What is the most complicated piece of music

Gareth

Commodore of Water Music
Hey,just want your views, what is the most complicated piece in the world??
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And who was it composed by.
 

Gareth

Commodore of Water Music
Sorry maybe I should restate that, what do YOU think is the most complicated in your terms??
 

Rune Vejby

Commodore of Water Music
Well, hard to say, but the "piano studies" works by Conlon Nancarrow are pretty hard to play.... They are written for an automatic piano, but some of the pieces can actually be played by a human pianist. I know that the British pianist Thomas Adés can perform some of his works....
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giovannimusica

Commodore de Cavaille-Coll
Probably some of the works by Kaikhosru Sorabji are the most complicated to play - check out his Opus Clavicembalisticum or Transcendental Studies. For organ there are his 1st, 2nd and 3rd symphonies - I have copies of the manuscripts and am rewriting and reformatting the 3rd symphony.

If you wish to purchase copies of scores penned by this most enigmatic composer you can visit this link:



Blessed Peace To All,

Giovanni
 

Gareth

Commodore of Water Music
Whow some big words therepus Clavicembalisticum or Transcendental Studies???? Ok then, not quite up to that level yet......lol, okay then, I might check out his symphonies.
 

acciaccatura

Guest
Why would you want to play the most complicated piece? Art is expression; it is not competition.

Good point. Besides, complexity is an arbitrary parameter. In what way would you describe complexity? Number of notes per measure? A formula for complicated chord progression/polyphony? Necessary difficult fingering (if piano music)? Intricate rhythmic pattern? All of the above combined with length? I think it will be difficult to find a description everyone can agree with.
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There is much emphasis on difficulty in people's evaluation of music - why not just enjoy what you hear? There is so much more to a musical experience than complexity - a Mozart sonata is simple in texture (with some exceptions) but still difficult to play correctly because of high demands on precision and sense of style.
 

giovannimusica

Commodore de Cavaille-Coll
Hi Gareth,

John Ogdon made a recording of Opus Clavicembalisticum few years ago.

Michael Habermann recorded *Gulistan* and *Le Jardin parfumee*.

Kevin Bowyer recorded the 2nd Organ Symphony.

Hope you can find them on the web.

Peace Aplenty,

Giovanni
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btw, I like your avatar - classy and refined.
 

Gareth

Commodore of Water Music
Hey, it was just out of curiosity it wasn't why would you want to it is what IS the most complicated piece in the world, something that has been on my mind for quite a few years now, but good point, why would you want to learn it. In terms of complicated I mean fast, lots of notation, etc.

Yeah, I might check out the Organ Symphony by that artist.

Yeah, the Avatar is Obviously the best piano composer Frederick Chopin!!

Thanks
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Gareth
 

giovannimusica

Commodore de Cavaille-Coll
Hi Gareth,

Yonty Solomon has also recorded *Le Jardin Parfumee*.

Just a little on my interest of Sorabji - He *colors* his music with influences of Persia and Spain, especially in the piano solos - quite exotic. Paul Rapoport has written a very interesting book about Sorabji entitled "A Critical Celebration".

Giovanni
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giovannimusica

Commodore de Cavaille-Coll
Hi Gareth,

The avatar is Rachmaninoff who composed the most sublime piano music
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I could use a Sorabji avatar but that would be ethnically incorrect since he is of Persian/Spanish extraction.


Giovanni
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Colorful Mage

New member
Hey, it was just out of curiosity it wasn't why would you want to it is what IS the most complicated piece in the world, something that has been on my mind for quite a few years now, but good point, why would you want to learn it. In terms of complicated I mean fast, lots of notation, etc.

Yeah, I might check out the Organ Symphony by that artist.

Yeah, the Avatar is Obviously the best piano composer Frederick Chopin!!

Thanks
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Gareth

Ah, curiosity: the strongest motivator.
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And I also enjoy Chopin's work.
 

Gareth

Commodore of Water Music
Do you play any of his pieces?

I can play some, but otherwise I take one look at it and I am like .......nah. But the pieces that I can play is Grande Valse Brilliante op 18, I can play up to the bit just before where the acciaccatura's start and go for like 15 bars at a time (or somewhere around there).
Another piece is the prelude in E minor op 28 no 4. They are all good songs.

And what do you mean by the strongest motivator??

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Gareth
 
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