My program, finally, thoughts or comments?

[lagin]

Okay folks, after many hours of listening, searching, and running various ideas by my teacher, I think I have picked my program for this summer and next year.  We have:

Bach: Toccata and fugue in e minor
Mozart:  Sonata in D Major, K311
Chopin:  Nocturne in c# minor, op. 27 no. 1
Rachmaninoff:  Prelude op. 23 no. 5
Barber:  Excursions no. 3 and 4
Etude:  no. 2 from Deux etudes de sonorite, by Morel

Now since this is becoming a popular thing to do , and because I'm interested , who wants to rank these in order of difficulty for me?
Also, what order do you think I should play them in?  I have no intermission, and no clapping in between since it is an exam.
I'm really excited to start working on these new pieces in 125 more days if I pass my grade 10 exam!  I just ordered all the music today.  The challenge will be keeping my hands off of it until my present repertoire is under control!

[rob47]

my only suggestion is for you to change the signature under your post.

1.) It is childish
2.) Your use of the semicolon is incorrect; 'just forgiven' is not an independant clause.
3.) It furthers my belief that all the good christians have died; their undereducated, fundamentalist children now plague the earth.


Your program looks terrific; the Bach toccata is one of my favourite pieces.

[lagin]

my only suggestion is for you to change the signature under your post.

1.) It is childish
2.) Your use of the semicolon is incorrect; 'just forgiven' is not an independant clause.
3.) It furthers my belief that all the good christians have died; their undereducated, fundamentalist children now plague the earth.


Your program looks terrific; the Bach toccata is one of my favourite pieces.

Hahahahahahaha,  thanks for the compliments Rob!  You made me smile.  And you are absolutely correct - my semicolon is not proper sentence structure, but I'm going to leave it there because I like the effect.

[pianowelsh]

Good for you lagin.  It also happens to be true to the extent that by firey trials we are being perfected.

i really like your programme.  Its well balanced and contains all the important areas of repertoire.  It should really develop your musicality on all fronts and show the full range of your abilities.  For your etude I would go to an area you seem to have avoided - namely french repertoire and would suggest something like Debussys etude fro the Chromatic notes or 8ve study or maybe even the one for 4ths? but something along those lines which sounds distinctly modern and fresh and yet dosent sit completely out of place with your programme.  I dont know if this will mean anything to you but in terms of ABRSM gradings your new repertoire would sit at the ABRSM/LRSM level of repertory. A Debussy etude would be LRSM most of the other pieces would be ABRSM but the grade boundaries become less obvious at this level of study.  Enjoy them.  I think we all love new pieces!  I feel your excitement!!

[lagin]

Actually, I was seriously considering Debussy's octave etude, but with pita bread's help, I think I've decided to go with Deux etudes de sonorite, no. 2, by Francois Morel.  (He's French, and Canadian, but not like Debussy's style of course).  It's really different and atonal which will be kind of a grand finale if I do my etude last.  I'll go edit it on my program right now.  Good suggestion though pianowelsh!  That Debussy was a close second choice.   Btw, I see we may have more in common that our choice of music .

[arch0wl]

1.) It is childish

To be fair, so is "sheet".

[rob47]

To be fair, so is "sheet".

I'm glad we're in agreement.

[verywellmister]

I typically like to begin a program with something flashy and medium-difficult that catches the audience's attention, especially if played well.  Then I like to end with a difficult, magnificent piece.

there are some who like to open with Bach.
Are you going to have an encore piece? 

[lagin]

No, because, sadly, this program will only be played for an audience of 2 people - adjudicator no. 1, and adjudicator no. 2.  Of course I will be playing selections of my programs at various recitals throughout the year, but it, in it's entirety, will be played only for those 2 adjudicators, and for my parents when they are feeling especially patient !  So, yeah, I'm allowed to put it in any order I want.  I have been advised to take your suggestion and open with the Rachmaninoff, as it is rather flashy, but I wasn't sure if it was more "acceptable" to open with Bach or not?  And the rest of the order is up in the air right now, too.  I want to be careful to not put 2 tough pieces side by side as to give myself some breathing room, so maybe the Chopin after the Mozart, since the Mozart is rather speedy?

[pianowelsh]

Interesting youve been dvised to start with the Rachmaninov - yse you can but I would have thought it quite logical to go in chronological order as you laid it out at the top.  it would flow perfectly well that way and there is a legitimate reason for a 1/2min platform break after the Chopin before a more 20thC 2nd half. Working with what you have in place I would be tempted to go Rach, Bach, Mozart Chopin Barber Morel OR Rach, Bach, Barber, Mozart, Chopin, morel my reasoning being Ideally you want to lead the listener forward and not disorientate them too much by jumping styles wildly so option1 is basically chronological with exception of Rach which is a prelude so you can get away with it and ends with your show piece. Option 2 is slightly different and is in 2 groups so prelude then major Baroque work and a fresh 20thC work in 2 mvts you could then put in a full stop so to speak and move off then on a different tac beginning with fresh mozart a natural progression onto the Chopin  and then a show down with the morel - your fingers being well played in with Chopin and Mozart.  i dont recmmend beginning with mozart unless you are exceedingly brave because any nervous tension will show through. Option 2 also has the advantage that the audience dosent have to sit for 2 long pieces in a row.  I know its an exam panel but the ultimate aim im sure will be to perform this out in a 'real' situation.  If your playing from memory too its easier on the mind to have Long short long rather than all the epics in a chain because the concentration can really drain you for the end of your recital.  If you find it easy however option 1 gets the big 'stamina' pieces out of the way early on and allows you to enjoy a faster paced 2nd half. Its up to you and your own strenghts and weaknesses. Yes it would seem we do! !