Chopin's Scherzos

Chopin's Scherzos are truly unique. The first is by far my favorite.
To say the b minor scherzo is moody would be making quite an understatement! In sonata form, the whirling, downright demonic "A" section provides startling contrast to the divine lamentations of the "B" section, which is based on a Polish Christmas carol. There is then a verbatim repeat of the "A" section leading to the hair-raising finale. I love it so much simply because it shows a violent side of Chopin we rarely hear.

 

No.1 for me, no doubt!

 

I love the second it's so amazing!!

 

The 2nd Scherzo I like the most - already the beginning is soooo impressive.

 

My favourite is the unjustly neglected 4th Scherzo. This is very much the mature and poetic Chopin, less obviously virtuosic and demonic than the first three, but of more musical value (whatever that is, heh...). The quiet barcarolle in the middle is IMO one of the best things Chopin ever wrote.

 

Are there any recommendations for a certain pianist with all scherzi on CD :?:

 

The infamous chubrik site has all four played by Rubinstein and nr. 3 by Rachmaninov.

 

Thanks much - I never imagined that my cyrillic reading ability (I was forced to learn Russian long years at school in old East-Germany times) can be used for something useful, like this! :lol:

 

i guess no. (EDIT: #1) one for now since that's the only one i can play. number three is great and the middle section of no. four is the most beautiful by far, IMO

 

We don't take no for an answer. Cast your vote sir :!:

 

It is unjustly neglected, but I think it's quite obviously virtuostic!

Yeah, what is musical value? I will go to the top of the mountain and ponder this.... :wink:


I think it's neglected because it isn't demonic, in fact it's very optimistic and content. Most pianists and listeners want some violence or turbulence in their romantic music and a piece like this that's predominantly sunny never gets as much attention as it's troubled siblings. Interesting, real families are like that too.

Ditto on the middle section, it is one of Chopin's best creations. A barcarolle; you're right! That never occured to me before, one does learn something new every day, if one listens...

But my favorite is the third Scherzo. I haven't performed the 3rd or 4th yet, must get to them.

 

Yea, I agree that the reason I like the first one is simply because it is so uniquely violent to Chopin. The fourth one is most beautiful, but archetypical Chopin.

Pete

 

1) #3
2) #1
3) #4
4) #2 (due to it being overplayed way too much....Lang Lang *cringes* :x )

 

1) #2 (even though it's overplayed).
2) #1
3) #3
4) #4 (maybe because it's in major).

 

i'm sad ev1 forgets about no.4, poor scherzo 4 :cry:

 

My favourite is no.1, I like its "frenzy" style.
The fourth Scherzo does't get ignored, its just not everyone's favourite, but it is still great piece of music.

 

I hate trying to pick favorites when it comes to Chopin. Yes, #2 is the most popular - I grew up listening to my mom play it - but I don't think that I would call something so good "overplayed" ...I picked #1, but I don't know that I would call it atypically violent for Chopin - he's got a lot of good violent stuff. Shall I make a list? Most of it is mixed with delicacy, but so is that Scherzo - the middle of it is absolutely lovely. If I'm forced to rate them in order, I would say 1, 2, 4, 3...but it's soooo close. I love them all. I might say 2, 4, 1, 3 tomorrow...I like #3 (of course, it's Chopin!) but I think I will always like the other three more.