This Is My Repertoire... Help Me Expand!

[fuel925]

This is my current repertoire. You can see the length/difficulty etc of the pieces I play, so i'd like some suggestions on what to add. These pieces are ones which I can either play already, or that i'm working on.

Bach - Prelude 1
Bach - Invention 13
Bach - Fugue in C Minor (exam)
Beethoven - Pathetique 2nd Mvmt
Beethoven - Moonlight 1st Mvmt
Chopin - Nocturne In Eb
Chopin - Prelude 4
Chopin - Prelude 15
Chopin - Prelude 20
Chopin - Waltz A Minor (posth)
Chopin - Waltz B Minor
Chopin - Waltz C# Minor
Field - Nocturne No 5
Grieg - Arietta
Grieg - Watchmans Song
Grieg - Piano Sonata 3rd Mvmt (exam)
Satie - Gymnopedie 1
Satie - Gnossienne 1
Schumann - Of Foreign Lands and People

[shasta]

Hmmm, you need some new composers.  Why not try these, which I think fit your level:

Granados (his Danzas Espanolas)
Macdowell (his Sea Pieces - - I'm thinking From the Depths)
Lecuona (from his Andalucia Suite - - - I'm thinking Cordoba)
Muczynski (his 6 preludes)
Liszt (his Trube Wolken - - - notes are easy, this focuses on musicality)
Bartok (his Roumanian Folk Dances)
Joplin (his Solace - A Mexican Seranade or his Fig Leaf Rag)
Mendelssohn (from Songs Without Words - - - any of his Boat/Gondola Songs)

[mike_lang]

I think that it is important that you complete the sonatas that you've begun (Pathetique and Moonlight).  Beside that I would begin working in the Well-Tempered Clavier (Bb Major no. 21 and C minor no. 2, both of Book I).  Also, a Chopin etude would be good, perhaps Gb Major  Op. 10 no. 5.

Best,
Michael

[the cadenza kid]

You might want some stuff with some speed. You're playing almost nothing but slow works. I always say, When in doubt, build your Beethoven. Consider some of his easier fast movements from the earlier sonatas. The first movements of op.2 no.1 and op.10 no.1 are great fiery movements from Beethoven. If you want a super easy one that's really great, look to the second movement of opus 14 no.2. It's a favorite of mine, though it is slow. It has a goofy surprise ending    

[fuel925]

Hmmm, you need some new composers.  Why not try these, which I think fit your level:

Granados (his Danzas Espanolas)
Macdowell (his Sea Pieces - - I'm thinking From the Depths)
Lecuona (from his Andalucia Suite - - - I'm thinking Cordoba)
Muczynski (his 6 preludes)
Liszt (his Trube Wolken - - - notes are easy, this focuses on musicality)
Bartok (his Roumanian Folk Dances)
Joplin (his Solace - A Mexican Seranade or his Fig Leaf Rag)
Mendelssohn (from Songs Without Words - - - any of his Boat/Gondola Songs)

Thanks, ill check those out!

[fuel925]

I think that it is important that you complete the sonatas that you've begun (Pathetique and Moonlight).  Beside that I would begin working in the Well-Tempered Clavier (Bb Major no. 21 and C minor no. 2, both of Book I).  Also, a Chopin etude would be good, perhaps Gb Major  Op. 10 no. 5.

Best,
Michael

I think the other movements to those Sonatas are too difficult for me at the moment. I do plan to play more of the WTC though

[fuel925]

You might want some stuff with some speed. You're playing almost nothing but slow works. I always say, When in doubt, build your Beethoven. Consider some of his easier fast movements from the earlier sonatas. The first movements of op.2 no.1 and op.10 no.1 are great fiery movements from Beethoven. If you want a super easy one that's really great, look to the second movement of opus 14 no.2. It's a favorite of mine, though it is slow. It has a goofy surprise ending    

Yes I agree, I need some speedier pieces in there... I think lack of confidence to tackle fast pieces has gravitated me towards slower ones, although I do love the pieces I play

On your suggestion i'm going to tackle the first movement of Op.2 No.1.

[gonzalo]

You should see the Scarlatti's threads where Bernhard gives info about a lot of sonatas. Choose the ones you like most , then sight read through them .
The advantages of choosing Scarlatti:

1. Contrapuntal thinking
2. As they were first intended as exercises , they will be good for your technique
3. They will be a nice addition to your repertoire
4. I see you haven't played any of the scarlatti sonatas. If you play them you'll have one more Baroque composer.
5. Scarlatti is an excellent replacement for Czerny . It is in fact , better.

[mike_lang]

I think the other movements to those Sonatas are too difficult for me at the moment. I do plan to play more of the WTC though

I mean this in the most diplomatic way possible, but in the future (IMO) it would be good for you to play pieces that are part of a set that you can play completely.  From a musical standpoint it is best to play entire sonatas, not isolated movements.  One needs a context for these movement, such as the first in the Moonlight and the 2nd in the Pathetique.

best,
Michael

[mcgillcomposer]

Why don't you do the rest of Schumann's Kinderszenen?  It's an amazing set of character pieces, and don't be deceived by the title...they aren't easy!  Along with completing the sonatas, it will give you a great recital piece.

Good luck

- Andrew

[superstition2]

Sergei Prokofiev:
Tales of an Old Grandmother, Op 31

[kolmogorov]

Hi,

I also agree about Beethoven .
It is clear you need a fast mvt from a classical sonata (Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven).
I would choose Beethoven Op. 79 Sonata (all). First and last mvts are very good for technique (they are fast) but are in your level. Second mvt is a beautiful kind of barcarolle.
And I agree about not learning just one mvt of a Sonata. Its a lack of respect...
(I don't mind however to learn only a mvt of a Bach Suite, I think it is different).

Somebody said you should learn a Mendelssohn Song without words. I agree. I vote for Op. 62 nº1. It is beautiful, and in your level.

And for nice spanish music, Tango from Albeniz is within your reach. You learn new rythms and sounds.

In general if you want to improve technique, try to learn only fast pieces near your level ( a little bit above). Fast pieces need also to be played musically so you won't lose your sensibility comparing with slow pieces.


J.

[pianowelsh]

finish the beethoven.  Then take Dmajor Haydn sonata - nice chirpy one and a sonata of Mozart in their entirity.  I woulds suggest Bach p&Fg Bbmaj from bk1. Id finish off the Grieg sonata too. its cool and not beyond you. You need to look 20thc more. I would look at Debussy Cathedral engloutie (to get you moving around the piano a bit) and General Lavine from bk1 preludes and also have a look at some of the vision fugative of Prokofiev and choose 5 or 6 contrasting ones.  That should keep you busy for about a year!