Need classical piano music suggestions for exam please

[ziggy50]

HI, I'm doing an interview in 2 months to get into RIAM (Royal Irish Academy of Music). I have to play three classical pieces. They have to be hard enough but not too fast as I'm only thirteen. I've just completed grade 5 but I do a lot of different pieces outside of lessons. Would anyone have any suggestions of nice pieces to learn? Thanks

[pianoteacheruk]

Why not try Bach's 6 Little Preludes: www.amazon.co.uk/Six-Little-Preludes-Beginners-BWV/dp/1523627972/

n.2 is in the ABRSM Grade 5 syllabus, but the others are at the same standard and equally as nice.

[visitor]

The sonata is set in 3 movements:
1. Allegro (0:00)
2. Andante (6:22)
3. Presto (10:27)

Composed in 1777 and published in 1779.

[chopinlover01]

More than likely, they want three different period styles; probably Baroque, Classical, and Romantic or Impressionist.
May I recommend...

Baroque: Bach little preludes or two part inventions
Classical: Beethoven Sonatinas, Mozart B minor adagio, D minor fantasy
Romantic: Chopin mazurkas, Schubert Moments Musicaux
Impressionist: Debussy "The Little Shepard", "Golliwog's Cakewalk", Ravel's 1913 A minor prelude

[ziggy50]

Actually I only have to learn two. Thanks for the replies everyone I was thinking of Chopin nocturne in C sharp minor and Chopin nocturne in é flat major. Is two Chopin pieces too much do you think?

[visitor]

Actually I only have to learn two. Thanks for the replies everyone I was thinking of Chopin nocturne in C sharp minor and Chopin nocturne in é flat major. Is two Chopin pieces too much do you think?

i thought you said you need classical? is it romantic you  need instead and no classical?
if you do need classical, one of the movements from  here would work too, ii at 3:56 is really nice

[pianoteacheruk]

I was thinking of Chopin nocturne in C sharp minor and Chopin nocturne in é flat major. Is two Chopin pieces too much do you think?

They are both quite a lot harder than a standard "grade 5" piece!

[omccreary]

i thought you said you need classical?

I suspect that the original poster meant classical in the sense of classical vs. popular, not classical in the sense of classical period vs. romantic period.

[ziggy50]

I suspect that the original poster meant classical in the sense of classical vs. popular, not classical in the sense of classical period vs. romantic period.

Strictly classical. No pop music

[chopinawesome]

Why not a contemporary piece(20th-21st century)?
Try Ibert's The Little White Donkey!

[ziggy50]

Why not a contemporary piece(20th-21st century)?
Try Ibert's The Little White Donkey!

Thanks but I'm prtetty sure that I need an older one. I'll see

[visitor]

it's short, fast in spots, but slow practice can help a lot. not sure on 'levels' never really studied under that kind of system, just a progressive approachm sorry if it'snot right for what you need. lovely little pastiche of a piece.

[chopinawesome]

If that doesn't work, try one of Brahms's Waltzes. I love No.15 in A Flat Major!

[bachopiev]

Hmmm, you say you need two, and you say that "I was thinking of Chopin nocturne in C sharp minor and Chopin nocturne in é flat major. Is two Chopin pieces too much do you think?"

Yes, I think that two nocturnes is indeed much too much, and are much too similar. However, as one of the two pieces, the Chopin Nocturne in C-sharp minor (posthumous) would be wonderful.

For the other piece, "Sinfonia" from Bach's Partita No. 2 seems manageable, though that is probably on the difficult end. Perhaps better, as other posters have suggested, is Bach's Prelude No. 2 from Six Little Preludes. However, I would urge you to take a look at Prelude and Fugue in C minor from WTC Bk. 1, as this piece is fairly impressive (especially for a thirteen-year old) and may be manageable.

In sum, my recommendations are:

1. Chopin Nocturne in C-sharp minor (posthumous)
2. Sinfonia from Bach's Partita No. 2 / Prelude No. 2 from Six Little Preludes / Prelude in C minor from WTC Bk. 1.

I hope I have been of assistance.

[chopinlover01]

I would avoid the C sharp minor nocturne, and also the E flat as well. They're played to death and then some. I'd recommend playing Schubert, honestly.
For the Bach, I'd recommend a two part invention. The sinfonia from the C minor partita would be quite a lot.
If you must play Chopin, play a mazurka. They're far less technically demanding for usually better music.