View Full Version : The Most Difficult Piano Piece Ever Written...
kong88888
11-03-2004, 10:31 AM
Hey all,
What do you guys think is the most technically difficult piano piece ever written? After watching the film 'Shine' (again...great film), it referred to Rachmaninov's Concertos as the most difficult...Is there any disputing this? I bought the Sheet Music for Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No.2, I can make sense of the second movement and parts of the first and third but some of it seems impossible! (especially at the correct speed)
Also, what is the most difficult piece you have learned? I've been playing for about 12/13 years (i'm 18 now) and mine is probably Liszt's Sonata in B Minor, or Beethoven's 'Hammerklavier' Sonata... ;)
Switchay
11-03-2004, 08:39 PM
God.. I want to start playing piano, it seems impossible with all you people talking about how long you've been playing and whatnot.
The Spatula
11-05-2004, 01:56 AM
Just wondering, how hard is Flight of the Bumblebee?
Merkaba
11-05-2004, 03:15 AM
Transcendental Etude....
I dont know, i dont play much only a years instruction, but i know its not too easy, and that i like hearing it being played.
owenbassist
11-05-2004, 11:21 AM
flight of the bumblebee really isn't all that difficult to play on piano, it just takes a bit of practice
kong88888
11-05-2004, 11:34 AM
flight of the bumblebee really isn't all that difficult to play on piano, it just takes a bit of practice
It is pretty difficult, but i agree after lots of practice its ok, i can play most of it now, the ending is the hardest part, im still to perfect that section. But in the grand scheme of things, (IMO) it doesnt come close to the most difficult piece ever written...
luciferchrist
11-05-2004, 12:21 PM
Just wondering, how hard is Flight of the Bumblebee?
learn that s h it
your finger dexterity will love you for it :thumb:
luciferchrist
11-05-2004, 12:22 PM
moto perpetou by paganini seems like it would be a b itc h on the piano.
Maybe not if you are a very advanced sight reader, but it seems really hard to memorize and play because it is constantly changing...
Mitchell Royce
11-05-2004, 12:41 PM
I believe there are some Chopin pieces that require each hand to be in a different time signature. That'd be a real bitch, in my opinion.
owenbassist
11-05-2004, 12:48 PM
each hand in a different time signature really isn't all that bad...its usually divided up faily logically, and the notes line up in a lot of places
FfEeNnWwOoDd
11-05-2004, 02:01 PM
Clocks by Coldplay is very effing difficult
IMHO the hardest piece is probably Liszt's second Hungarian Rhapsody, although I've been told that some of his other Hungarian Rhapsodies are even harder (!)
pIerre yVes
11-05-2004, 07:11 PM
just wondering, what grades would all these songs be classed as? and after watching shine, i also agree that rach 3. sounds like one of the hradest pieces...it's rach 3 isn't it? i'm sure it is...
lit_girl11
11-05-2004, 08:24 PM
ive been playing for like 9 years and the hardest song ive learned so far is Bach's Tocotta and Fugue in D minor (the organ version on piano) or Chopin's Funeral March (i only play half the chords on the first and last part)
Cecillianne
11-05-2004, 11:56 PM
Some of Chopin's pieces are a bitch to play.
Fantasie Impromptu :mad:
make_noise
11-07-2004, 02:13 PM
God.. I want to start playing piano, it seems impossible with all you people talking about how long you've been playing and whatnot.
depends on what you wanna do....
there are infinite possibilities with keys and learning hard classical pieces isn't your only option. some of the coolest sounding music isn't that hard at all
can't decide what my hardest peice was..prob something by Debussy
drumfreak14
11-07-2004, 03:49 PM
Linkin Park's "In the end" :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
PianoDan
11-08-2004, 08:20 AM
I can't really comment on this because I'm not in a position to say. The most difficult piece I've ever played is Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, 3rd movement. I can play half of Chopin's Ballade in G minor, which would be the hardest piece I could play, if I could play all of it.
Shine features the 3rd Piano Concerto by Rachmaninov. It sounds much harder than the 2nd - I'm pretty sure it is much harder. But I don't really know.
Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 sounds ridiculously hard (I haven't actually heard the whole thing through that many times, sadly). Interestingly, though, David Helfgott was playing that in the movie Shine after he'd gone insane. He was playing it in one of the places he was staying before he met his wife (I can't remember her name) - this was long after he'd played the Rach 3. I wonder if that gives any indication as to whether it might be fairly easier than the Rach 3.
By "two hands playing different time signatures", does that mean actual different time signatures in clef? Or simply 2/3 part playing, etc. (i.e., 17 notes in the right hand to 5 in the left, followed by 19 notes in the right hand to 6 in the left, or whatever)?
If the latter, then that's quite easy once you figure out how it sounds. If the former, then I've never heard of it in my life.
PianoDan
11-08-2004, 08:22 AM
Oh, and about Flight of the Bumble Bee. I have only been able to find the first page only of that on the internet. Does anyone know where I can get the entire score? The first page is easy enough, even though it's very very quick. The rest of the piece sounds as though it's just more of the same. I wouldn't say it's even close to being one of the most difficult pieces ever written.
tocatta and fugue is pretty easy, however it's rather intricate so you can't slur the notes AT ALL whereas in some of the romantic pieces (or the devilish pathetique) you can more than get a way with it.
SocoAmarettoLime70x7
11-08-2004, 03:07 PM
I would give the title of impossible to play to almost all of Rachmaninov's pieces. Rachmaninov was deformed - but his deformity was a piano player's dream. His hands were MASSIVE - the tips of his thumbs reached the tips of his index fingers on both hands, and his fingers were all VERY long, as in 6 - 8 inches long. Therefore, for almost every piano player alive, his pieces are simply physically impossible to play (correctly, that is).
that makes him deformed?
also, shostakovich's second piano concerto is hella difficult
superpeer
11-08-2004, 04:56 PM
Linkin Park's "In the end" :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
OMGZZZ Teh funni !!! :lol:
L O L
PianoDan
11-08-2004, 05:47 PM
I would give the title of impossible to play to almost all of Rachmaninov's pieces. Rachmaninov was deformed - but his deformity was a piano player's dream. His hands were MASSIVE - the tips of his thumbs reached the tips of his index fingers on both hands, and his fingers were all VERY long, as in 6 - 8 inches long. Therefore, for almost every piano player alive, his pieces are simply physically impossible to play (correctly, that is).
I would disagree. His hands were indeed massive - the largest ever for a classical composer, I believe - but I don't think they were quite as big as you've made out.
http://inkpot.com/classical/images/hands.jpg
http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~benhdj/img/rach_hands.jpg
I would also say that most pianists who can play his concertos, etc., correctly wouldn't agree that his pieces are simply physically impossible to play.
Also, I know for a fact that not all his pieces are impossible to play, even for amatuer pianists like me. I can play, quite comprehensively, his Prelude in C# minor. True, it's not his Piano Concerto No. 3, but it's no walk in the park either.
He was simply a brilliant pianist, and most brilliant pianists today can play what he wrote.
I heard on Classic FM once a performance of Rach playing one of Chopin's impromptus
kong88888
11-08-2004, 07:50 PM
I too can play Rachmaninov's Prelude in C# Minor, but i would agree that some of his pieces (eg. his piano concertos') are near impossible to play unless you are truly skilled and dedicated all your lifes work to learning them perfectly.
I would disagree. His hands were indeed massive - the largest ever for a classical composer, I believe - but I don't think they were quite as big as you've made out.
This is off topic. Dan, what is your feeling about global warming? I'm not intending to start an argument: I have an idea, and depending on your receptivity, I may want to enlist your help.
PianoDan
11-09-2004, 06:01 AM
This is off topic. Dan, what is your feeling about global warming? I'm not intending to start an argument: I have an idea, and depending on your receptivity, I may want to enlist your help.
:confused: I have no idea where that question came from, but I'll try to answer. Global warming isn't something I have much of an opinion on. I don't really know much about it. I tend to think it's probably an over-exaggerated issue, stressed by "greenies". That's not to say it's not a problem - it may well be. I honestly don't really know. I think people with whom I tend to share my opinions tend to see it as an overrated environmentalist issue, but that's not to say I agree with them.
Again, this is an issue I'm really not very knowledgeable on, and therefore can't really state an opinion on it. Sorry if I can't help you much there. What was your idea?:confused:
witch doctor
11-09-2004, 06:27 PM
try super mario world's yoshi island theme. I don't know how that kid did it, but my hands can't jump that far that fast that accurately.
I've been playing for about 8 years now but I still find anything with 4+ sharps or flats daunting.
:confused: I have no idea where that question came from, but I'll try to answer. Global warming isn't something I have much of an opinion on. I don't really know much about it. I tend to think it's probably an over-exaggerated issue, stressed by "greenies". That's not to say it's not a problem - it may well be. I honestly don't really know. I think people with whom I tend to share my opinions tend to see it as an overrated environmentalist issue, but that's not to say I agree with them.
Again, this is an issue I'm really not very knowledgeable on, and therefore can't really state an opinion on it. Sorry if I can't help you much there. What was your idea?:confused:
Forget it. (Here's hoping you can't swim.)
clearvision
11-10-2004, 09:28 AM
I donwloaded some rudess stuff the other day, my thoughts from his 4nyc concert seems pretty hard. I play grade 8 atm and this stuff sounds so much harder. Where to go after grade 8 *thinks* teaching? Jazz? whats hardest?
Rach726
11-10-2004, 03:30 PM
http://www.jfdolphins.com/images/Ex11.jpg
Sorabji is the most difficult composer. It has been proven. It also has been proven that his Opus Clavicembalsticum is the most difficult piece. It lasts for 4 hours, and is absolutely insanely difficult. For instance, he had to write his music on 3 staves, becuase he couldn't fit all the notes on 2.
The link I have given you is 1 measure from his sonata. All of his music looks like that, and that measure is meant to be finished in about 4-5 seconds I might add.
Rachmaninoff's 3rd Piano Concerto is easy compared to that!
witch doctor
11-10-2004, 06:37 PM
http://www.jfdolphins.com/images/Ex11.jpg
that looks really difficult, I wonder if I will ever be able to play that.
http://www.jfdolphins.com/images/Ex11.jpg
Sorabji is the most difficult composer. It has been proven. It also has been proven that his Opus Clavicembalsticum is the most difficult piece. It lasts for 4 hours, and is absolutely insanely difficult. For instance, he had to right his music on 3 staves, becuase he couldn't fit all the notes on 2.
The link I have given you is 1 measure from his sonata. All of his music looks like that, and that measure is meant to be finished in about 4-5 seconds I might add.
Rachmaninoff's 3rd Piano Concerto is easy compared to that!
You call that HARD?
I'm joking. My initial reaction was actually :eek:
kong88888
11-11-2004, 07:32 PM
http://www.jfdolphins.com/images/Ex11.jpg
Sorabji is the most difficult composer. It has been proven. It also has been proven that his Opus Clavicembalsticum is the most difficult piece.
Wow, that looks very difficult indeed, i'd never actually heard of him before, but i'd love to hear a recording of that. any idea where i could buy/download one?
when_im_gone
11-11-2004, 10:14 PM
I am a guitarist. Ive been learning how to read music latley, and I then I stumbled upon that piece of work by Sorabji earlier today. BUt hte only thing I have a qustion about is how can there be 2 treble clefs in the same measure?
(un)reason
11-11-2004, 10:18 PM
I too can play Rachmaninov's Prelude in C# Minor, but i would agree that some of his pieces (eg. his piano concertos') are near impossible to play unless you are truly skilled and dedicated all your lifes work to learning them perfectly.
Although getting a keyboard with smaller keys than standard piano size can fix the problem of not being able to do some of the stretches.
LedZeppFan83
11-12-2004, 10:01 AM
Probably the most difficult music ever written is probably like Motzart, Betoven, or Bach, but now a days, probably Elton John, Cold Play, or like Ian from The Doors.
witch doctor
11-12-2004, 09:00 PM
mozart, beethoven, bach, elton john, and the others you mentioned are nothing compared to the part rach726 posted.
PianoDan
11-13-2004, 05:22 AM
Forget it. (Here's hoping you can't swim.)
I think I'm owed at least an explanation...
And I can swim.
PianoDan
11-13-2004, 05:26 AM
Probably the most difficult music ever written is probably like Motzart, Betoven, or Bach, but now a days, probably Elton John, Cold Play, or like Ian from The Doors.
Cold Play? I play Cold Play by ear and I hardly know their songs. It's as easy as can be.
the2stranger
11-14-2004, 08:25 AM
Probably the most difficult music ever written is probably like Motzart, Betoven, or Bach, but now a days, probably Elton John, Cold Play, or like Ian from The Doors.
nowadays, I think Jordan Ruddes pwns the scene, he's insane
rvpigeon
11-23-2004, 01:30 AM
fantasie impromptu by chopin is really easy once you get used to the 6 on 8 beat. Rachmaninov's Humoreske took me a long time to learn how to play well, and Im not sure I can do it anymore (havent played it in a while)
the hardest piece that ive ever attempted to play (and given up on for now after getting two pages into it) is Gyorgy Ligeti's Etude 1: Desordre. Ive moved on to the much easier etude 2, which is pretty much only difficult rhythmically.
and i think ill mention liszt's transcendental etudes, and debussy's Feux d'Artifice
erock
11-23-2004, 11:13 AM
blow the man down
Clocks? I can't even play piano and I can play that song.
Anyone familiar with Dr. Gradus Ad Parnasum?
Not the hardest, but jesus, it's up there.
RedCross
12-05-2004, 07:32 PM
How about Moonlight Sonata Third Movement? How would everyone rate that?
J0llyhunter
12-05-2004, 08:22 PM
i havent really challenged myself and i've been playing for 7 yrs. can anyone recommend a piece i can find online or somewhere?
classicalpianist
12-29-2004, 08:39 AM
Some of Rachmaninov's Sonatas are pretty difficult just because of the huge hand-span thats needed, but I think I'll have to agree that Sorabji takes the cake! Some of Bartok's harder stuff is quite fiendish also!
HNLzero
12-30-2004, 03:29 PM
I donwloaded some rudess stuff the other day, my thoughts from his 4nyc concert seems pretty hard. I play grade 8 atm and this stuff sounds so much harder. Where to go after grade 8 *thinks* teaching? Jazz? whats hardest?
can you post the links :)
I think I'm owed at least an explanation...
Given the tone of your response, your gratuitous use of abusive epithet, and the importance of what is ultimately at stake, I disagree. Sorry.
burntgorilla
01-02-2005, 03:06 PM
Given the tone of your response, your gratuitous use of abusive epithet, and the importance of what is ultimately at stake, I disagree. Sorry.
Do you need help getting your head out of your arse, or can you manage it by yourself?
I am a guitarist. Ive been learning how to read music latley, and I then I stumbled upon that piece of work by Sorabji earlier today. BUt hte only thing I have a qustion about is how can there be 2 treble clefs in the same measure?
Alright don't take my word on this, because I'm not sure... I think they both represent the exact same pitches/notes/keys, it's just really so you can fit more on there.
Do you need help getting your head out of your arse, or can you manage it by yourself?
Do you want to leave the forum of your own accord, or do you want me to have you banned?
lit_girl11
01-05-2005, 09:53 PM
Alright don't take my word on this, because I'm not sure... I think they both represent the exact same pitches/notes/keys, it's just really so you can fit more on there.
thats exactly right. it was just to have more room for all the notes :thumb:
burntgorilla
01-06-2005, 01:10 PM
Do you want to leave the forum of your own accord, or do you want me to have you banned?
I see people like you online all the time. You hide behind big words, thinking it impresses people, and look down on everyone else. So what if someone goes off topic a bit? It's a forum, that kind of thing happens. Admittedly, he should have had the wit to realise what you were doing, but it's hardly a terrible offence. Using as many complex words in a sentence as you possibly can doesn't make you look intelligent, it makes you look an idiot.
SRTracer
01-06-2005, 03:03 PM
This is going to be pretty random, but can anyone give me the guitar tab to fantasie impromtu, or at least the piano score, because I can't find it anywhere, and i mean anywhere
SRTracer
01-06-2005, 03:22 PM
nevermind, i finally found one on powertab, thanks anyways!
hello.com
01-06-2005, 05:45 PM
Some of Chopin's pieces are a bitch to play.
Fantasie Impromptu :mad:
I can play that!!!!!
The hardest thing is the triplets/semi-quaver rythm
hello.com
01-06-2005, 05:51 PM
Clocks? I can't even play piano and I can play that song.
Anyone familiar with Dr. Gradus Ad Parnasum?
Not the hardest, but jesus, it's up there.
If your on about debussy's piece then oh my god it's hard!!!
Really nice piece though, tried to play it, still struggling!!!!
hello.com
01-06-2005, 05:53 PM
I think the hardest piece of all time is chopin study in thirds. It is actually impossible.
AlkanFan
01-07-2005, 12:50 AM
Hi there, I'm new. :)
I would have to say that Godowsky's Chopin Etudes are probably the hardest pieces in the entire piano repertoire. A close second is Alkan's right hand etude from op 76.
The hardest pre-Godowsky piano compositions would probably be those of French-Jewish composer and virtuoso pianist Charles-Valentin Alkan. The first movement of his Concerto for Solo Piano from Alkan's op 39 is 1,343 measures long, and contains some rediculous techincal demands. Of all of Alkan's compositions his Op. 76 etudes for hands seperated and reunited are the hardest, though.
The user who said Sorabji, was also right in a sense. The composer's Opus Clavicembalisticum lasts nearly six hours!
But of all these composers, Alkan is by far my favorite (see my name). :p Alkan would be a good topic for more discussion. For now, more information can be found at the following site: http://alkan.bluestealth.com
Medtner
01-10-2005, 12:45 PM
Shine features the 3rd Piano Concerto by Rachmaninov. It sounds much harder than the 2nd - I'm pretty sure it is much harder. But I don't really know.
Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto is harder than the third. It has very, very awkward parts to play in it. The Third is a lot more pianistic.
nate_man
01-25-2005, 10:02 PM
Solo piano- i would say the technically hardest is in between Schulz-Evler's transcription of the Blue Danube Waltz, and books I and II of Brahm's Paganini Variations.
Concerto- again, technically Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a theme by Paganini is my bet because the technique drastically changes from every variation to the next, plus there is literally no solo part, therefore you must keep in exact time with the orchestra.
gtg10k
01-26-2005, 06:59 PM
im normally over in the guitar section but im taking a music apreciation class and ive found anything by chopin or Liszt to be incredibly hard. Im no piano player but i heard minute waltz by chopin and it sounded pretty difficult.
Blue Light Special
01-26-2005, 07:56 PM
I would agree with a previous entry, Bach's Toccatta and Fugue in D minor is quite difficult to play correctly and make it sound good.
11 school prodigy
01-27-2005, 06:30 PM
God.. I want to start playing piano, it seems impossible with all you people talking about how long you've been playing and whatnot. I haven't been playing but 1 year and about 5 months now! And I am almost done with Rachmoninoffs Prelude in C#minor! I am not bragging I am also not making this up. I played the rest through yesterday and am almost done, maybe, 2 weeks I will be done with it. That is the hardst piece I have played. I am only 11 though! LIke I said I am NOT making any of THIS UP OR bragging. If I was I wouldn't say it. I am not the person who lies about this type of stuff. Last year I learned Fur Elise in 2 months. Turkish March, I finished that on the 20th of Dec. And finishe The Moonlight Sonata the first movement and that was in July. :) :thumb:
Flamencology
01-27-2005, 07:37 PM
If I had to give a single answer, it would be Prokofiev's 2nd concerto.
Of course, the Rach. 3 DOES have that reputation.
But while they are physically intense, I would contend that the psychological effort required to give justice to much of Bach, or to Beethoven's mid-to-late works makes them every bit as challenging (if not more so) than those of Lizst, Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Chopin, Mussorgsky, etc.
Not so much in getting the notes OUT, but to make them sound RIGHT, you need to sound like you've been playing for 100 years, and survived every emotional and intellectual EVENT imaginable.
kiekie
01-28-2005, 01:32 PM
hello i have a friend starting piano...what tips do you have for him?
Triconus
01-29-2005, 10:02 PM
Only been playing for eleven months and can already play toccata and fugue. Not sure what you folks mean by making it sound right but i, and those who hear me play, think it sounds pretty good. Moonlight Sonata thrid movement = whole different story. I would have thought "over-exaggerated" to be redundant language, but then i am rather pedantic. My apologies.
If your on about debussy's piece then oh my god it's hard!!!
Really nice piece though, tried to play it, still struggling!!!!
As I, I have been trying to learn Stuart Hamm's bass adaptation and am not getting far. I have seen classical guitar arrangments of it as well, also very difficult.
gatecrasherc6
01-30-2005, 09:06 PM
Transcendental Etude....
I dont know, i dont play much only a years instruction, but i know its not too easy, and that i like hearing it being played.
Yeah well, most of Liszts etudes require you to be a piano virtuosso. Can't really tell which one is the hardest until you've tried to play them all. Some songs sound complex but they're really simple so... the hardest one I've come across is Chopin's Prelude in G minor. But then again I'm only an intermediate player meaning Rach's 3'rd is way beyond me. :thumb: BTW, Rach's 3'rd might be the hardest but the 2nd one is still the best sounding piano concerto in my opinion.
PianoDan
02-07-2005, 07:11 AM
the hardest one I've come across is Chopin's Prelude in G minor.
Do you by any chance mean the Ballade in G minor? I had a quick glance at the music for his Prelude in G minor, and, though I don't know it, it doesn't look terribly difficult. The Ballade, though, is very difficult - probably one of his hardest solo pieces.
Yeah well, most of Liszts etudes require you to be a piano virtuosso.
Liszt is still considered by some as possibly the single greatest pianist of all time, or at least until and including his time. I've recently gotten into his Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, and it's incredible. I don't know that this is the hardest piece of all time, though... but it's certainly not easy. I doubt I'll ever play it.:(
Lomion
02-09-2005, 07:07 PM
Hardest piece?
Liszt Piano Concerto No. 2 (Short, but difficult)
Prokofiev 3rd
Brahms 1st and 2nd (long and difficult)
and yes, Rach3.
Opus Clavicembalisticum appears to be more difficult than these five, however, I wouldn't consider it a piano piece. Sorabji's Opus Clavicembalisticum is nothing but random chromatics and senseless disonance. It sounds like a person with large hands banging his/her fingers on the keyboard and moving up and down a half step at a time at varrying rates. It has no artistic quality to it. So because Opus Clavicembalisticum isn't a piece and can't be considered in our listings of "hardest piece ever written".
If you think Opus Clavicembalisticum is a piece (if it has musical quality), then the hardest piece ever is one I just composed. Let me describe it to you. It's chromatics, each hand playing sevenths, up and down the entire keyboard. The right hand plays 64 notes per measure while the left plays 63. The time signature is 4/4 and the tempo is 4800 quarter notes per minute (in case you haven't calculated it yet, that means 20 measures each second, up and down the keyboard 23 times each second, and 1280 sets of cords in each second.). The piece is played as one movement with a total length of 1,728,000 measures and lasts for 24 hours. There is also a crescendo begining on the first note and ending on the last. The piece begins as pppp and ends in ffff with an acent on the last note as well.
ohnoes
11-30-2006, 08:30 PM
Many people consider Islamey by Mily Balakirev to be the most technically demanding piece in piano repetoire. You can download the score if you have Adobe reader at http://www.sheetmusicarchive.net/dlpage_new.cfm?composition_id=1107
You'll find that most of it looks just as crazy, if not more than, the excerpt from Opus Clavicembalsticum that was probably picked out of the hardest part of the piece. (http://www.jfdolphins.com/images/Ex11.jpg)
ohnoes
11-30-2006, 08:37 PM
Oh, and to add to that, the composer himself couldn't play it and many respected pianists have hurt themselves trying to learn it.
Shadows Within
11-30-2006, 10:12 PM
I'd say alot of Rachmaninoffs stuff is hard to play also chopins etudes are known for there difficulty.
i especially like this one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lk7_4aZY34A
ThePinkPanther
12-02-2006, 11:05 PM
Rach. 2 sounds pretty difficult. i saw it at a local philharmonic and the pianist was so into it and it was insane.
destroyer_of_senses
12-19-2006, 03:57 PM
chopins "revolutionary" edute is kicking my *** right now does it seem hard to anyone else. I've gotten the notes down but nowhere close to the speed because my left hand isnt used to such fast leaps and interval jumps.
Alkan's stuff is ridiculous.
zemyk4e
01-17-2007, 07:15 PM
New to the threads here but the topic is very interesting:
My contribution to this specific topic is the following:
Ive taught and learned piano on my own and over the years i have come across some pieces that I believe are unbelievably difficult at first sight and even with experience and plenty of finger dexterity, they are still ming-boggling and technically require tons of practice.....
As many have said; RACH CONCERTO #3 is superb in sound but ridiculous in its demands- RACH was lucky to have a span of 13 keys, i barely reach 10..
SCRIABIN sonatas 5-10 are considered to be amongst the most difficuly music ever written for piano... PLEASE BE SURE TO CHECK THE MUSIC WRITING FOR THESE, Especially SONATA #9 and 10...
#10 has a reputation for being extremely difficulty and its excessive trills...
even a piece called VERS LA FLAMME (popularized by Sofronitsky and Horowitz) demands excessive trills , double trills, and the rhythms in the middle section of 9 beats against 5 for 2 straight pages is crazy at first sight, but very relazing music...
hope the contribution helps....im pretty sure there are WAY MORE pieces i didnt mention, but i believe these are very hard...
Volkanikamaster
05-13-2007, 02:53 AM
Liszt : Grande Fantaisie de Bravoure sur la Clochette
Good luck !!!
Only 4 people on earth can play it...
Hey all,
What do you guys think is the most technically difficult piano piece ever written? After watching the film 'Shine' (again...great film), it referred to Rachmaninov's Concertos as the most difficult...Is there any disputing this? I bought the Sheet Music for Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No.2, I can make sense of the second movement and parts of the first and third but some of it seems impossible! (especially at the correct speed)
opus clavicembalisticum by sorabji
seriously
opus clavicembalisticum by sorabji
seriously
Got a sheet?
Pastorius
05-17-2007, 07:50 PM
for once i am in agreement with amit
Got a sheet?
http://www.sendspace.com/file/kflmnm
17 meg pdf
http://www.sendspace.com/file/kflmnm
17 meg pdf
Holy ****
Is that even physically possible?
mg wut
quite dumb question
if youre talking about more or less classical piano then technically probably some liszt, rachmaninov or prokofiev piece and for interpretation maybe chopin or brahms, but its hard to say about interpretation.
if you talk about modern music then probably ligeti etudes, any stockhausen or boulez piece or any pointless brian ferneyhough
I_WEAR_RED_PANTS
07-10-2007, 09:42 AM
does anyone have an audio of opus clavicembalisticum by sorabji
march56
02-18-2008, 01:17 AM
I'll vote for two finalists. Chopin's Polinaise and the Rachmaninoff Concerto #3. Listen to the octaves played by the left hand in Polinaise and you will understand about hard!
march56
02-18-2008, 01:29 AM
Oh, and about Flight of the Bumble Bee. I have only been able to find the first page only of that on the internet. Does anyone know where I can get the entire score? The first page is easy enough, even though it's very very quick. The rest of the piece sounds as though it's just more of the same. I wouldn't say it's even close to being one of the most difficult pieces ever written.
The arragement used in shine was Cziffra and can be found on Sony Classical SK82891. I would like to find a transcription of this arrangement if anyone knows....
-MC
march56
02-18-2008, 01:31 AM
Liszt : Grande Fantaisie de Bravoure sur la Clochette
Good luck !!!
Only 4 people on earth can play it...
Which 4?
MC
march56
02-18-2008, 01:33 AM
Something done by Keith Emerson comes to mind. But I can't tell if it was done on an arpegiator or really his left hand!
MC
Agent Seta
02-20-2008, 01:56 AM
Hardest piece?
Liszt Piano Concerto No. 2 (Short, but difficult)
Prokofiev 3rd
Brahms 1st and 2nd (long and difficult)
and yes, Rach3.
Opus Clavicembalisticum appears to be more difficult than these five, however, I wouldn't consider it a piano piece. Sorabji's Opus Clavicembalisticum is nothing but random chromatics and senseless disonance. It sounds like a person with large hands banging his/her fingers on the keyboard and moving up and down a half step at a time at varrying rates. It has no artistic quality to it. So because Opus Clavicembalisticum isn't a piece and can't be considered in our listings of "hardest piece ever written".
If you think Opus Clavicembalisticum is a piece (if it has musical quality), then the hardest piece ever is one I just composed. Let me describe it to you. It's chromatics, each hand playing sevenths, up and down the entire keyboard. The right hand plays 64 notes per measure while the left plays 63. The time signature is 4/4 and the tempo is 4800 quarter notes per minute (in case you haven't calculated it yet, that means 20 measures each second, up and down the keyboard 23 times each second, and 1280 sets of cords in each second.). The piece is played as one movement with a total length of 1,728,000 measures and lasts for 24 hours. There is also a crescendo begining on the first note and ending on the last. The piece begins as pppp and ends in ffff with an acent on the last note as well.
The fact that it is incredibly dissonant doesn't mean it has no musical value. I simply took it as a portrayal of insanity in music, perhaps the composer himself was insane. Either way, clearly a lot of thought was put into it, and if the composer really was insane, it's just that much more accurate of a portrayal and it's disturbing quality truly completes it as a work of art.
The fact that you don't understand it doesn't mean it isn't art.
Eliza
02-27-2008, 09:49 AM
Difficult is such a broad term. Technically difficult? Difficult relating more to musicality? Difficult in its emotional depth and understanding? Dynamically difficult?
If you can play a million notes a second that's great and that IS difficult. But it's much harder to play something beautifully that is simple and make it reach the audience without having to impress them with your flying fingers.
no it isn't
are you retarded
Eliza
02-27-2008, 10:45 AM
no it isn't
are you retarded
you can't possibly narrow down every piano piece ever written and determine which is the most difficult. Music is difficult for many different reasons. And no, I'm not retarded thanks very much. I'm an educated professional musician and that was a valid question.
educated professional musicians don't say things like this
If you can play a million notes a second that's great and that IS difficult. But it's much harder to play something beautifully that is simple and make it reach the audience without having to impress them with your flying fingers.
your teachers should be ashamed
god damn neoromanticists
EADGC
02-27-2008, 10:58 AM
The point of music is to play lots and lots of notes really fast ok
Pastorius
02-27-2008, 11:03 AM
no-one was suggesting that
but beauty is subjective, whereas difficulty is objective (kind of)
Eliza
02-27-2008, 11:09 AM
The point of music is to play lots and lots of notes really fast ok
really?
i hope you're kidding. I don't want to listen to someone play lots and lots of notes really fast. they can go back to their woodshed and entertain themselves.
Eliza
02-27-2008, 11:12 AM
no-one was suggesting that
but beauty is subjective, whereas difficulty is objective (kind of)
well not really. If you have achieved a level of training to the point where you are technically, musically and emotionally capable of playing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star then the Emperor Concerto is going to be VERY difficult on all of those levels.
Everyone has something that they struggle with that is "difficult" for them, no matter what their level of ability. Of course, there are obviously difficult pieces that require a lot of skill and practise. There are always going to be people who can play those pieces.
It is better to compete with yourself and strive to move beyond the limitations you feel are YOURS instead of trying to play something simply because it may be impressive to others. Frankly, the audience doesn't care and wont remember anything if you just play the notes. They want to hear music that makes them FEEL.
ok eliza i have a feeling you haven't been on the internet before i suggest stop posting and start lurking to get a feel for how the internet operates
cockerspanils
02-27-2008, 11:57 AM
The Call Of Ktulu
sparklingkorea
05-03-2008, 07:46 AM
nowadays, I think Jordan Ruddes pwns the scene, he's insane
i don't like him. His two hands are not balanced. His left hand kinda lazy than his right hand :lol::lol: i'm sure he can't play Fantasie Impromptu !
Bach's last child
05-25-2008, 02:20 PM
tocatta and fugue is not easy. not if your playing the origional version on a six board organ. The crave by jelley roll mortan is the hardest I can play. The left hand is in 3/4 and the right hand is in 4/4. It is a difficult jazz compisition with loads of streched chords and syncopation.
lisztlover
11-23-2008, 06:44 AM
Oh, and about Flight of the Bumble Bee. I have only been able to find the first page only of that on the internet. Does anyone know where I can get the entire score? The first page is easy enough, even though it's very very quick. The rest of the piece sounds as though it's just more of the same. I wouldn't say it's even close to being one of the most difficult pieces ever written.
You can find on eightnotes.com
lisztlover
11-23-2008, 06:52 AM
The hardest piece for piano is undebatably the Rach 3. The hardest piece I'm playing is either Menddelssohn's concerto in D minor for violin, piano, and string orchestra or Liszt's hungarian rhapsody no.6. I'm am playing these at 11 years old. Does that mean I'm good? As for Flight of the Bumblebee, my friend is playing it and I'm better at piano then him, so it can't be too hard.
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