piano Sonatas, Nocturnes, Mazurkas, the Barcarolle, the Fantasy, and some of the Polonaises. There are numerous interesting recordings of all, but if you want an inexpensive survey of all his solo work, the 13-CD Decca box by Vladimir Ashkenazy will serve you quite well. I saw just now a copy on eBay for only $25 USD.

[71 dB]

I would say though that you've so far acquired a fairly tangential sampling of Chopin's output.

Is that a crime? Maybe I am not so much into solo piano music? I don't say I am not, but lets say I don't feel like needing all the solo piano music in the world.

Most people don't regard the Concertos as Chopin at his finest.

Maybe I do because they are not solo piano music?

The great works are the Preludes, Etudes, Ballades, Scherzi, 2nd and 3rd Piano Sonatas, Nocturnes, Mazurkas, the Barcarolle, the Fantasy, and some of the Polonaises.

I don't doubt that if you are into this kind of solo piano music.

There are numerous interesting recordings of all, but if you want an inexpensive survey of all his solo work, the 13-CD Decca box by Vladimir Ashkenazy will serve you quite well. I saw just now a copy on eBay for only $25 USD.

Thanks for the recommendation, but since I'll start with the Preludes for now. I see the Chopin box on ebay UK and its £15, but the shipping is £23.78 and I believe there will be VAT added because it would come outside EU. I have used my budget anyway for this year. I need to listen to my classical music collection instead just buying more and more...

[(poco) Sforzando]

Is that a crime? (etc.)

At least you finally get around to thanking me for what was nothing more than a well-meant suggestion. And of course to have no more Chopin than you do now is not a crime; you know perfectly well I was not implying anything of the sort. But to limit yourself to the concertos or chamber music while bypassing most of Chopin's solo piano music is like ordering the coq au vin and asking the cook to leave out the poultry. It's perfectly fine with me if you wish to stay within your comfort zone and ignore the rest of Chopin's music. Billions of people have lived perfectly satisfied lives without ever having heard the 4th Ballade. But since you showed some nascent interest in the Preludes, I only offered what I thought was a relatively economical way to acquire a decent set of performances of his entire oeuvre without getting into the thicket of multiple Chopin interpretations.

[Karl Henning]

s that a crime? Maybe I am not so much into solo piano music? I don't say I am not, but lets say I don't feel like needing all the solo piano music in the world.

For me, the Opus 28 Préludes were the entrance to the Chopin rabbithole. You have found that even these 24 short pieces invite you to deeper familiarity. It would not surprise me at all (nor, probably, Larry) if you then find more of Chopin's œuvre well worth investigating.

[(poco) Sforzando]

For me, the Opus 28 Préludes were the entrance to the Chopin rabbithole. You have found that even these 24 short pieces invite you to deeper familiarity. It would not surprise me at all (nor, probably, Larry) if you then find more of Chopin's œuvre well worth investigating.

Yes, the Preludes are where I started from myself, back as a beginning piano student of 12 who found a few of them like the A major, E minor, B minor, D-flat major, and C minor among Chopin's easiest pieces technically. (And the hardest of them like the D minor still completely defeat me!) And while the preludes are all very short (the whole set of 24 takes only around 40-45 minutes), they exhibit an enormous range of styles and moods. You get nocturnes like the D-flat major; etudes like the G major, B-flat minor, and D minor; a little waltz like the A major; and even total weirdnesses like the A minor. They are an excellent "starter set" to Chopin's musical world.

[DavidW]

Is that a crime?

He wasn't trying to attack you; he was trying to nudge you in the direction of Chopin's actual masterworks. Someone did the same to me back in the day for Haydn's string quartets, and I'm glad I expanded my horizons. No one begrudges you enjoying some great romantic era orchestral works, but there are more treasures for you to explore, and hopefully, you will find them just as rewarding!

[71 dB]

He wasn't trying to attack you; he was trying to nudge you in the direction of Chopin's actual masterworks. Someone did the same to me back in the day for Haydn's string quartets, and I'm glad I expanded my horizons. No one begrudges you enjoying some great romantic era orchestral works, but there are more treasures for you to explore, and hopefully, you will find them just as rewarding!

Well I have been listening to Argerich. Maybe it is because I have never played piano myself I am struggling a little bit with understanding what makes these Preludes masterworks... ...I am expanding my horizon all the time...

[Karl Henning]

Well I have been listening to Argerich. Maybe it is because I have never played piano myself I am struggling a little bit with understanding what makes these Preludes masterworks... ...I am expanding my horizon all the time...

Argerich is fantastic!

[71 dB]

Argerich is fantastic!

Should be better than Argepoor. 

[Iota]

Well I have been listening to Argerich. Maybe it is because I have never played piano myself I am struggling a little bit with understanding what makes these Preludes masterworks... ...I am expanding my horizon all the time...

Fwiw, when I first came across the Preludes I liked them and played a number of them, but I didn't find them nearly as exciting as the Etudes, Ballades, Sonatas or the Scherzi. Later however I started finding more and more in them and these days they are probably the things I listen to most.

But really, no such thing as a right or wrong choice, find what you like and enjoy!

[Karl Henning]

Should be better than Argepoor. 

(* chortle *)

[Daverz]

Should be better than Argepoor. 

Argerscratch was even better, but only available in Korea.  (I can do the dad jokes, too, and I'm not even a dad.)

[71 dB]

Prelude No. 20 in C minor is very familiar music to me. Some of the coolest Chopin I have heard.