Repetoire to woo a man! :P

[yooniefied]

 I am planning a little mock-concert for a potential boyfriend and would love all of your help and input on song-selections! 

He has never heard me play, so it is crucial that I choose the most beautiful pieces possible, while still showing off a little. 

Here is the criteria:

***Difficult, but REALISTIC - please do not suggest I learn the "Hammerklavier" or "Un Sospiro" or something like that...
On the flip side, he is also a musician, so I would prefer a piece that isn't too..simplistic. He most likely would not be fooled by a piece that sounds harder than it really is to play. Besides, -I- would know.
Level 6-8 pieces would be good, since I only have a few weeks to learn and perfect them.

***Not too long - I would like to fit in a few short-medium length pieces, perhaps in an approx. 20min concert, this way I don't bore him. 

***Something I can artistically work with - pieces I can really "perform", filled with tons of emotion and drama.

***Preferably ROMANTIC/CONTEMPORARY. At least one Chopin piece-
Please, no Rachmaninoff or Mendelssohn.

***Great opener. I would love to learn a contemporary or jazz or ragtime piece to start off with, that I can really have fun and show off with...I want to have him tapping along.    Something with a little comedic undertone?

***Great closer. Something deep, and profound, that will resonate with him after the concert is over. An emotional, reflective Chopin piece or something?

***Nothing disgustingly popular and cliche. I don't want him rolling his eyes.

***No more than 5 or 6 pieces, please...!
I'm thinking 5 pieces would be ideal -
2 x 5min pieces (an opener and a closer), and 3 pieces to make up the other 10 mins. Does this sound too long? (20 mins.)



Thank you all in advance!

[lisztisforkids]

A girl once played for me the Katchuturian Toccata. I dont like the piece very much, but the way she played it., I wuz getting a little turned on in the middle section

[ronde_des_sylphes]

My suggestions : Wagner/Liszt Isolde's Liebestod; Chopin B min sonata slow movement. Of course sometimes us men are impressed by more superficial, flashy, music.. (and, to avoid any ambiguity, I play the Liebestod to girls, not men) 

[yooniefied]

Thank you both for your quick and helpful responses -

I'm going to listen to the pieces you both suggested and let you know..

I found the sheet music for Isolde's Liebestod on Sheetmusicarchive.net...however, I've been unable to find an mp3 of it. Would anyone mind sending it through e-mail or similar?

[bench warmer]

For the rag, try Gershwin's Rialto Ripples

Short & con fuoco:  Chopin Prelude Op.28#22---Molto Agitato

Emotion (not too difficult)  Chopin Nocturne Op72#1

Emotion Fire & Melody (more difficult):  Schumann Intermezzo Op26 from Faschingsschwank aus Wien (Carnival Jest from Vienna)

Emotion Melody Drama: Look at Chopin Scherzo #2, (just the beginning and com anima section) these parts not as difficult as the developement sections

If it doesn't work on him, come to my place & play for me!

Good Luck

[jre58591]

for the jazz/rag, try either one of kapustin's or bolcom's pieces. kapustin wrote a lot of simpler preludes (theyr still difficult) if you want an easier jazzy piece. bolcom also wrote many ragtimes, with my favorite being his graceful ghost rag. if you want his feet to tap, i guarantee that the kapustin will fit the bill.

[Motrax]

I second Khachaturian's Toccata.  As long as you can get it under your fingers in time, it'll work wonders! (Assuming he likes you )

Good luck!

[stevie]

liszt hungrian rhapsody no6 shows off handjob ability

[exigence]

liszt hungrian rhapsody no6 shows off handjob ability

 

I kind of like benchwarmer's ideas, actually. How about one of Liszt's Petrarch Sonnets?

Les Cloches de Geneve would work beautifully imo, not sure if you wanna do that in a few weeks though.

[Kassaa]

Does he like classical music?

[yooniefied]

For the rag, try Gershwin's Rialto Ripples

Short & con fuoco:  Chopin Prelude Op.28#22---Molto Agitato

Emotion (not too difficult)  Chopin Nocturne Op72#1

Emotion Fire & Melody (more difficult):  Schumann Intermezzo Op26 from Faschingsschwank aus Wien (Carnival Jest from Vienna)

Emotion Melody Drama: Look at Chopin Scherzo #2, (just the beginning and com anima section) these parts not as difficult as the developement sections

If it doesn't work on him, come to my place & play for me!

Good Luck

I'm sorry to say I hope I don't have to take you up on your offer! Haha. 

Funny you mention the Chopin prelude#22...I was considering learning that one. Maybe it's a sign!!

I don't think I could do the Scherzo#2 justice....especially not in such a short time frame. I'm quite the perfectionist.
I had learned the beginning a few years ago, but gave up because of how "amateur" it made me feel. Maybe someday I will try again.

I will check out the other pieces too, thanks!

for the jazz/rag, try either one of kapustin's or bolcom's pieces. kapustin wrote a lot of simpler preludes (theyr still difficult) if you want an easier jazzy piece. bolcom also wrote many ragtimes, with my favorite being his graceful ghost rag. if you want his feet to tap, i guarantee that the kapustin will fit the bill.

I've never heard of Kapustin or Bolcom, so I am very excited to check them out- thanks!

Would I possibly be able to find the sheet music online?

I second Khachaturian's Toccata.  As long as you can get it under your fingers in time, it'll work wonders! (Assuming he likes you )

Good luck!

Oh, how I love the little inneuendos thrown about on this thread! 

This must be a great piece if everyone is suggesting it! 

liszt hungrian rhapsody no6 shows off handjob ability

Good to know!

I kind of like benchwarmer's ideas, actually. How about one of Liszt's Petrarch Sonnets?

Les Cloches de Geneve would work beautifully imo, not sure if you wanna do that in a few weeks though.

Liszt would be fantastic, though I am not sure if it would be performance-ready in a few weeks.

I've never really tackled one of his pieces yet...out of sheer laziness, mostly.
I learned bits and pieces of the Transcendental etude #10, but gave up soon after.
I learned one of his consolations (not sure which one) many years ago, but my teacher wasn't very fond of the piece to begin with, so we scrapped it.

Does he like classical music?

He appreciates all kinds of music.

I can't say, for instance, a classical cd would be blasting out his stereo at home or that he would recognize every major composer;however, he does play and listen to a lot of heavily classically-influenced progressive metal (i.e. Dream Theater).
Some of the songs even have these crazy keyboard or piano solos played by classically-trained, Juiliard grad, Jordan Rudess, so he would recognize a good pianist if he saw one.

As far as tastes go, I would assume he'd take affinity for the more "virtuostic" and "stormy" pieces.

In my dreams, I'd love to play Chopin's Ocean etude (op.25, no.12) for him (I just know he would love it, he's an arpeggio fiend)...but after looking at the score yesterday.....well, lol, it actually INVOKES fear in the blood which courses these veins..
On the bright side...it's only three pages...

[Kassaa]

25/12 is six pages ^^

[yooniefied]

25/12 is six pages ^^

My error, sorry.

I confused it with something else I had printed.


So much for the "only three page" theory...

[exigence]

Got some other ideas for you while I was looking through my own sheet collection; I don't actually have recordings of any of these (I'm sorry to say ) so I can't point you in the right direction, but if you do / find some and want the scores, I'd be willing to scan them for you:

Lyadov Preludes:

Op. 11, No. 1 (B Minor - melancholic, touching; was used in a contemporary bit by ... David Lanz maybe? Not sure who it was...)
Op. 13, No. 4 (F Sharp Minor - a bit like 39/4, quiet middle section though)
Op. 33, No. 1 (F Major - serene, melancholic to my ears, "sweet")
Op. 36, No. 2 (B Flat Minor - brooding, tempestuous)
Op. 39, No. 4 (F Sharp Minor - bit more difficult than the other two; not quite virtuosic but impressive to listen to nonetheless)

Could also go with something from Nyman's "The Piano," not sure if that qualifies as "disgustingly popular" for you/him, though; it IS pretty known sometimes

[apion]

liszt hungrian rhapsody no6 shows off handjob ability

A girl played HR 6 for me as a sophomore, and I was floored.  I just about could have ripped her pants off.  I'd also recommend "Ondine" from Gaspard de la Nuit.  The fugue from Brahms op. 24 would also do nicely.  Finally, Chopin's Ballade no. 1 will get the job done.

[opuswriter]

I second Choipin's Ballade op.23 in G minor.
Beautiful + passionate + impressive.

// Jason Lee

[opuswriter]

In my dreams, I'd love to play Chopin's Ocean etude (op.25, no.12) for him (I just know he would love it, he's an arpeggio fiend)...but after looking at the score yesterday.....well, lol, it actually INVOKES fear in the blood which courses these veins..
On the bright side...it's only three pages...

Three pages? Wow, must be really condensed score (mine in six pages and still tight). By the way, this etude is not as difficult as you may think. Sure it has wide parallel movements in both hands over the whole keyboard, but once you have learnt the technique in the first few bars, much of the rest is similar. Also, it is very easy to keep memorised once you have learnt it. Practice *very* slowly without pedal at different dynamic levels. Make sure you get the melody (accents) clear from the beginning. Apply rubato. Do not play fortissimo from the beginning, save some for the last sections. Actually, it is quite effective to play some sections in p or even pp. It is a piece with lots of passion that will grow with you over time. If you want an excellent recording - listen to Sokolov's Glinka chapel concert.

Besides Chopin op.28/24 there is hardly a clearer way to close a recital - no one could possibly expect anything more of you than closing the piano lid after those final notes...

// Jason Lee

[thorn]

A girl played HR 6 for me as a sophomore, and I was floored.  I just about could have ripped her pants off.  I'd also recommend "Ondine" from Gaspard de la Nuit.  The fugue from Brahms op. 24 would also do nicely.  Finally, Chopin's Ballade no. 1 will get the job done.

I don't think Ballade 1 or Ondine are realistic though?

If Un Sospiro is too difficult, then both of these are well out of reach?

umm...for a good opening piece/short show off piece- maybe the Prelude from Liszt's Transcendental Etudes?

for something not too difficult, yet melodic- how about Debussy- Bruyeres from Preludes Bk 2?

for Chopin pieces- maybe a Nocturne? from my impression of your standard, none should be out of reach?

and for closing... something profound... maybe another easier Liszt Etude- Paysage?

btw- neither of the Liszt etudes i mentioned are anywhere near no.10 that you tried in difficulty

[sportsmonster]

i have heard and gone through evrything chopin has written. (at least whats availble for today) and after my opinion...here is a liszt of the 8 most beutiful i have heared from chopin:

1) etude op 25 no1 "areolian harp" most beutiful ever (if you have the right interpertation)
2) raindrop prelude op 28 no 15
3)etude op 10 no 3 "tristesse"
4) fantasie impromptu
5) nocturne no 20
6) nocturne op 9 no2
7) nocturne op 32 no1
8 ) ballade no 1

liszt most beutiful pieces (after my opinion)

1) la campanella (perfect show off)
2) un sospiro
3) trancendental etude no 10 and 11
4) sonetto 104
5) consolation no 3
6) liebestraum (the most romantic)
7) lau bord d une source (agh... horrible name)

try also:

1)Chaminade: automne 
2)Claude Debussy: clair de lune by
3) Balakirev: Chant du pecheur (very beutiful and neglected)
4) Mendelssohn: Fantasy in f / springsong
5) Sinding: rustles of spring
6) moszkovsky: etude op 72 no 13
7) saint sanes: The swan (needs to be played with an extra instrument..i think)
8 ) schubert op 90 no 2

all of these pieces are extremely beutiful. and often technically show off. The best combination would probably be a beutiful song in combination with show off at the same time ( like liszt) I have often read that liszt often added a lot of flashiness in his music to impress the girls..hehe.

try to play chopins piano concerto. invite all the people and orchestra with all the instruments in to the living room. you can imagen what reaction you would get...haha.

[rafant]

Recently I "discovered" the lovely and dramatic Mendelssohn's "Albumblätter", Op. 117. Unlike his Songs without Worth, in my opinion a very feminine stuff,  this Albumblätter sounds to me quite virile.

[steveie986]

Contrapunctus XIV from the Art of the Fugue.

[ahinton]

Contrapunctus XIV from the Art of the Fugue.

You mean Contrapunctus interruptus?...

Best,

Alistair

[brewtality]

chopsticks like Marilyn Monroe in the Seven Year Itch. Really the worse your playing the better. If you are too good he may be jealous or intimidated.

[ahinton]

I realise that I've mentioned this before in a not entirely different context, but mention of the Wagner/Liszt Liebestod transcription prompts me to suggest that the Wittgenstein arrangement of it for left hand alone offers the double advantage of not only impressing the wooed but leaving the wooer's right hand free to do things other than turn the pages...

Best,

Alistair

[steveie986]

You mean Contrapunctus interruptus?...

Brilliant.

[counterpoint]

I'm totally perplex abaout Alistair's mindstriking wits      

[jre58591]

I realise that I've mentioned this before in a not entirely different context, but mention of the Wagner/Liszt Liebestod transcription prompts me to suggest that the Wittgenstein arrangement of it for left hand alone offers the double advantage of not only impressing the wooed but leaving the wooer's right hand free to do things other than turn the pages...

Best,

Alistair

hahahahaha smart thinking. any chance of psoting the wittgenstein arrangement? please?

[exigence]

Was just playing Schumann's Bbm Romance (28/1) - that's not too difficult and is only a few pages long. Beautiful little thing, maybe you'd be interested in that.

[pita bread]

I realise that I've mentioned this before in a not entirely different context, but mention of the Wagner/Liszt Liebestod transcription prompts me to suggest that the Wittgenstein arrangement of it for left hand alone offers the double advantage of not only impressing the wooed but leaving the wooer's right hand free to do things other than turn the pages...

Best,

Alistair

YOU is NAZTY!!!

[maxy]

if the girl is hot, anything will work. 

[ahinton]

hahahahaha smart thinking. any chance of psoting the wittgenstein arrangement? please?

I'm sorry but I can't post any music, as I have no facilities for doing so - but do get this transcription!

Best,

Alistair

[ahinton]

I'm totally perplex abaout Alistair's mindstriking wits      

Please don't be! I think it's only what some people would call pedantry (I think...)

Anyway, to wit and to woo are surely compatible (said the wise owl) - which fact obliquely reminds me of those throwaway handful of lines from the irrepressible imagination of Ogden Nash (which I admit that I cannot remember verbatim right now but) which run something like
"Every marriage depends for its success
On a certain amount of incompatibility
As long as he has income
And she is patable."

And - while I think of it - one of the best pieces NOT to play might well be Alkan's "Chant d'amour / Chant de mort" - although if the much better known Liebestod's OK, then maybe...

Best,

Alistair

[ahinton]

Does anyone think that this thread might profitably be renamed "The World's Woosiest Piece"?

Best,

Alistair

[da jake]

Chopin F# Polonaise. 

Preferably in something revealing.

[jre58591]

I'm sorry but I can't post any music, as I have no facilities for doing so - but do get this transcription!

i actually found that i had the transcription the while time. it looks great. i might learn it just for kicks.