Most technically difficult piano/orchestra pieces for each composer?

[arch0wl]

I was wondering what some of the hardest/most complex/most technically difficult piano or even orchestral pieces would be for that particular composer's pieces?

[jeremyjchilds]

Allow me to answer for everyone...


"The Rach 3"
"Not the rach 3 you moron...everyone can play the Rach 3"
"Now way, the rach 3 is sooooo hard, it uses every note on the piano"
"Gaspard is way way harder than Rach 3"
"Islamy is harder"
"Fantasie Impromptu is way way harder...it's so fast"
"No..Fur elise is the hardest, have you heard the second part..."

[arch0wl]

"The Rach 3"
"Not the rach 3 you moron...everyone can play the Rach 3"
"Now way, the rach 3 is sooooo hard, it uses every note on the piano"
"Gaspard is way way harder than Rach 3"
"Islamy is harder"
"Fantasie Impromptu is way way harder...it's so fast"
"No..Fur elise is the hardest, have you heard the second part..."

Okay, then just don't respond to other people or just list the hardest pieces for individual composers XD

Seriously though... what would you say Bach's is? Well-Tempered Clavier? Goldberg Variations?

[Waldszenen]

I was wondering what some of the hardest/most complex/most technically difficult piano or even orchestral pieces would be for that particular composer's pieces?

I'll let everyone else focus on piano... I'll deal with orchestra:

- Brahms' Symphony No. 4, Violin Concerto, Piano Concerto No. 2, Double Concerto, Haydn Variations
- Beethoven: Symphony No. 9
- Tschaikowsky: Symphony No. 6, Manfred Symphony, Francesca da Rimini
- Rossini: Guillaume Tell
- Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3 (orchestral difficulty)
- Wagner: The Ring
- Mahler: Symphonies (pretty much all of them)

There's heaps more but I can't be buggered listing them.

[lisztwasgod]

I will only respond to what i can give an educated answer:

Bach - probably the goldberg variations

Brahms - either sonatas 1 or 3, or the paganini variations (both books)

Beethoven - Hammerklavier (most likely)

Liszt - (technically) probably hs transcription of Beethovens ninth symphony...it has almost every technical milestone in it, plus its over an hour long; if not, the don juan, norma, and tannhauser overture transcriptions of his are blistering; and his apres une lecture de dante is also a tormenting piece

Rachmaninoff - All of his concertos (except 4) are exceptionally difficult; opus 23, no's 2, 5, and 9; his etudes tableaux in dminor and Eb major

Ravel - Jeau d'eux; Gaspard de la Nuit (Ondine, hardest, then a close second for Scarbo)

Balakirev - GUESS? Islamey perchaps?!

Prokofiev - Concerto No's 2 and 3 (two is an underrrated MONSTER); Sonatas 2 and 6 (maybe 7); his toccata op 11 

[franzliszt2]

Stravinsky:        Rite of spring    (piano duet version also very complex)
Bach:                Goldberg variations
Beethoven:       One if the late sonatas, (hard to decide which is more complex)
Liszt:                Dante. or the B minor sonata or don duan fantasy
Ravel:               Gaspard... especially scarbo
Alkan:               Anying really, I'm still waiting to hear an uncomplex piece.

Also lots of music by contempory compsers, such as schonberg, John Cage, even though it may sound rubbish IMO. or in John Cage's pieces, it may not sound at all

[6ft 4]

Rach op.23 no.5 is a piece of cake compared to his concertos lol that must be a mistake.

[kriskicksass]

Rach 23/5 is easy even compared to some of the other preludes. If you're looking for hard preludes I'd say that 23/2 and 32/13 the ones to look at.

[arch0wl]

What about Chopin and others?

[mrchops10]

Bartok (for orchestra)--Concerto for orchestra
(for piano)--2nd piano concerto
(chamber)--2nd violin/piano sonata

That's not to say the rest of it is easy...

[dmk]

Prokofiev - Concerto No's 2 and 3 (two is an underrrated MONSTER)

I love the Prokofiev 2...I totally agree it is a MONSTER, 4 fairly fast movements with no respite.

If you get a chance or can find a copy there is a Bolet playing with the Cincinatti Symphony on Remington Records.  To my knowledge its not on CD (if it is could someone PLEASE tell me where to get it).  Its wonderful!!!!!!!!

[da jake]

Add to Waldszenen list: Schubert Unfinished Symphony.

@FranzLiszt2: Alkan was a master of miniatures. There are about a dozen great little Alkan pieces that are within a beginner's capability - the best of which is imho the impressionistic and forward looking Prelude op 31/8 chanson de la folle au bord de la mer.