Day 1
The six piano with orchestra works (including the two piano concertos)
The Piano Sonatas - Sonata No. 2
The 21 Nocturnes - Several selections
Day 2
Music from Folk Dances: Waltzes, Polonaises & Mazurkas
The Études - Two sets of 12 each - Selections from Op. 10
The Preludes - One set of 24 - Selection: No. 18 - 24
Day 3
The Fantaisies and Impromptus - Fantasie-Impromtu
The 4 Ballades - Selection: Ballade No. 4
The 4 Scherzi - Selections: Scherzo No. 1 & No. 2
The 4 Rondos - Selection: Introduction and Rondo, Op. 9
Works 10+ minutes (the most important are in bold text):
Chopin wrote ten major works of 25 minutes or more: two piano
concertos, three piano sonatas, a piano trio and a cello sonata, the
24 Preludes and two sets of 12 Études.
Below are most of the next longest pieces (between 10 and 15 minutes) ...
Five of the most important 9 to 16 minute works:
Polonaise in F# minor, Op. 44 No. 5 'Tragic' (1841) (Play, 12:30)
The longest of the polonaises, it is also the darkest emotionally. It is in
ternary form (A→B→A) and is unusual in that the middle 'B' section
is a mazurka, not a polonaise.
Fantaisie in F minor, Op. 49 (1841) (Play, 13:30)
Chopin called this a 'fantasy' both to indicate that it conformed to no
composing rules and to give it a romantic feel. It is considered one of
Chopin's best works.
Barcarolle in F♯ major, Op. 60 (1845–6) (Play, 9:00)
Chopin wrote in four genres for which he only wrote one work. This
is the most popular of those works. It is one of his last works and is
considered difficult to play. A barcarolle is a work that invokes the song
of a Venetian gondolier. Its mood is sweepingly romantic and wistful.
Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52 (1842, rev. 1843) (Play, 11:30)
The last and longest of Chopin's four ballades, it is not only the most
popular ballade but is one of Chopin's most heralded works in any genre.
Polonaise-fantasy in A flat major, Op. 61 (1846) (Play, 12:00)
Chopin's last last major (over 8 minutes). Although it has polonaise rhythms,
Chopin conceived of primarily as a fantasy. Due to its harmonic complexity,
this work was not popular until the early 20th century when it was championed
by pianists Arthur Rubinstein, Claudio Arrau, and Vladimir Horowitz. It is
now considered one of Chopin's greatest works.
The less important 10 to 16 minute works:
Andante spianato et grande polonaise brillante in E-flat, Op. 22 (1834) (12:00)
In its complete form, this work is a bright polonaise for piano and orchestra
with a slow piano introduction (the Andante spianato). The orchestrated
polonaise was written in 1830-31, the piano introduction in 1834. It is
sometimes played as just a solo piano work with or without the Andante
spianato.
Allegro de concert in A major, Op. 46 (fin, 1841) (13:00)
Little is known about this work. It is a single movement solo piano work.
Robert Schumann speculated that this was the first movement of a planned
third piano concerto. There is no evidence that this movement was ever
Scherzo No. 4 in E major, Op. 54 (1842–43) (13:30)
The last and longest of Chopin's four scherzi, it is the only one in a major
key, and thus is generally more emotionally positive than the others. It
does, however, have some darker, dramatic passages.
