First concerto

[redbaron]

OK, I would like to try learning a concerto or at least a movement from a concerto. I'm currently Grade 7/8. I know that people on this forum get all worked up when people pose questions about difficulty because we all know that difficulty is relative. So, wise people of Piano Street... Which concerto or individual movement would you recommend starting with.

P.S. I'm very fond of Bach keyboard concerto No1 in Dm BWV 1052. How would you rate this in terms of technical difficulty?

[cygnusdei]

There shouldn't be any technical difficulties above your reach in BWV 1052, but I think you'd be expected to deliver way above technical level and into grasp of style, nuances, etc. if you play this.

I'm sorry to give the same ole boring suggestion: pick one of Mozart's. Easiest first movement would be that of no. 19, K. 459. If you want more technical challenge, try no. 21 (K. 467).

[thierry13]

I would suggest the Busoni concerto or Synaphai by Xenakis as a first concerto.

[teresa_b]

I agree with Mozart as a good choice, but having played no 19 (K459), I would not necessarily recommend it--the first movement is not too difficult, but to me it was bo-o-ring (and I am the world's biggest Mozart fan!) without the orchestra. 

If you want a Mozart, esp. first movement, maybe try no. 17 (K453), which is beautiful and not so hard technically.  Also, no. 23 (K488) is lovely.  I think no 21 is harder, although the 3rd mvt is easy and fun.  I'm playing no 9 right now, stay away from that one, yikes!

Have fun--
Teresa

[schartmanovich]

There are numerous concertos you could play if you worked on the slow movement alone. If you'd rather learn a quicker movement, I would add Beethoven's Bb major concerto to the ongoing list. Both the first and third movements are very manageable.

If you want to play a very easy Bach concerto, look at the one in f minor. It is beautiful, especially the second movement.

[redbaron]

How about Coronation concerto 2nd movement? It doesn't sound too technically demanding or are my ears deceiving me?

[dnephi]

Pardon me, but I'd recommend the standard Mendelssohn G Minor as technically accessible, and, for some reason, the Grieg A Minor has always meant a great deal to me. 

[redbaron]

I recently read a book in which piano concerto No 27 k595 was described as the "least virtuosic" of all the Mozart piano concertos. Is this a fair diagnosis?

[dan101]

Try the Bach concerto. One of your first concerns should be steadiness of tempo.

I'm sure your excited about the task ahead. Good luck.

[point of grace]

I would suggest the Busoni concerto or Synaphai by Xenakis as a first concerto.

do you have the sheetS?

[point of grace]

i agree with mozart's Number 23.
or if you want a romantic one, a good way to start would be Grieg's.

but if you are looking for only a movement, i personally recommend Mozart's K.467 2nd movement. I LOVE IT!!!
and you will like it too, it´s not that difficult.

good luck!!

then u tell us!

[jepoy]

Try this thread:

http://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,4800.0.html

Good luck!

[thierry13]

do you have the sheetS?

... lol

[point of grace]

... lol

sorry... did i say sth wrong? im not a native speaker jiji, so sorry!

[franz-liszt]

I agree with Mozart as a good choice, but having played no 19 (K459), I would not necessarily recommend it--the first movement is not too difficult, but to me it was bo-o-ring (and I am the world's biggest Mozart fan!) without the orchestra. 

If you want a Mozart, esp. first movement, maybe try no. 17 (K453), which is beautiful and not so hard technically.  Also, no. 23 (K488) is lovely.  I think no 21 is harder, although the 3rd mvt is easy and fun.  I'm playing no 9 right now, stay away from that one, yikes!

Have fun--
Teresa

No. 9 is so fun!!

[teresa_b]

Agreed!  Playing it in concert tomorrow!

Teresa