List E ARCT

[nanabush]

This is the most difficult section for me to choose a piece, because I have barely if not played anything from any of the composers listed.

Pieces I have heard and/or attempted include:

Louie-I leap through the sky with stars
Prokofiev-Suggestion Diabolique
Prokofiev-Tocatta
Bartok-Allegro Barbaro
Barber- Ecscursions

Anyone recommend anything else?  If not which of those would you recommend, I can play quite a few at AR level, but nothing at extreme difficulty like Gaspard or Mephisto Waltz...I need a list E so bad it's bugging me..

[viking]

Ive said this elsewhere on this forum, but please listen to the Kabalevsky prelude no.16.  I had 2 weeks to learn 3 pieces for my ARCT and this was one of them.  Quite easy, but very flasy and showy and funny!  Promise me youll listen to it.  It is awesome.  Not too weird either. 
SAM

[marcus314]

I played Prokofiev's Vision Fugitives for my ARCT List E. You have to pick four of the many pieces within Vision Fugitives, but I picked #1,3,8,and 15, which were all pretty easy and short.....

Not too bad of a list E in my opinion

[nanabush]

Thanks I'll look into both of your suggestions, but where could I find a recording of the Kabelevsky prelude?  I can't purchase a CD online at the time, but I just want to know what the piece is like..

[prettypianoplaying]

I played Excursions #3 and 4 on my ARCT!  I Loved them!  If you dont have any upbeat songs in your program, these would be a good choice!  and they're not hard at all.

[AvoidedCadence]

I have posted similar suggestions on other threads, based on my own experience.  Although I don't own the syllabus, here are some recommendations:

Shostakovich - any prelude and fugue!  Range from relatively easy and diatonic (the first one, in C major) to very difficult and essentially atonal.

Bartok - Romanian dances, Op 8a.  You only need one (check the syllabus).  Fun, and not too long or difficult.

Barber - Nocturne, and maybe the ballade (I forget whether it's allowed)

Hetu - check out some of his stuff - Impromptu, variations, ... he's not really my thing but he's a big Canadian composer.

Champlagne - Quadrilhia Brasiliera (Sp?) - don't know the piece well, but I've heard good things about it.

Oscar Morawetz (sp?)- Scherzo.

Prokofiev - third sonata is the only one listed in the syllabus.

(I forget if Medtner is List D or E in the conservatory system, but some of his pieces are listed.)

For my exam, I played Ginastera's Suite de Danzas Criollas.  Awesome piece, in five movements plus a coda (10-11 mins).  Also a "crowd" piece - very accessible to audiences  .  Not technically a big problem, but give yourself some time to learn and memorize (as with any List E).  The movements are:
I) - barcarolle-like, lapping accompaniment, with a lazy melody.
II) - the beginning has octave note-clusters in the RH!  Some fast skips, but comes easily with practice.
III) - in 11/8 time, with an accompaniment of three-eighth-note figures matched against melody notes every two eighth-notes.  Lyrical.  Ingenious.  There is a hidden canon in the middle section - don't miss it.
IV) - plaintive, questioning slow movement, with ingenious use of dissonances.
V) - a fast scherzando.
coda - in octaves and repeated chords, but not too difficult due to Ginastera's breaking up the octaves with notes for second and third fingers.  The ending is insane.

Don't forget the "popular substitution" option, or whatever it's called.

have fun!

[nanabush]

Are you talking about the same syllabus as me?  Is there a new one out?  In my syllabus some of the pieces you mentioned aren't in...hmmm I'll check the RCM site see if I can get my money back if there is a newer syllabus, I baught mine not too long ago..

[viking]

Sorry I have no clue where a recording of the kabalevsky is.  However if I stumble across one ill remember and PM you.  You must hear this before making up your mind.
SAM