NO.1: BACH'S The Well-Tempered Clavier(63 votes, 36%)
Johann Sebastian Bach's 48 Preludes and Fugues in two volumes, in effect 96 separate piano pieces, gets the top vote. From childlike movements (the first Prelude) to the most daunting of fugues, this is the ultimate statement of artistic expression. Never mind if it were meant to be merely keyboard exercises of counterpoint. Bach was a genius through and true. His Goldberg Variations (4th position) and The Art of Fugue polled 17% and 10% respectively.
NO.2: LISZT'S Sonata in B minor (38 votes, 21%)
Frequently derided as a showman and charlatan, this is Liszt's singular great single movement work, combining technical devilry with sublime expression. Other Romantic works that scored were Rachmaninov's Préludes (10%), Schubert's Sonata in B flat major D.960 (8%), Schumann's Fantasy in C Op.17 (5%) and Kreisleriana (4%).
NO.3: CHOPIN'S 24 Préludes Op.28 (32 votes, 17%)24 short pieces, some barely lasting a minute are part of this wonderful mosaic, which finds some of Frédéric Chopin's easiest and most fiendish music. A roller-coaster of a ride that takes one to the expressive heart of the ultimate Romantic.
NO.5: BEETHOVEN'S Hammerklavier Sonata Op.106(27 votes, 15%)
Pollsters have deemed this as Beethoven's greatest piano work, coming ahead of his ultimate Sonata No.32 Op.111 (9%) and Diabelli Variations (6%). Must have been that monstrous fugue that made the difference.
NO.6: RZEWSKI'S The People United Will Never Be Defeated!(20 votes, 11%)
A surprise entry with a good 11% is American Frederic Rzewski's 1976 cult classic, comprising 36 variations on a Chilean socialist anthem. Well ahead of other 20th century classics, including Messiaen's Vingt Regards (5%), Sorabji's Opus Clavicembalisticum (4%) and Charles Ives Concord Sonata (under 1%).
DO WATCH OUT FOR THE NEXT PIANOMANIA POLL!
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