Piano Forum
Piano Board => Repertoire => Topic started by: zipededoo on December 07, 2021, 11:06:17 PM
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Hi, first post here...
I've been playing since I was a kid, but haven't had lessons since I was a kid even though I pick at pieces with a complete lack of focus in my practice. I'm probably grade 3-4, at least I can find my way through pieces at that level and if I had some focus, I might play them smoothly and elegantly at the end of a few months. I stumble my way through harder pieces, but I'm being realistic with myself now.
In order to push myself next year and encourage myself to practice, I thought I would enrol in lessons, with a goal to playing four pieces by the end of the year, one a quarter. Then I would put on a 'four seasons' concert for my own satisfaction.
Having come up with this hare-brained idea, I want to pick your brains for pieces that are interesting but not massively hard, preferably pieces that reflect the four seasons - heck, if I've got a theme I might as well go all out right? Nothing higher than grade 5 that can be learned within a three month period. Doesn't have to include the season in the title, but if it expresses the feel of a season for you, that's almost better.
Thanks in advance,
Rob
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Hi and welcome! I think that sounds like a great project!
Here are a few ideas.
All of these have titles that place them in a particular season. I might be back with another bunch when I have given this a little more thought.
Tchaikovsky Album for the Young
Winter Morning
Song of the Lark
Schumann Album for the Young
May, Dearest May
Spring Song
Harvest Song
Winter Time (I)
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Thanks for that. I hadn't listened to much Schumann before and was delighted by Spring Song and Winter Time I. I'll have a closer look at the Album for the Young. And the Song of the Lark played well is delicate and lilting.
To show I've not been idle, my researches so far came up with these potential candidates:
Autumn
Albeniz I., The Autumn - op 201 no 3 in A minor 101.03 (rated a grade 6 so too hard - I do like it though)
Mier M., Autumn Nocturne (grade 4)
Spring
Chopin F., Wiosna (Spring) Op 74 No 2 (grade 3)
Chopin F., Prelude in Db major Op 28 No 15 (Raindrop) (rated a grade 6, so probably out of reach)
Schumann R., Spring Song - op 68 no 15 E major (grade 5)
Summer
Cornick M., Last Summer (grade 5)
Gershwin G., Summertime (AMEB P for Leisure grade 5)
Grieg E., Summer's Eve - op 71 no 2 Bb minor (rated a grade 6 so beyond me for now)
Legrand M., The summer knows (grade 5)
Rollin C., Summers Nocturne (grade 4)
Winter
Schumann R., Winter Time I - op 68 no 38 C minor (grade 5)
Nakada Y., A Winter Melody (grade 4)
Gillock W., Winter Scene from Lyric Preludes in Romantic Style (grade 6 - but it is short)
From those I'll pick the ones that most resonate with me the most and sound like I'll persist learning them.
I'm most short of ideas in Autumn/Fall I think. Which is odd given it's my favourite season. I had thought of an arrangement of Autumn Leaves, the old jazz standard, but haven't found one yet.
Rob
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Have you considered having a look-see at Tchaikovsky's "The seasons"? You actually get a piece per month in that one, and while difficulty might spike a bit here and there (September comes to mind, for example), I wouldn't say it's a terribly difficult work.
Liszt's "Abschied" and Medtner's "Idyll" have always sounded rather "wintery"/"autumnal" to me, as well:
Macdowell's "Woodland sketches op.51" and Debussy's Prelude no.6, Book I "Des pas sur la neige" ("Footprints on the snow") might also interest you:
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Many thanks for that! Much appreciated. A lot of the Tchaikovsky I think is beyond me at the moment. The other pieces though, particularly the Liszt and Debussy, both quite wintry sounding, would work well for the colder seasons.
Thanks for your insight,
Rob
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A pleasure! I forgot to mention that you may also find something for autumn and/or winter here:
Even if you don't, be sure to check it out, you won't regret it.
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And I certainly didn't regret it! I'd not heard of Mompou before and I loved it. You're right, there are some very autumnal sounding pieces in there, at least to my ears. Thank you for the introduction!
I did also find a set of Menuetto Classics piano seasons albums that include many pieces I'd found before and a whole bunch more. They're all available to listen on Spotify. Although a lot of the pieces there are beyond my abilities in the grade 9-10 range, there are some that are possibilities for me. Perhaps they could help someone else with inspiration.
The album playlists are:
Spring Slavonic Dances, Op. 46: No. 3 in D Major - Piano Version, B. 145 Antonin Dvorak, Alfred Brendel, Walter Klien
Spring Woodland Sketches, Op. 51: I. To a Wild Rose Edward MacDowell, Donna Amato
Spring The Seasons, Op. 37a: III. March. Song of the Lark Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Michael Ponti
Spring Piano Sonata No. 15 in D Major, Op. 28 "Pastoral": IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non troppo Ludwig van Beethoven, Robert Taub
Spring Preludes, Book 1, L. 117: VIII. La fille aux cheveux de lin Claude Debussy, Peter Frankl
Spring 3 Gymnopedies: III. Lent et grave Erik Satie, Frank Glazer
Spring Blumenstuck, D-Flat Major, op. 19 Robert Schumann, Peter Schmalfuss
Spring Jeux d'eau, M. 30 Maurice Ravel, Abbey Simon
Spring Estampes, L. 100: III. Jardins sous la pluie Claude Debussy, Peter Schmalfuss
Spring 17 Norwegian Peasant Dances For Piano, Op. 72: IV. Hailing from the Hills (Tune from the Fairy Hill) Edvard Grieg, Stefan Jeschko
Spring Songs without Words, Op. 62: VI. Allegretto grazioso in A Major "Spring Song" Felix Mendelssohn, Jeno Jando
Spring Ma mere l'Oye, M. 60: V. Le jardin feerique - Piano Version, Suite Maurice Ravel, Beatrice Klien, Walter Klien
Spring Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major, K. 448: II. Andante Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Alfred Brendel, Walter Klien
Spring The Seasons, Op. 37a: IV. April. Snowdrops Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Michael Ponti
Spring Jeux d'enfants, Op. 22: V. Le volant Georges Bizet, Walter Klien, Beatrice Klien
Spring Les Saisons, Op. 101: I. L'Printemps Isaac Albeniz, Rena Kyriakou
Spring Preludes, Book 2, L. 123: V. Bruyeres Claude Debussy, Peter Frankl
Spring Piano Sonata No. 3 in C Major, Op. 2, No. 3: IV. Allegro assai Ludwig van Beethoven, Alfred Brendel
Spring 10 Pieces from Romeo and Juliet, Op. 75: I. Folk Dance Sergei Prokofiev, Josef Bulva
Spring Piano Sonata in C Major, L 54 Domenico Scarlatti, Peter Schmalfuss
Spring Piano Sonata No. 17 in B-Flat Major, K. 570: II. Andante Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Josef Bulva
Spring Le tombeau de Couperin, M. 68: IV. Rigaudon Maurice Ravel, Abbey Simon
Spring Slavonic Dances, Op. 72: No. 7 in C Major - Piano Version, B. 145 Antonin Dvorak, Alfred Brendel, Walter Klien
Spring Album fur die Jugend, Op. 68: No. 15 in E Major, Fruhlingsgesang Robert Schumann, Peter Frankl
Spring Piano Sonata No. 10 in C Major, K. 330: III. Allegretto Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Margarete Babinsky
Spring New England Idyls, Op. 62: IV. With Sweet Lavender Edward MacDowell, Donna Amato
Spring The Seasons, Op. 37a: V. May. White Nights Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Michael Ponti
Spring Piano Sonata No. 5 in F-Sharp Major, Op. 53 "The Poem of Ecstasy" Alexander Scriabin, Michael Ponti
Spring Miroirs, M. 43: II. Oiseaux tristes Maurice Ravel, Abbey Simon
Spring Albumblatter, Op. 124: XIX. Phantasiestuck - Leicht, etwas grazias Robert Schumann, Peter Frankl
Summer Piano Sonata in D Major, L 424 Domenico Scarlatti, Peter Schmalfuss
Summer 24 Preludes for Piano, Op. 11: No. 3. Vivo in G Major Alexander Scriabin, Peter Schmalfuss
Summer New England Idyls, Op. 62: II. Mid-Summer Edward MacDowell, Donna Amato
Summer Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, K. 333: I. Allegro Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Walter Klien
Summer Children's Corner, L. 113: VI. Golliwog's Cakewalk Claude Debussy, Peter Schmalfuss
Summer Piano Sonata No. 17 in D Minor, Op. 31, No. 2 "Tempest": III. Allegretto Ludwig van Beethoven, Robert Taub
Summer Moments musicaux, Op. 16: V. Adagio sostenuto Sergei Rachmaninoff, Michael Ponti
Summer Mazurkas, Op. 24: No. 4, Moderato Frederic Chopin, Charles Lilamand
Summer The Seasons, Op. 37a: VI. June. Barcarole Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Michael Ponti
Summer Andante favori in F Major, WoO 57 Ludwig van Beethoven, Peter Schmalfuss
Summer Preludes, Op. 28: No. 9 in E Major. Largo Frederic Chopin, Bianca Sitzius
Summer Suite bergamasque, L. 75: I. Prelude Claude Debussy, Peter Schmalfuss
Summer The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1: Prelude No. 3 in C-Sharp Major, BWV 848 Johann Sebastian Bach, Mieczysław Horszowski
Summer 10 Preludes, Op. 23: No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 23 - Maestoso Sergei Rachmaninoff, Yuri Rozum
Summer Piano Sonata No. 1 in C Major, Op. 24: IV. Rondo. Presto "Perpetuum mobile" Carl Maria von Weber, Peter Schmalfuss
Summer Les Saisons, Op. 101: II. L'ete Isaac Albeniz, Rena Kyriakou
Summer Lyric Pieces, Op. 71: II. Summer Evening Edvard Grieg, Isabel Mourao
Summer Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53 "Waldstein": I. Allegro con brio Ludwig van Beethoven, Bruce Hungerford
Summer The Seasons, Op. 37a: VII. July: Reaper's Song Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Michael Ponti
Summer Album of Popular Dances of the Different Nations, Op. 82: No. 6 Valse (Allemagne) Anton Rubinstein, Michael Ponti
Summer Preludes, Op. 28: No. 11 in B Major. Vivace Frederic Chopin, Bianca Sitzius
Summer Piano Sonata No. 62 in E-Flat Major, Hob.XIV, No.52: I. Allegro Franz Joseph Haydn, Ilse von Alpenheim
Summer 10 Pieces from Romeo and Juliet, Op. 75: IX. Young Juliet Sergei Prokofiev, Josef Bulva
Summer The Seasons, Op. 37a: VIII. August: The Harvest Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Michael Ponti
Summer Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 56 Bela Bartok, Gyorgy Sandor
Summer Moments musicaux, D. 780: No. 4. Moderato Franz Schubert, Alfred Brendel
Summer Piano Sonata No. 10 in C Major, K. 330: III. Allegretto Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Friedemann Rieger
Summer Italian Concerto in F Major, BWV 971: III. Presto Johann Sebastian Bach, Andras Schiff
Summer Mazurkas, Op. 41: III. Animato Frederic Chopin, Charles Lilamand
Summer Piano Sonata No. 3 in C Major, Op. 2, No. 3: IV. Allegro assai Ludwig van Beethoven, Robert Taub
Autumn Gnossiennes: III. Lent Erik Satie, Frank Glazer
Autumn Le tombeau de Couperin, M. 68: V. Menuet Maurice Ravel, Abbey Simon
Autumn New England Idyls, Op. 62: X. The Joy of Autumn Edward MacDowell, Donna Amato
Autumn Suite bergamasque, L. 75: II. Menuet Claude Debussy, Peter Schmalfuss
Autumn The Mysterious Forest, Six Pieces for Piano, Op. 118: I. Autumn Image Erkki Melartin, Maria Lettberg
Autumn Forest Scenes, Op. 82: VII. The Prophetic Bird Robert Schumann, Peter Schmalfuss
Autumn The Seasons, Op. 37a: IX. September - The Hunt Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Michael Ponti
Autumn Preludes, Op. 28: No. 15 in D-Flat Major. Sostenuto "Raindrop" Frederic Chopin, Bianca Sitzius
Autumn The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1: Prelude No. 6 in D Minor, BWV 851 Johann Sebastian Bach, Mieczysław Horszowski
Autumn Dolly Suite: I. Berceuse Gabriel Faure, Beatrice Klien, Walter Klien
Autumn New England Idyls, Op. 62: I. An Old Garden Edward MacDowell, Donna Amato
Autumn 24 Preludes, Op. 85: No. 14, Autumn-Night Erkki Melartin, Maria Lettberg
Autumn Embryons desseches Erik Satie, Frank Glazer
Autumn Nocturnes, Op. 9: No. 3 in B Major Frederic Chopin, Peter Schmalfuss
Autumn Lyric Pieces for Piano, Op. 59: II. Romance Erkki Melartin, Maria Lettberg
Autumn Piano Sonata No. 15 in D Major, Op. 28 "Pastoral": I. Allegro Ludwig van Beethoven, Robert Taub
Autumn Nocturne in E Minor, Op. 72, No. 1 Frederic Chopin, Peter Schmalfuss
Autumn Miroirs, M. 43: V. La Vallee des cloches Maurice Ravel, Abbey Simon
Autumn Preludes, Book 2, L. 123: I. Brouillards Claude Debussy, Peter Frankl
Autumn Woodland Sketches, Op. 51: III. At Old Trysting Place Edward MacDowell, Roger Shields
Autumn Lyric Pieces, Op. 12: I. Arietta Edvard Grieg, Jeno Jando
Autumn Mazurkas, Op. 50: No. 3 in C-Sharp Minor. Moderato Frederic Chopin, Charles Lilamand
Autumn Petite Suite, L. 65: II. Cortege Claude Debussy, Walter Klien, Beatrice Klien
Autumn The Seasons, Op. 37a: X. October - Autumn Song Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Michael Ponti
Autumn Lyric Pieces, Op. 65: VI. Wedding Day at Troldhaugen Edvard Grieg, Isabel Mourao
Autumn Woodland Sketches, Op. 51: IX. By a Meadow Brook Edward MacDowell, Roger Shields
Autumn Les Saisons, Op. 101: III. L'automne Isaac Albeniz, Rena Kyriakou
Autumn Preludes, Book 1, L. 117: VII. Ca qu'a vu le vent d'ouest Claude Debussy, Peter Frankl
Autumn Preludes, Op. 28: No. 17 in A-Flat Major. Allegretto Frederic Chopin, Bianca Sitzius
Autumn 13 Preludes, Op. 32: No. 5 in G Major Sergei Rachmaninoff, Michael Ponti
Autumn The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1: Prelude No. 12 in F Minor, BWV 857 Johann Sebastian Bach, Mieczysław Horszowski
Autumn Piano Sonata in A Minor, L 469 Domenico Scarlatti, Peter Schmalfuss
Autumn Piano Sonata No. 62 in E-Flat Major, Hob.XIV, No.52: II. Adagio Franz Joseph Haydn, Ilse von Alpenheim
Autumn Ma mere l'Oye, M. 60: IV. Les entretiens de la Belle et de la Bête - Piano Version, Suite Maurice Ravel, Beatrice Klien, Walter Klien
Autumn Piano Sonata No. 28 in F Minor, Op. 77 "L'Invocation": II. Tempo di menuetto con moto Jan Ladislav Dussek, Rudolf Firkusny
Autumn Preludes, Book 2, L. 123: X. Canope Claude Debussy, Peter Frankl
Autumn The Seasons, Op. 37a: XI. November - On the Troika Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Michael Ponti
Autumn Preludes, Op. 28: No. 19 in E-Flat Major. Vivace Frederic Chopin, Bianca Sitzius
Autumn Lyric Pieces, Op. 54: VI. Bell Ringing Edvard Grieg, Isabel Mourao
Autumn Nocturnes, Op. 48: No. 2 in F-Sharp Minor Frederic Chopin, Peter Schmalfuss
Winter Lyric Pieces, Op. 54: IV. Nocturne Edvard Grieg, Isabel Mourao
Winter Impressions, Op. 87: I. Twilight in the Snow Erkki Melartin, Maria Lettberg
Winter Gnossiennes, IES 24 : II. Avec etonnement Erik Satie, Frank Glazer
Winter Albumblatter, Op. 124: VIII. Leid ohne Ende - Langsam Robert Schumann, Peter Frankl
Winter The Seasons, Op. 37a: XII. December. Christmas Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Michael Ponti
Winter 3 Gymnopedies: I. Lent et douloureux Erik Satie, Frank Glazer
Winter Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-Flat Major, Op. 26: I. Andante Ludwig van Beethoven, Wanda Landowska
Winter Kinderszenen, Op. 15: XII. Kind im Einschlummern Robert Schumann, Peter Schmalfuss
Winter Songs without Words, Op. 30: VI. Allegretto tranquillo "Venetian Boat Song" Felix Mendelssohn, Jeno Jando
Winter 24 Preludes for Piano, Op. 11: No. 13. Lento in G-Flat Major Alexander Scriabin, Peter Schmalfuss
Winter Lyric Pieces, Op. 38: V. Elegy Edvard Grieg, Isabel Mourao
Winter Preludes, Book 1, L. 117: VI. Des pas sur la neige Claude Debussy, Peter Frankl
Winter 12 Etudes, Op. 25: No. 11 in A Minor "Winter Wind" Frederic Chopin, Abbey Simon
Winter Les saisons, Op. 101: IV. L'hiver Isaac Albeniz, Rena Kyriakou
Winter Suite bergamasque, L. 75: III. Clair de lune Claude Debussy, Peter Schmalfuss
Winter Album fur die Jugend, Op. 68: No. 14 in G Major, Kleine Studie Robert Schumann, Peter Frankl
Winter 10 Preludes, Op. 23: No. 4 in D Major Sergei Rachmaninoff, Michael Ponti
Winter The Seasons, Op. 37a: I. January. At the Fireside Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Michael Ponti
Winter 24 Preludes, Op. 85: No. 10, Winter Road Erkki Melartin, Maria Lettberg
Winter Album fur die Jugend, Op. 68: No. 39 in C Minor, Winterzeit II Robert Schumann, Peter Frankl
Winter Preludes, Op. 28: No. 6 in B Minor. Lento assai Frederic Chopin, Bianca Sitzius
Winter Lyric Pieces, Op. 57: I. Vanished Days Edvard Grieg, Isabel Mourao
Winter Preludes, Book 1, L. 117: X. La cathedrale engloutie Claude Debussy, Peter Frankl
Winter Lyric Pieces, Op. 71: IV. Silence in the Woods Edvard Grieg, Isabel Mourao
Winter The Seasons, Op. 37a: II. February: The Carnival Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Michael Ponti
Winter Album for the Young, Op. 68 No. 43 in A Major: Silvesterlied Robert Schumann, Peter Frankl
Winter Lyric Pieces for Piano, Op. 59: III. Berceuse Erkki Melartin, Maria Lettberg
Winter Preludes, Op. 28: No. 13 in F-Sharp Major. Lento Frederic Chopin, Bianca Sitzius
Winter Piano Sonata No. 18 in E-Flat Major, Op. 31, No. 3: III. Minuetto. Moderato e grazioso Ludwig van Beethoven, Alfred Brendel
Winter 12 etudes d'execution transcendante, S. 139: XII. Chasse-Neig in B-Flat Minor. Andante con moto Franz Liszt, Louis Kentner
Cheers,
Rob