Hi, I'm looking for a four-hands piano piece for a recital in a couple of months. I have no idea about four-hands music and my teacher asked me to look for something that isn't "classical". I'm thinking it should be a funny peice or something different and maybe a 20th century peice. Composers who would fit this bill that I've considered are: Rachmaninov, Gershwin, the transcendental virtuosisity of John Cage's 4'33" 4-hand arrangement,... but don't know of anything or whether they composed for 4-hands.
How about trios? I have a great version of mary had a little lamb and a few books but hope you could suggest something. I have two little twins and a best friend! Thanks again for all your help. I find Piano Forum addictive.
thanks for the ideas - i was looking for some new works - you forgot lutoskawski - paganini variations, rachmaninov - six morceaux (originally written for four hands), brahms - liebeslieder waltzer, schumann - pictures from the east, there is a version for four hands on gerswin's rhapsody in blue, also there are transcriptions for tchaciaturian - the valse in masquerade and glika - valse, spanish ouverture.your suggestions are interesting - but where do i get these? i'm interested especially in satie, bizet, barber, strawinski
Thank you , Bernhard, for you reply to my question.You gave a lot of options. Now can you tell me where I can go to hear these compositions? A well-stocked library would include audio media, right?
Rachmaninoff – Italian Polka (difficult) but also the easier Six pieces op. 11
The way I look at 4-hand peices is this: If it was meant to be played solo, then play it solo. It shouldn't be arranged for 4-hands just because it can be. If there isn't anything in the peice that can be brought out by having 4-hands, then it shouldn't be arranged that way - it's just for show to have two people playing rather than one.
I'm thinking that I should request the bass notes from my teacher just so I know what's being played when I have extended rests. Is this a good idea?
I also don't know whom I'll be playing this peice with. Maybe that person likes Chopin? Is this motivation enough for me to try to play this peice?
Chopin's Polonaise in A just doesn't strike my strings in a harmonic fashion. Can anyone say anything to make me like this piece...?