Help Selecting a Bartók Concerto

[mcgillcomposer]

Hi everyone,

I have quite a bit of experience in playing concertos, but would like some input re the Bartók piano concertos.  I will list the concertos that I have studied below, and would like you to suggest which of the three Bartók concertos you think would suit my technique best.  Thanks!

Bach f minor
Mozart K. 488
Beethoven Bb and c minor
Tchaikovsky Bb minor
Rimsky Korsakov
Shostakovich no. 2
Grieg

So that's it...let me know what you think for the Bartók...my favorite is by far numéro 3!

- Andrew

[jre58591]

i think that the 1st or 3rd barok concertos would be great for you if you want an easier concerto to. do the 2nd if you would like a challenge. ive recently discovered the 1st, and i liked what i saw and heard. i would say overall to do the one you like best, which is the 3rd.

[mikey6]

Kovacevich said there are pieces as hard but nothing harder than the 2nd - so that would be an option probably only if you had a fearsome technique.  The 3rd's probably the most accessible to audience and pianist.  The 1st is cool, not as hard as the 2nd but still difficult (I've looked at the scores only).  as Bart says "I do what I feel like"

[superstition2]

Why not Prokofiev? Better melody.

[mcgillcomposer]

Why not Prokofiev? Better melody.

Bartók interests me more harmonically speaking.  Plus I have played a lot of Prokofiev's solo piano music already.

[apion]

No. 2

[burstroman]

#1, an exciting work

[tompilk]

the third movement of 3 is amazing... and as much fireworks as one could need for the rest of your life! DO THREE AND RECORD IT FOR US!!! 
Tom

[kriskicksass]

How much Bartok solo music have you played? Having played as many concerti as you have, I'm sure you know that a concerto is a composer's way of showing off EVERYTHING they can do, both musically and technically. That being said, Bartok's pianistic writing is entirely unique. His combination of modal harmonies and dance rhythms set him apart from any 'comperable' composer. Prokofieff is not Bartok!

On top of that, Bartok's concerti are some of the hardest in the standard repertoire. His Second is considered one of the only concerti more technically difficult than Rachmaninoff's Third. Nobody played the Second. in fact, my teacher, during his 40+ year career, including some teen years studying and competing in Vienna, has never met someone who plays it; he's only met someone who's best friend plays it (I couldn't remember why he told me this to save my life, lol).

If you insist on playing a Bartok concerto, go for #3. Bartok wrote that at the end of his life, after he had made peace with a world that hated his art, and he was much kinder to both performer and audience in its composition. #1 may be technically simpler (I really don't know too much about the relative difficulties), but its music is less accessible to the performer. And for the love of God, read through the Mikrokosmos and learn the Sonata and Bulgarian dances first. The experience will be invaluable.

[arensky]

Hi everyone,

I have quite a bit of experience in playing concertos, but would like some input re the Bartók piano concertos.  I will list the concertos that I have studied below, and would like you to suggest which of the three Bartók concertos you think would suit my technique best.  Thanks!

Bach f minor
Mozart K. 488
Beethoven Bb and c minor
Tchaikovsky Bb minor
Rimsky Korsakov
Shostakovich no. 2
Grieg

So that's it...let me know what you think for the Bartók...my favorite is by far numéro 3!

- Andrew

Since the 3rd is your favorite you should do that one. It is also the most acsessible IMO, a good preparation for the doing the other two evantually.

[mcgillcomposer]

How much Bartok solo music have you played? Having played as many concerti as you have, I'm sure you know that a concerto is a composer's way of showing off EVERYTHING they can do, both musically and technically. That being said, Bartok's pianistic writing is entirely unique. His combination of modal harmonies and dance rhythms set him apart from any 'comperable' composer. Prokofieff is not Bartok!

On top of that, Bartok's concerti are some of the hardest in the standard repertoire. His Second is considered one of the only concerti more technically difficult than Rachmaninoff's Third. Nobody played the Second. in fact, my teacher, during his 40+ year career, including some teen years studying and competing in Vienna, has never met someone who plays it; he's only met someone who's best friend plays it (I couldn't remember why he told me this to save my life, lol).

If you insist on playing a Bartok concerto, go for #3. Bartok wrote that at the end of his life, after he had made peace with a world that hated his art, and he was much kinder to both performer and audience in its composition. #1 may be technically simpler (I really don't know too much about the relative difficulties), but its music is less accessible to the performer. And for the love of God, read through the Mikrokosmos and learn the Sonata and Bulgarian dances first. The experience will be invaluable.

Wow.  Thank you very much for the thoughtful and intelligent post.  It has helped me immensely.  I have played several of the Mikrokosmos, but by no means all of them.  I have not yet played the sonata, so maybe I will take a good 5-6 weeks to learn that first, and then work on the concerto (I have decided on number 3.  Again, thank you very much.
- Andrew

[ravel]

rimsky korsakov has a piano concerto as well? i didnt know that... how is that ?

[mcgillcomposer]

rimsky korsakov has a piano concerto as well? i didnt know that... how is that ?

It's a short, one movement affair   Very colourful harmony...moderate difficulty...lots of fun octaves.  Although, I think you'd be hard-pressed to find an orchestra willing to play it!

- Andrew