Customer Reviews for Fantasie Impromptu, Op. 66 In C# Minor
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Location: from
Difficulty Level:
Beginner
August 26, 2012
Don't get ahead of yourself
If you have been playing for piano for a few years, don't try...unless you are a natural virtuoso. I have been playing for 10 years and my piano teacher says it would be challenging for her. People can play this, but they always butcher it. Only do it if you can do it correctly.
10 of 17 people found this review helpful.
Chopinski
Location: from Plymouth UK.
Difficulty Level:
Advanced
July 24, 2011
Fantasie Impromptu Opus 66
A wonderful piece to play.It was derived from a study by Moscheles a contempory of Chopin, which is why it wasn't published until after the death of Chopin. It requires a lot of preperation. You are playing 16 notes in the right hand against 12 in the left hand. The Klindworh edition is the best,as it gives the extended run down inthe Dflat major section. No one plays it better than Beno Moiseiwitsch who is the only one who has ever worked out how to play that extended run down as shown in the Klindworh edition. See EMI Record CLP1282.
18 of 37 people found this review helpful.
Matthew Frakes
Location: from Sharon, PA
Difficulty Level:
Advanced
January 20, 2010
Hmm....
Im 15 and ive been playing piano for about 4 years now. im just finishing up claire de lune and am about to learn this song. its been four years and i still think this will be a challenge. i find it kind of hard to believe that someone could play this after 9months. shouldnt be done.
29 of 57 people found this review helpful.
Anonymous
Location: from
Difficulty Level:
Advanced
December 25, 2008
Pretty hard
Don't listen to everyone saying its not as hard as it looks. I suppose that's true, but if you want to play it well, then it is every bit as hard as it looks. It's not too bad learning the piece, though it does take a while to get the rhythm down (it was my first time playing 3 against 4), but the hardest part was trying to play it right. You have to practice over and over to get the runs smooth and even, and then you have to think about it being expressive. It's quite hard to play well.
34 of 62 people found this review helpful.
mike
Location: from North Carolina
Difficulty Level:
Advanced
November 1, 2008
Please play it right. :)
This is definately a "show piece" in that, its quite impressive, especially to non-musicians. But don't play it all sloppy and rushed, its better to play it slow and right!
29 of 55 people found this review helpful.
R. G. Callender
Location: from Wheaton, IL
Difficulty Level:
Advanced
July 25, 2008
Love-Hate Piece
Very, and I mean VERY, few people ever have learned to play this piece properly. I've heard it butchered so many times. If you can't play three-against-four, don't even try this piece. It looks hard and it is fiendishly difficult. Here is why: most people are only able to play three-against-four at fast speeds. But to pull this piece together, you must practice SLOWLY at first. So it's a constant battle between going fast enough to get the rhythm and slow enough to get the notes. If you practice long enough at it, it will come, provided you play some other music and exercises in the mean time to stay sane and injury-free. And don't think you've arrived just because someone (even your teacher) tells you it sounds impressive. If you can play it slowly with the metronome then you're getting somewhere.
26 of 47 people found this review helpful.
Evelyn Mozart14
Location: from Hedgesville WV
June 1, 2008
Fast
I'm 14 and I have been playing for 1 year, and this song is not as hard as it looks or sounds! This song is very fast, but if you get both hands down pat seperately, and combine them, then your muscle memory takes over, and your audiences think you are trying hard, but you're really not! It is definitely intimidating at first sight, and takes practice and patience, but it is very rewarding, and jaw-dropping to your audiences when really all you are playing for is yourself! A must-have!
17 of 34 people found this review helpful.
Cliff
Location: from scarboro ON
Difficulty Level:
Advanced
January 3, 2008
Complicated but beautiful.
By just looking at this piece you get the feeling that it is extreemely difficult but if you have the will and the pateince to learn it, then it is one of the most beautifuuly writing pieces I have seen my time.
7 of 15 people found this review helpful.
Mike C
Location: from Virginia
Difficulty Level:
Advanced
November 20, 2007
learn it in pieces...
I played piano as a kid from age 7-10. Now I'm 40 and just felt the urge to "pick up" where I left off 30 years ago, since we inherited a piano. I remembered how to read music, so that helped. I decided to just jump right to a song like this instead of working my way up from beginner again. My approach was to first, get the notes down a few measures at a time, get the fingering down for speed patterns, you end up memorizing this type of piece because of the fingering patterns and speed drills required. Then work the measures in groups with the 12 bass notes to every 16 treble notes. That timing will come with practice (intially it seems impossible), and then it applies to most of the rest of the song. Watching so many people play this on YouTube tells me I can do it also. You can too.
9 of 18 people found this review helpful.
min
Location: from san francisco, CA
Difficulty Level:
Advanced
November 1, 2007
the fantaisie
i have been playing piano for maybe about 10 years.. and this is one of my favorite repertoires =) if you are looking for a piece to give your fingers some exercise and to wow your audience, this is it! the most challenging part of this piece is getting the all the feelings and vibrance into the piece just as chopin meant it!
7 of 16 people found this review helpful.
Anonymous
Location: from Youngstown, OH
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate/advanced
September 27, 2007
Tough to Play
I'm a twelve year old who's only been playing for 9 months. I'm learning thiis piece now and I'll say you need control and speed. I'd say this piece isn't too much a challange if you count it correctly(1,2,a,3. The middle rythem's and all the accidentals will be a test of patience. I know it's impressive to play but, it even harder to interpret this piece. It souds like a mess if you can't.
7 of 16 people found this review helpful.
Chopin's cousin
Location: from
Difficulty Level:
Advanced
August 20, 2007
My Favourite Song Ever!!!
Fantasie-Impromptu is just such an amazing song. Incredibly difficult, advanced is quite an understatement. Looking at the music will probably make your eyes bug out! Takes a very ambitious player. It helps if you have a recording of it. SOOOOO AMAZING!!!
8 of 14 people found this review helpful.
Harry
Location: from Montreal, Canada
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate/advanced
April 25, 2007
Quaint and Romantic
This is the complete and beautiful version that the composer had intended to be played. This fine piece is a great for people that have gone beyond beginner/intermediate and are looking for a piece that is sure to wow the audience. This piece is also beautiful when heard, so it is a great piece to play alone. When I play it, I feel as though it sings. I recommend it to any enthusiastic pianist that is ready for the next level.
9 of 16 people found this review helpful.
Adam
Location: from
Difficulty Level:
Advanced
March 21, 2007
One of the best pieces ever written!!
I'll give you fair warning this piece is HELL to learn, but once you've got it down it's extremely fun to play...
10 of 17 people found this review helpful.
VALLET Alain
Location: from FRANCE Mulhouse
Difficulty Level:
Advanced
March 15, 2007
Madame d'Esté's dedicacy by Chopin
One of the most beautiful pages by Chopin which does not deserve the title "fantaisie".It should be played presto according to Chopin's pupils which reserves it for advanced players.
9 of 18 people found this review helpful.
Anonymous
Location: from
Difficulty Level:
Advanced
March 2, 2007
Extremly Advanced
This is a concert level piece, beautiful but very difficult.
7 of 15 people found this review helpful.
Nick
Location: from PA
Difficulty Level:
Advanced
August 15, 2006
Ummm.......
This is a very beautiful song but I was surprised that G.Schirmer just took this EXACT ARRANGEMENT of the books and slapped a cover on it. It is the exact arrangement as Chopin album and the book of impromptus.. And every other time you see this piece published by schirmer. If you are going to get this piece, then shed a couple more bucks and get the complete impromptus book so you have all of them. I want to recommed the Schubert impromptus op.90 no.2 and 4. They are simply gorgeous and don't require as much "figuring out the rhythms." You will want them because figuring out the rhythms in this piece is a pain in my rear end.
9 of 15 people found this review helpful.
Jack
Location: from Dundee, OR
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate/advanced
July 27, 2006
Great song and pretty easy to learn
I am only 14 years old and only took two piano lessons seven years ago. I quit playing but I got interested again last year. I taught myself how to play and I learned some easy pieces like Fur Elise. When I heard this song on a CD, I went to my piano and looked through a book full of Chopin piano solos. When I looked at it I knew it would take some practice. After only a week of practicing twenty minutes a day, I was able to play the slow section perfectly. I am just now starting to learn the beginning so I learned the firt two measures(which is all base cleff) and then the I learned the top and bottom sections of the third measure. I combine them (which does take time) and then play it faster and faster. The song is suprisingly easy and I have very little piano experience. I would highly recommend buying this music or.
8 of 17 people found this review helpful.
Marina P.
Location: from Pittsburgh PA.
July 16, 2006
Very Nice!!!
I really do like this piece! It isn't what you would call "Concert Piano Hard" but is is far beyond the capacity of an average pianist. Some tips are... 1)Practice the fast part hands alone until you are confident about putting it together 2)Then put the piece together AT A VERY SLOW TEMPO 3) Then put it with the slow part and VOILA!!! NOTE: Do not even think about putting this piece at ALLEGRO AGITATO until you have all of the rhythms and notes right. You have plenty of time to put it up to speed. And don't worry if it doesn't sound right at a slow tempo. And just don't give up on it I know that you'll get it. Remember MIND OVER MATTER :)
8 of 17 people found this review helpful.
Yi james
Location: from Port Coquitlam B.C
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate/advanced
June 13, 2006
Beauty
I am James, I am my piano teacher's best pupil and when I heard the midi ver. of Fantaise Impromptu, it was beautiful. It sound really hard at first (especially the first and last part) but when I started playing this, it was really easy. I practiced the right handed part over and over again until I felt comfertable adding my left. Once you know how to play the hard parts, it should be no problem learning the middle part. I play this song over and over again and listen how beautiful it sounds on my very own piano. Chopin is one of the greatest piano composers of all time.
9 of 16 people found this review helpful.
Anonymous
Location: from
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate/advanced
June 5, 2006
Super piece...
I have two favorite pieces, beethoven's moonlight sonata (3rd movement) and chopin's fantaisie impromptu.. i've been playing piano for about 7 years, and this CERTAINLY is NOT an easy piece.. its not suicidal though, it IS hard, but not as hard as say... chopin's first scherzo ? but i agree, comments saying its an easy piece are shallow.. what's to judge a piece's difficulty anyway? its not one factor, and one of the most important factor, is how experienced is the PIANIST...
6 of 14 people found this review helpful.
Pascal Pascaleff
Location: from Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate
May 26, 2006
Way easier than everyone thinks
This piece looks difficult... but only when you see it for the first time. The key is learning both hands sepparately perfectly, so when you try playing them simultaneously, you have no problems, and after a few repetitions in a slow tempo, you start accelerating. The difficult part is the intermediate section where you need really a great quality sound and to seek your own ways of making the piece more interesting in spite of the continuously repeated theme.
8 of 15 people found this review helpful.
Marci May
Location: from Pittsburgh PA
Difficulty Level:
Advanced
May 25, 2006
Gorgeous!
This piece is so beautiful. It is also one of the most complicated pieces I have ever seen. Don't kid yourself... This piece is anything but easy. The two on three rhythm in the first bar takes serious practice. It is sooo beautiful and impressive when you get it down pat. But seriously, if you trying to persuade people that you have only been playing the piano three years and started to play Frederic chopin's fantaisie impromptu.. you're crazy. This piece is as I said before, on of the most complex pieces of all time. It takes months of practice. Please don;t kid yourself DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS PIECE WITHOUT SOME SERIOUS PRACTICING HABITS AND ALSO YOU NEED VERY QUICK AND SPRY FINGERS. Who ever wrote that last review.... your teacher is on somethin' if she started you on fantaisie impromtu with only 3 years of practice. IN CONCLUSION THIS PIECE IS WORTH THE EFFORT.
6 of 14 people found this review helpful.
Anonymous
Location: from VA
Difficulty Level:
Advanced
March 24, 2006
Beautiful!!
I'm 14 and have been playing the piano for 3 years. When my teacher first told me she wanted me to play this and I heard it I was TERRIFIED!!! But after you get the notes worked out it's not difficult. The finger patterns repeat themselves often, so once you get the rythm etc. down the rest of the piece shouldn't be too difficult. Start slowly at first though to make sure you have your rythm perfect and perfect all the notes before you play it very fast. It's a great piece for performance!
8 of 14 people found this review helpful.
J
Location: from minnesota
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate/advanced
February 24, 2006
good stuff!!
I'm a 15 year old, and I've been studying piano for 10 years but about 5 years of seriousness. This piece looks "TREMENDOULSY" difficult.. but once you figure out everything it's not that hard. Try repetition. For example, the left hand chords can get tricky, so repeat it a lot. Also the right hand needs to be repeated a lot too. Believe in yourself and Be patient! :)
6 of 16 people found this review helpful.
Nick
Location: from Pittsburgh, PA
Difficulty Level:
Advanced
February 21, 2006
A beautiful Chopin masterpiece!
I love this piece! it truly is beautiful, but do not attempt it if you are not willing to work at it. It took me about a month to learn, I am 13 and have been playing for about 6 years. If you are really serious about playing this piece for a competition or to show off, I recommend buying a recording of it to hear how it should sound. Also this piece required immense coordination and someone who is good at scales. To get better at these try Hannon or Czerny school of velocity. But this piece is worth the work!!!
6 of 15 people found this review helpful.
Sam
Location: from Bampton, England
Difficulty Level:
Advanced
February 6, 2006
A piece of immense quality.
This is undoubtedly one of Chopin's best compositions for piano, its actually quite ironic thats its so highly rated even though Chopin actually was afraid to publish it (hence it is a posthumus work)as it sounded similar to another piece apparantly. This edition is excellent: the fingering is very helpful and well articulated, as are the pedal marks also. What perhaps slightly detracts from the edition is the lack of a preface from the editor (i.e. some notes on performing the piece) which would have been a useful addition. It should be pointed out that this piece is most certainly NOT 'easy' in any way, shape or form, so please ignore the reviewers that have asserted this because frankly its simply untrue! All in all then an excellent piece and an essential addition to a piano players sheet music library.
9 of 17 people found this review helpful.
robert
Location: from the netherlands
December 15, 2005
difficult but so beautiful
well I must say it aint that difficult like rachmaninoff prelude in c# minor but it is not fur elise it is dificult and when you play it to long your fingers are hurting very much. I love the song and when you want to buy this one I wish you very much luck. (try also the ballade 1 op 23 of chopin it's so beautiful)
8 of 15 people found this review helpful.
Anonymous
Location: from
Difficulty Level:
Advanced
November 7, 2005
A pleasure to play
Im 15, have been playing for 8 years, and although this piece sounds amazingly difficult, its actually quite easy to master the notes. It took a few months more to get the dynamics and speed the way i wanted, and took first in my state's intermediate piano comp ^^ Overall, a must for all those with an appreciation for music from the romantic era
6 of 14 people found this review helpful.
Lisa
Location: from Philadelphia, PA
July 26, 2005
My favorite piece so far!
I am 12 and this piece was my favorite to perform. It is very difficult, but impressive. I got a 3rd bow after playing this piece in concert. This edition is quite difficult to read- the notes are too close together, but the fingerings are helpful.
5 of 13 people found this review helpful.
tyler
Location: from Alcatraz Prison
July 12, 2005
tongue twister for the fingers
Well, despite what a lot of you critics have said, this piece was actually not that hard. Now, the rhythm was of course a little bit challenging. It just depends on how long youve played piano, or at what skill level you are at! Also, another great competition piece by Chopin is the: Grande Polonaise Brillante, Opus 22. However, the song is about 9 minutes long, and it took me 3 months to learn! But it is SO cool !! There is a whole range of emotions in that song, and it got me 2nd place in the Regional Amatures Music Festival!! And you'll never guess what song got first place !! YOU GUESSED IT !! Fantasie Impromptu in C# Minor !! hope this review helped!
8 of 16 people found this review helpful.
E.J.
Location: from
June 22, 2005
Phenomenal Song!!!
This is one of Chopin's most treaured masterpieces and it's easy to hear why. It's also one of the most difficult pieces I've ever worked on because of all the accidentals and challenging rhythms, but it's definitely worth it. The middle section in D-flat major is the easiest part for me and it's very soothing and expressive.
8 of 15 people found this review helpful.
Alina
Location: from Massachusetts
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate/advanced
February 22, 2005
Love this Piece!!!
Hi, i am 13 years old and i've had about 5 years of serious piano study. I was looking for a piece to do in a competition, and this one was perfect! I love the way it sounds, and it was surely a challenge. It wasn't one of those pieces that you can just sit down and sight read.
8 of 15 people found this review helpful.
Jake
Location: from Elizabethton, TN
Difficulty Level:
Advanced
January 26, 2005
Difficult but rewarding
Im 14 and I am 10 years into piano. It is NOT an easy peace despite what anyone else tells you. This is not one of those pieces you can sit down and have completed in a week. It takes time and patience, but is very rewarding. Also, plan on pulling out some old Hannons or Czerny, this one takes quick fingers.
7 of 15 people found this review helpful.
Heather
Location: from Albuquerque, NM
Difficulty Level:
Advanced
September 24, 2004
Um.........
I've been playing piano for a little over three years and it is NOT easy to play this song. However, after I got over the initial sixteenths on the top with triplets on the bottom and taught my hands to have their own separate minds it became a little easier, but is still very difficult. I love the opening,it's a great flashy piece and perfect for concerts or recitals. Not for the faint of heart!
7 of 16 people found this review helpful.
patrick charbonnier
Location: from France
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate/advanced
July 2, 2004
Challenging and Beautiful
It's seems that this piece got a lot of success among pianist and musicians. For me, it's the most challenging piece I have ever worked on, but, I guess that for a confirmed pianist, it should be much more affordable. But the interpretation is asking a lot from the players, and of course, it's not just a technical question, but also feeling and listening… And it will never be "SOO easy to play !!"… Only a child is able to say such a shallow statement !! … A great investigation in the art of Chopin and piano pratice.
6 of 13 people found this review helpful.
Ashley
Location: from Denver, CO
Difficulty Level:
Advanced
May 12, 2004
Fantastic!!!
I would say that in this edition, the notes are a little hard to read and everything is smushed together, but other wise the fingering, pedal markings, dynamics, and slurs are quite superb! If you want a clearer version, I suggest getting a different edition. (But then you might not get the quality fingerings.) If you want an very vitusostic piece to play for a concert this would be it. But be warned, this piece is very hard, but rewarding in the end!
8 of 15 people found this review helpful.
CBV
Location: from Phil
Difficulty Level:
Advanced
May 6, 2004
Impressive!
A very good concert piece for a good pianist
12 of 21 people found this review helpful.
Claudio Arrau
Location: from resurrected
Difficulty Level:
Advanced
March 31, 2004
Agnus Dei of Chopin's genious
Chopin's improvisation shows he is a real genius of century. It is clear that his senses in music is extremely complex in many dimension. This is not an easy work like someone here trying to boast of himself. (I am doubt that he try to discredit Li Yundi here4 by assuming his name) Note : somebody said that the original Chopin's edition is somewhat different from the traditional version. Anyhow play it by your heart and enjoy the music!
7 of 13 people found this review helpful.
Danh
Location: from Aachen, Germany
September 26, 2003
Wow
Hey, this piece is the best I've ever played. It took me eight months to play that (because I'm an autodidact) but it's a wonderful piece. But you need patience to learn it.
6 of 21 people found this review helpful.
pianocutie
Location: from btown pa
September 26, 2003
Best piece ever
This piece is totally crazy i don't think its easy i'm 16 and playin for 10 years and i'm just learning this now but it is such a wonderful piece a great recital piece you just really need alot of practice!!
7 of 16 people found this review helpful.
Will
Location: from NJ
July 26, 2003
Wonderful
this piece is not difficult, yet definitely challenging. Technically it is a medium piece, yet lyrically and musically speaking, it demands the utmost respect, practice, and understanding of Chopin's music. The storming passages enclosing the piece creates a dramatic contrast to the legato, song-like melody in Db major in the middle of the piece. One of the greatest achievements in pianistic lyricism, I believe.
5 of 13 people found this review helpful.
Lizzy
Location: from Merced, CA
July 1, 2003
VERY impressive
This song is an incredible and impressive piece... but I can't believe certain people think it's easy! This piece is very challenging.
7 of 22 people found this review helpful.