BRIEF

Feb 24, 2010 — Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Andrew Druckenbrod

Feb. 24, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- While Chopin's output was not that large-- a little more than 180 works -- it is nearly impossible to narrow it down to a top 10. It feels like letting family members go. But, if I had to choose what not to lose, it would start with these. I tried to include something from each of the genres he worked in, but the piano concertos didn't make the cut. Please view these as entry points into the varied elements of Chopin's amazing sound world.

-- Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 23

-- Etude in C Minor, Op. 10, No. 12, "Revolutionary"

-- Impromptu No. 4 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 66, "Fantaisie-Impromptu"

-- Mazurka No. 36 in A Minor, Op. 59, No. 1

-- Nocturne in B major, Op. 9, No. 3

-- Piano Sonata No. 2, "Funeral March"

-- Polonaise No. 6 in A-flat Major, Op. 53, "Heroique"

-- Prelude in D-flat Major, Op. 28, No. 15, "Raindrop"

-- Scherzo No. 3 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 39

-- Waltz in E-flat Major, Op. 18, No. 1, "Grande Valse Brillante" (I also love his Waltz in C-sharp Minor, Op. 64, No. 2)

-- For audio selections from this list of essential Chopin works, visit post-gazette.com

Andrew Druckenbrod: adruckenbrod@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1750.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0159-42316041