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

Quote:

Originally Posted by owenbassist

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Spatula

Just wondering, how hard is Flight of the Bumblebee?

learn that s h it

your finger dexterity will love you for it

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

11-05-2004, 02:01 PM

Clocks by Coldplay is very effing difficult

GurS · 11-05-2004, 04:19 PM

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

make_noise · 11-07-2004, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Switchay

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"

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.

GurS · 11-08-2004, 01:38 PM

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.

11-03-2004, 10:31 AM	#1
kong88888 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: York, uk Posts: 139	The Most Difficult Piano Piece Ever Written... 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...

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11-03-2004, 08:39 PM	#2
Switchay debasscherous Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Amsterdam, New York Posts: 1,038	God.. I want to start playing piano, it seems impossible with all you people talking about how long you've been playing and whatnot.

11-05-2004, 01:56 AM	#3
The Spatula i.e complete nut Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 181	Just wondering, how hard is Flight of the Bumblebee?

11-05-2004, 03:15 AM	#4
Merkaba Play-Dough and Rug Hair! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: With Digger the Dermatophyte Posts: 3,964	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.

11-05-2004, 11:21 AM	#5
owenbassist the quiet one Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dekalb, IL Posts: 427	flight of the bumblebee really isn't all that difficult to play on piano, it just takes a bit of practice

11-05-2004, 12:22 PM	#8
luciferchrist MASTER BEATMAKER Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: troy NY Posts: 309	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...

11-05-2004, 12:41 PM	#9
Mitchell Royce Taller than 5'9" Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Nuremberg Posts: 2,430	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.

11-05-2004, 12:48 PM	#10
owenbassist the quiet one Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dekalb, IL Posts: 427	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

11-05-2004, 02:01 PM	#11
FfEeNnWwOoDd Guest Posts: n/a	Clocks by Coldplay is very effing difficult

11-05-2004, 04:19 PM	#12
GurS /secretly Paul, actually Join Date: May 2004 Location: You Kay? Posts: 6,436	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 (!)

11-05-2004, 07:11 PM	#13
pIerre yVes pIerre yVes Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: sy-de-ney Posts: 64	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...

11-05-2004, 08:24 PM	#14
lit_girl11 serious awesomeness Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: in the cultural wasteland of the universe Posts: 209	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)

11-05-2004, 11:56 PM	#15
Cecillianne oh yeah i don't give a fu Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: sarcasm bounces off my marshmellowy outer shell Posts: 885	Some of Chopin's pieces are a bitch to play. Fantasie Impromptu

11-07-2004, 03:49 PM	#17
drumfreak14 here it is Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: ask you may find out, Indiana Posts: 141	Linkin Park's "In the end"

11-08-2004, 08:20 AM	#18
PianoDan Soli Deo Gloria Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 1,605	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.

11-08-2004, 08:22 AM	#19
PianoDan Soli Deo Gloria Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 1,605	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.

11-08-2004, 01:38 PM	#20
GurS /secretly Paul, actually Join Date: May 2004 Location: You Kay? Posts: 6,436	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.