Undertaking a "Perspectives" like Series

[odsum25]

I have been thinking recently about the wealth of 20th (and 21st!) century piano music that I love, but which is rarely heard.  The idea struck me to forge a series of concerts over several years and explore the myriad of styles and compositional voices.  The concerts will be of varying length, some being more lecture oriented or youth oriented. I have a venue and the resources to do this rather gargantuan project, but wanted to know if others have attempted to do this type of thing and how successful they feel it went.  I've only been brainstorming, but this is what I have so far:

Program One- "American Masters
Copland Piano Variations
Copland Piano Sonata
    Intermission
Piston Passacaglia
Barber Nocturne
Barber Excursions

Program Two- Bartok and His Legacy
Bartok Improvisations, Op. 20
           Suite, Op. 14
           Two Romanian Dances
       Intermission
Bartok Allegro Barbaro
Kadosa Kaleidascope
Bartok Out of Doors

Program Three- Childhood Fantasies
Turina El Circo
Debussy Childrens Corner
   Intermission
Villa Lobos A Prole do Bebe No. 1

Program 4- "The Folk Song" (With Baritone)
Some Britten Folk Songs
Copland Old Americna Songs
Bartok Hungarian Peasant Tunes
Grainger Folk Song Arrangements
Possibly Kodaly?

Program 5- "Jazz and Rags"
Joplin Rags
Bolcom Rags
Stravinsky Piano-Rag Music
Copland Piano Blues
Milhaud Trois Rag-Caprices
Some Gershwin
Possibly Kapustin

These are just my brainstorms so far,but I like the first three programs, probably being that they are more finished in my mind.  There will be many more, but this is just what I've thought about so far.  I would like to do one of Asian composers, Schoenberg and his disciples, a couple Avant-Garde programs, etc.  Again, just looking for general thoughts on the idea of a series and how to go about it. Thanks in advance.

[pianonut]

wow.  odsum, i would come in an instant, and i'm not exactly a young-un.  that would be exposure to music that perhaps was heard more awhile back.  it appeals to my tastes since many grew tired of these pieces after the 70's - and they haven't been played as much.  didn't copeland die around 1990?  i have to look it up.  i wanted to meet him (for some strange reason - interested in composing i guess), and was sad at the time when he passed away. 

[odsum25]

Copland actually died in 1990, I believe, but he had become an invalid due to Alzheimers.  His last works are dated 81 or 82 I think, but are mostly reworkings of earlier ideas.  I love his music, but his piano music is so rarely played, mostly I think because it doesn't have the "American" sound we associate with Copland do to works like Appalachian Spring and Rodeo.  I would also love to get the Barber Sonata in there, but that fugue strikes the fear of god in me.  I should also mention that I am working out a couple of Russian concerts as well. We'll see how that goes...

[pianonut]

ok. odsum, must i look up the list of introductions or will you just tell me you live in europe and it is impossible to hear your performances from pennsylvania? 

don't know why i am thinking this right now, but have been reading about bells and bells remind me of churches and churches remind me of the russian orthodox churches that have bells.  don't lose me now.  this book (yes, the same one music:physician for times to come) says that people have lost the idea of two bells ringing simultaneously that have slightly different pitches (they try to tune them all precisely).  this takes away from the feel of the real church bells in russia and italy.

this brings me to my next thought, pics at an exhibition.  would you be playing that?  how did barry douglas make the bells sound like real bells?  did he put a note out here and there? (tuning the piano for effect?)  it really sounded like bells and not just piano. 

[Skeptopotamus]

Bells are loud, just like babies.  Well if you think you can tackle all of that rep you listed then I say go for it.  Have fun.


PS- Copland's solo piano music doesnt get played because it sucks.

[Nightscape]

PS- Copland's solo piano music doesnt get played because it sucks.

What!?  How does it suck!!?  I'm not mistaken, his Piano Variations alone inspired and was a cause of rally for an entire generation of composers.  Copland's pianistic style is one of the most unique that have ever been created - very "granitic" in some ways.

I love his piano music, his Passacaglia, the Variations, the Sonata, the Fantasy, as well as the smaller little sets of pieces.  I have the recording of his complete piano works by his friend Leo Smit, which is very good (and has a great album cover.)  I think in many ways his piano music reflects upon the lives of those who lived in the american great depression - a very masculine, tough feel to them.

Anyways, sorry but Copland is one of my very favorite composers (I actually have recordings of every single piece by him).... so of course its slightly upsetting when someone just dismisses his piano music!