bach, beethoven, brahms, chopin, liszt and ravel

[tds]

another solo recital i'm gonna give next month in a hall with 2000 seats. comments are most welcome.

Prelude and Fugue from WTC book II in G minor                         Bach

Etude Op 10/4                                                                     Chopin

La Campanella                                                                     Liszt

Sad Birds                                                                              Ravel
Alborada del gracioso

"Waldstein" Sonata Op. 53                                                  Beethoven

 
                                         -----Intermission----

Rhapsodie Op. 79 no. 1                                                        Brahms

from Fantasie Op. 116 no 4
                                     no 2
                                     no 7

Handel variations and fugue                        
      

[tds]

i was just wondering if it's more effective to swap the halves. the first half as of now appears to be more "popular", or at least makes easier listening, somehow. hmmm, comments?

[I Love Xenakis]

The Brahms Fantasy No. 1 is way the best for crowd-pleasing o.o


Why aren't you playing that?

[maxy]

half of the crowd may decide  to leave after the intermission.

[nanabush]

Why would they leave?  The pieces are very showy...

[danyal]

I think mix it a little more. Put some Brahms in the first half and take some of the first half over. Keeps it even.

Try this:

Prelude and Fugue from WTC book II in G minor                         Bach

"Waldstein" Sonata Op. 53                                                         Beethoven

Sad Birds                                                                                   Ravel
Alborada del gracioso

Rhapsodie Op. 79 no. 1                                                              Brahms


 
                                         -----Intermission----

La Campanella                                                                    Liszt

from Fantasie Op. 116 no 4                                                Brahms
                                     no 2
                                     no 7

Handel variations and fugue                                                Brahms


And then save 10/4 for an encore....

[apion]

Without commenting on the order / placement of the compositions, the overall program is stellar, and includes some of the greatest (and most difficult) solo piano music ever penned.  The only criticism I would accept is that the only modern piece is the Ravel Sad Birds.  But otherwise great, great, great!

[I Love Xenakis]

Without commenting on the order / placement of the compositions, the overall program is stellar, and includes some of the greatest (and most difficult) solo piano music ever penned.  The only criticism I would accept is that the only modern piece is the Ravel Sad Birds.  But otherwise great, great, great!

Oisseaux Tristes is awesome!

[cjp_piano]

Prelude and Fugue from WTC book II in G minor                         Bach
"Waldstein" Sonata Op. 53                                                         Beethoven
Sad Birds                                                                                   Ravel
Rhapsodie Op. 79 no. 1                                                              Brahms
 
                                         -----Intermission----

La Campanella                                                                    Liszt
from Fantasie Op. 116 no 4                                                Brahms
                                     no 2
                                     no 7
Handel variations and fugue                                                Brahms

And then save 10/4 for an encore....

I like this order better, but the other way is fine too, just play through them and see how it feels (mood, emotions, etc.)

[tds]

thank you for all the comments. please keep them coming.

 

The Brahms Fantasy No. 1 is way the best for crowd-pleasing o.o


Why aren't you playing that?

you mean op 116 no 1? yeah, its a good piece. very short, condensed and super difficult. the fast lh octave decends are impossible to play with the desired dynamic marking: diminuendo. the strings are larger and longer as it goes down, and so it naturally ( plus the pedal ) gives the cresendo sound. i played it several times, but honestly i dont feel as comfortable as playing the other three i put in the program.

I think mix it a little more. Put some Brahms in the first half and take some of the first half over. Keeps it even.

Try this:

Prelude and Fugue from WTC book II in G minor                         Bach

"Waldstein" Sonata Op. 53                                                   Beethoven

Sad Birds                                                                             Ravel
Alborada del gracioso

Rhapsodie Op. 79 no. 1                                                        Brahms


 
                                         -----Intermission----

La Campanella Liszt

from Fantasie Op. 116 no 4 Brahms
                                     no 2
                                     no 7

Handel variations and fugue             Brahms


And then save 10/4 for an encore....

thanks, danyal. the idea of mixing and putting brahms on both halves can be a great idea. how about bach, ravel, brahms rhapsodie no 1 and waldstein for the 1st half ( trying to make waldstein as an ending of the 1st round ).

i really like what i see on the 2nd half. and saving 10/4 sounds like a witty idea there, heh. i see you pretty good at programing thing.

[tds]

Oisseaux Tristes is awesome!

yeah, its a perfectly beautiful 32 bar piece....

how about bach, ravel, brahms rhapsodie no 1 and waldstein for the 1st half ( trying to make waldstein as an ending of the 1st round ).

but, why do i have to end the 1st half with waldstein? i mean really? the absolute ending is really the last piece in the entire program ( brahms handel vars n fugue in this case ); the fugue does bring the entire program to a end sufficiently, i feel. and so, prolly the order that danyal has created is indeed very good, both first and second rounds.

this is not final yet, so any more comments are welcome. i guess i have to sleep on it for a couple more days.

[tds]

as of today, i'll go with danyal's order:


Prelude and Fugue from WTC book II in G minor                         Bach

"Waldstein" Sonata Op. 53                                                         Beethoven

Sad Birds                                                                                     Ravel
Alborada del gracioso

Rhapsodie Op. 79 no. 1                                                               Brahms


 
                                         -----Intermission----

La Campanella                                                                    Liszt

from Fantasie Op. 116 no 4                                                Brahms
                                    no 2
                                    no 7

Handel variations and fugue                                               Brahms


encore:
chopin op. 10/4, some rachmaninoff, grieg etc

comments?

ps. hey danyal, i think you specially talented at programming a concert.

[kreso]

as of today, i'll go with danyal's order:


Prelude and Fugue from WTC book II in G minor                         Bach

"Waldstein" Sonata Op. 53                                                         Beethoven

Sad Birds                                                                                     Ravel
Alborada del gracioso

Rhapsodie Op. 79 no. 1                                                               Brahms


 
                                         -----Intermission----

La Campanella                                                                    Liszt

from Fantasie Op. 116 no 4                                                Brahms
                                    no 2
                                    no 7

Handel variations and fugue                                               Brahms


encore:
chopin op. 10/4, some rachmaninoff, grieg etc

comments?

ps. hey danyal, i think you specially talented at programming a concert.

I don't agree completely with this order. I would played in firts half Bach, Beethoven and Ravel, and in the second half all Brahms. I would spare Chopin and Liszt for encores because these are great encores and public always response wild.
You can play in Daniel's order, but then change and play Brahms Rapsodie before Ravel, because Ravel is good for closing first half (it is virtusos piece-Alborada and the end is fourious, not like in Bramhs where it ends in piano..) You'll have better pubilc response.

[pianistimo]

i like all these pieces individually, but feel that maybe looking at the program feels a bit overwhelming (my first response).  that is because of several really large pieces. the waldstein AND the handel variations.  i don't why i think so simplistically - but, imo, you have to have a climax sort of of the whole entire program.  maybe i am just thinking of my own playing - but i would pick one or the other - and make everything else shorter and possibly some variation away from all brahms in the second half.  some kind of compromise with more variation of late 19th or early 20-21st century music.  (unless you choose to do a recital with mostly brahms).

if people see everything on a program that they've heard before - the older ones might be tempted to leave at intermission.  put something at the end that people don't recognize so well.  something not played as much.  that's my opinion, only, and because i'm not a recital planner - take it witha  grain of salt (or sugar).  i really like all the pieces personally.

[tds]

to pianonut:

so u think its overwhelming? anyone seconds that? usually people present 2-3, at times 4 major works in a 90 minute recital. oh, i learned different things about the "older people" ( or elderly ), as i have been told, they go to concerts for the chopin, beethoven, liszt, etc; they are not too fond of changes or new things; they dont digest contemporary piece too well. but then again, i can be wrong. ok, for those who falll into this age group ( hmm, i'd say above 50 years old ), would you all be so kind to comment on this, and in connection to my program above. tell me if you'd need some pieces that rarely heard before in the program?

yes, this is kinda mostly brahms recital.

to kreso: am not sure if need a great applause right after the 1st half. i gather the absolute ending piece is really the brahms handel, which bring the recital to an end ( or encores ). if we stack bach p n f wtc II, beethoven waldstein n brahms 1st rhapsodie one after another, we get a really heavy, thick german stuff in the beginning. i think danyal put ravel after bach and beethoven for a reason. ending the 1st round with the rhapsodie kinda give a lil introduction to brahms as they will hear much more later in the next round. i too kindav thought of ending 1st round with waldstein previously, but then i happen to like danyal's order. it seems to fit and stir alright. still this is not final. so comments are welcome

[danyal]

Now that I think of it... it might not be a bad idea to switch the Beethoven and the Brahms in the first half... depending on how you want to end it off. The Waldstein would make the ending more final, as opposed to the Brahms that would, without the big conclusive ending, leave them hungry for more. It all depends on the effect you want to have. But either way, whether they go or stay in the intermission ultimately all depends on how you execute the program... If you pull of an excellent, mind-blowing performance, they are not going to leave, regardless of what you end with...

[apion]

Now that I think of it... it might not be a bad idea to switch the Beethoven and the Brahms in the first half... depending on how you want to end it off. The Waldstein would make the ending more final, as opposed to the Brahms that would, without the big conclusive ending, leave them hungry for more. It all depends on the effect you want to have. But either way, whether they go or stay in the intermission ultimately all depends on how you execute the program... If you pull of an excellent, mind-blowing performance, they are not going to leave, regardless of what you end with...

The fugue finale to Brahms op. 24 boasts of a pre-eminently "conclusive" ending.  It's perfect as a concluding work.

[tds]

Now that I think of it... it might not be a bad idea to switch the Beethoven and the Brahms in the first half... depending on how you want to end it off. The Waldstein would make the ending more final, as opposed to the Brahms that would, without the big conclusive ending, leave them hungry for more. It all depends on the effect you want to have. But either way, whether they go or stay in the intermission ultimately all depends on how you execute the program... If you pull of an excellent, mind-blowing performance, they are not going to leave, regardless of what you end with...

yeah, another good idea from danyal. so here is another possibility that i also like:


Prelude and Fugue from WTC book II in G minor                         Bach

Rhapsodie Op. 79 no. 1                                                               Brahms

Sad Birds                                                                                     Ravel
Alborada del gracioso

"Waldstein" Sonata Op. 53                                                          Beethoven




                                         -----Intermission----

La Campanella                                                                    Liszt

from Fantasie Op. 116 no 4                                                Brahms
                                    no 2
                                    no 7

Handel variations and fugue                                               Brahms


more comments?

[tds]

The fugue finale to Brahms op. 24 boasts of a pre-eminently "conclusive" ending.  It's perfect as a concluding work.

about as conclusive as the great gate of kiev of mussorgsky's pictures

[whynot]

I love these pieces!  Yay, Brahms.  I like the latest changes, except going from Bach Gm to the Brahms Rhapsodie.  But I don't see another way to do it and preserve the rest, which I think really works.  Maybe you'll say a little hello after the first piece and "clear the air" that way.  I thought I didn't like Campanella so early, and some people knock the treble out of tune playing this, but I completely appreciate wanting to end w/ the Brahms-Handel.  Nice gutsy program.       

[tds]

yeah, another good idea from danyal. so here is another possibility that i also like:


Prelude and Fugue from WTC book II in G minor                         Bach

Rhapsodie Op. 79 no. 1                                                               Brahms

Sad Birds                                                                                     Ravel
Alborada del gracioso

"Waldstein" Sonata Op. 53                                                          Beethoven




                                         -----Intermission----

La Campanella                                                                    Liszt

from Fantasie Op. 116 no 4                                                Brahms
                                    no 2
                                    no 7

Handel variations and fugue                                               Brahms


more comments?

folks, its now final that i'll use the order that danyal last suggested. thank you for those who have voted and delivered comment(s). and special thanks go to danyal. best, tds