Piano Forum
Piano Board => Repertoire => Topic started by: alkemist on December 27, 2005, 11:29:44 PM
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Greetings fellow music lovers and performers.
For a rather lengthy period of time I have resisted the temptation to register and post away, and have been present as a reading-only guest, selfishly avoiding contributing to this great community, for which I am extremely sorry, the loss has been completely mine.
In hopes that you would happen to forgive me this weakness, and help me out, I turn to you on my quest for a classical piano piece for 2 pianos. I have been researching the subject with very little success - often a recommendation from a respected person is worth so much more than just a verbally poor literary reference. All the arrangements and concertos, whose orchestral parts have been arranged for another pianist, which google spits at me in sickening amounts have frustrated me enormously. I know that many of you are trained and talented classical pianists, thus I hope I might get somebody to recommend me a real masterpiece, most preferably that of an advanced level. What I'm looking for is a certain 'Wow!' -factor, musical beauty, perhaps even through mind-blowing speed, great emotional... soul, in search for a better word. I was thinking something late-romantic, with intricate harmony, perhaps something Russian.. Preferably something rather unknown or rarely performed, if that is not asking too much.
I remember hearing some Rachmaninov 2-piano piece many many years ago, which certainly did astound me at that time, though I do have a certain degree of doubt regarding it being so mind-blowing really, taking into account I was rather young and foolish at that time..(You must remember being blown away with anybody who was capable of playing the c-major scale with _both_ hands and with _no_ mistakes when you were a little kid aged around 5 or so?)
If somebody would make a little friendly effort and come forward with a suggestion, I would not hesitate to express my gratitude and appreciation.
Thank you oh so very much in advance, and my most sincere apologies for such a lengthy post.
Daniel
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Barber - Souvenirs
Bartok - Sonata for 2 pianos and percussion
Debussy - En Blanc et Noir
Ravel - La Valse
Scriabin - Fantasie for 2 Pianos
Stravinsky - Rite of Spring (This will keep you busy for a while)
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Saint-Saens Double Piano Concerto
Stravinsky Firebird Suite
Stravinsky Three Mouvements from Petrouchka
Stravinsky Double Piano Concerto
Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue for Two Pianos
Messiaen Visions de l'Amen
Tviett Double Piano Concerto
You could be really daring and go for some Nancarrow stuff.
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To me, the three major works Rachmaninoff wrote for two pianos are unsurpassed for stunning piano writing and wonderful melodic writing at the highest level of inspiration. These works are:
- Suite No.1 Op.5 Fantasie-Tableaux
- Suite No.2 Op.17
- Symphonic Dances Op.45
Here is my favourite recording of these pieces, https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/details/55209.asp , which I think is absolutely superb.
A rather different, but highly challenging, piece is Brahms' Sonata for two pianos Op.34b, arranged by the composer from his piano quintet. Very challenging, but very rewarding.
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You can't go wrong with the Brahms variations on a theme by Hayden. It has a little bit of everything you are looking for, except the unknown factor.
There is also some good stuff by Arensky.
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A quick thank you to all those of you who have posted, I will most certainly be researching these pieces, quite a few of which do already sound mouth-watering choices to me. I'd also like to encourage anybody who knows of another original composition for 2 pianos that hasn't been mentioned and might be of an interest to me according to what a said above to speak now. I am sure to let you know which way my choice falls, and possibly even delight you with a recording should I be content with how it came out. Thank you.
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Poulenc - Sonata for 2 pianos
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or the brahms piano quintet in fm which was originally arranged for two pianos.
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-Tchaik's Nutcracker Suite arranged for 2-piano by Economou (he used to perform it with Argerich). Incredible piece!
-Khachaturian's piano concerto D-flat Major arr for 2-piano
-Shostakovich's Op 94 Concertino for 2-piano
-Franck's Symphonic Variations arr for 2-piano
-Berezowsky's Op 9 Fantasy for 2-piano
-Creston's 2-piano concerto
-Tveitt's Hardanger Variations for 2-piano
-Poulenc's piano concerto D minor for 2-piano
Also, Rawicz & Marjan arranged a lot of music for 2-piano. You can check out their recordings and listen to audio snippets here:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000030ZA/qid=1135790643/sr=1-30/ref=sr_1_30/103-8530561-8687850?s=classical&v=glance&n=5174
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If you want to get REALLY crazy, try Fox's "Chaos" for two pianos, or go after some Nancarrow stuff like I said earlier.
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Here's one: Taschyag by Paul Schoenfield. I have it on a C.D. called 'New music for 2 pianos'. It's quite 'new' sounding, a little Leonard Bernstein-ish in places, quite rhythmic and virtuosic, and definitely different and fun. It sounds a little too challenging for me, personally, but something fun to work on. On the same C.D. is music by William Bolcom, Ned Rorem, and Morton Gould.
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Beethoven's newly unearthed transcription of the Grosse Fuge for piano is for the four-hand piano but should work on two pianos, no?
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Faure's Dolly Suite is really nice.
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This may not be what you're looking for as it's not late-romantic, but Mozart's Sonata for Two Pianos (K. 448) is certainly exciting and impressive. It is certainly not played very frequently.
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I have a CD of Emanuel Ax and Pablo Zeigler playing Tangos of Astor Piazzola arranged for two pianos. I have listened to it numerous times and never get tired of it. Fiery at times and passionate at others. This is one of those CD's where I get the impression that the eprformers are truly having fun. I don't know if the music is available anywhere however as it was arranged by Zeigler for the purpose of this CD. Jim
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Feruccio Busoni's “Fantasia Contrappuntistica”.
—Ryan