Final postgraduate Recital?

[pianowelsh]

Hi Guys.  Having done some research I have found that a typical Conservatoire Masters level recital is in the region of 60 and 75 mins. I would very much like your suggestions for programming such a recital as i believe there is an Art to getting it right and I would welcome repertoire suggestions from those of you who have successfully completed Masters recitals from Conservatory's.  Deadline is not an issue.  I suppose my strenghts are generally in the Classical repertoire so if there was to be a central focus I suppose that would be it but Im open to all suggestions.  Im very slow to learn 'contemporary' repertoire so unless its a piece my repertoire couldnt possibly exist without then Im afraid im unlikely to seriously consider massive works written since 1960 ish!   

[pianowelsh]

For those of you currently on courses Id be interested to know what postgrads are playing in USA and mainland Europe.  Im currently on gap year.

[pianowelsh]

So far my thoughts are:

Handel Suite Dmin (12mins) OR Bach Busoni Chaconne(17mins) OR Bach Partita 6
Beethoven Waldestein OR Appassionata
Chopin Scherzo 3 OR Ballade 4 OR Polonaise fantasy
Liszt 2 etudes (one of which will be Harmonies du Soir)

Janacek Sonata 1905 OR Mirroirs (any two)

I quite like the idea of some transcriptions too Schumann liszt or kreixler rachmaninov etc.  I also consider Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet suite (a selection) but wouldnt do if Partita 6 or Handel.   

Im not necessarily looking for the hardest programme to get through but one which is musically satisfying and pleasant for the audience which will also develop all aspects of my technique and musicianship.

[kreso]

I think that this sort of the program is good:
 
opening-some Bach (or transcripiton of his work), Scarlatti, Handel
             -one big sonata by Mozart, Beethoven Haydn or Schubert, or maybe some big                                     
              romantic piece, like Schubert's Wanderer, one Schumann cycle, Chopin Sonata or
              something like that..

Second half-maybe one bigger modern piece (about 15 min)-Debussy, Prokofiev, Ravel,                       Schostakovich, Bartok or even more modern..
                  -one piece like nocturno which will prepared you for:
                  -virtuoso piece by Liszt, Chopin, Rachmaninov....

Of course, you can always play one-composer evening program...

I would suggest you one of my favourite piece: Bach-Busoni Prelude and Fugue D major BWV 532, and maybe some Schumann or Schostakovich piece, because this year is their anniversary.. (Also you can try Don Juan Fantasy by Liszt-Mozart anniversary.hehe but this is very difficult.. )
You can also and maybe some rare things.
Anyway,
Good luck!!

 

[pianistimo]

when you get to your master's degree, you have a level of flexibility that you might not have had at the bachelor's level.  for one, they don't argue with you much over your program as long as you and your teacher have agreed upon it.  we can suggest, but your teacher is really the one to listen to!  he knows what you play best.  you don't want to play anything that you don't interpret well.

for instance, for me, i'm still a total dud when it comes to chopin, but i can play bach preludes/fugues, suites pretty well and from memory i might add.  it's something that you just have to figure what makes you nervous and AVOID it for performances until you are comfortable.  chopin etudes make me way nervous, but i can play one alone at night at 1:00 in the morning ok.   bach, i just feel comfortable with.

for me, saint-saens is my saving grace.  i can play saint-saens way easier than chopin (but i'm still working the chopin).  if i were even to do a grad recital, i'd try to talk my teacher into my ability to play saint-saens or faure because i personally feel like i can handle it better.

of course, you can't get away with an 'easy' program for grad work - so spend A LOT of time on your 20th century piece.  if you do well at one or two of these - you are assured success.  this is where the bulk of your practice will pay off in dividends, imo.  people at the grad level have to play something that is not 'mainstream' to impress the teachers and audience who have heard 'everything' before.

be creative and still according to your talents and interpretive skills.  listen to lots of new music that you haven't listened to before.  look at some master's recital programs and copy some ideas?  you have to show a progression and maturity level above the one you obtained at the bachelor's level.  more intricacies in the playing - more difficult harmonies - more nuances.  only your teacher can get this going - unless you are a good listener and go to a lot of concerts or listen to a lot of good recordings. 

i've found, too, that reading journals has stepped up my limited understanding of the levels of depth of musicianship.  first, we worry about notes, then memory, then interpretation - but at the master's level it is fine tuning (nuances and not anything basic anymore).  this is why keeping at this level requires a lot of practice (speaking to myself)  this is 6+ hours a day to stay level with other pianists.  3-4 makes you still at the bachelor's level.  it's a real trade off.  should we practice, study, or eat??? i say, practice practice practice - and then study and eat together.  i always get food on my papers. (i can't practice this much right now, but am getting better).

[pianowelsh]

I know there is supposed to bean element of flexibility but there is also an expectation of 'mastery' Do you think the pieces i mentioned above are weighty enough and would form a convincing enough package to meet a juries ideas of a 'professional level'.  Having said there is flexibility I know of MMus students who have very unceremoniously been told this is what you'll play and even ones who a month before have been told 'your not going to play that are you!' SO I want to have a very clear idea of what im doing before I go to my teacher for suggestions, so that its my recital not my teachers ( i know the  dnager).  Actually playing them is not a concern at the moment I have plenty of time.  It has to be said in terms of temprement im much more a tunes person than dense rhythmic structures. This probably comes across in my suggestions. Im prepared to put myself out of my comfort zone in a small piece but wouldnt be happy learning something like Boulez 1st sonata or Concord sonata (like some of my friends did for MMus).  I like the idea of schumann actually i get on well with his work and i find him easy to memorise. The only consideration i have is that much of his big pieces are variation forms which if im playing a Bach or handel suite may get to sound a bit samey??? I started the wanderer and gave up fro something else - i may go back to it?!

[dbrainiak914]

I would/will do an all-Griffes recital.  He's pretty much awesome, and no one's heard much of his stuff.

[pianowelsh]

Interesting idea Ive heard a few of his works but im not sure id like to face playing a 75 min memorised recital of his works in an examination.  We dont even know if its an evening concert. I could even possibly start at 9am!!! I couldnt face it at that time of the morning.  Mindue i know people who did all liszt recitals and one who did Bartok and Baber sonatas and a couple of ligetti studies that early! But not ofr the faint hearted!

[westley]

Even if you picked the easiest options of the things you mentioned you have a solid program difficulty wise.

[pianistimo]

is there a thesis requirement at your school to have your master's degree recital taped?  i think that you have to fill out some paperwork for that, too, at least 7 days ahead of recital.  and, maybe knowing what piano you're going to play will make you more comfortable, too (possibly in choosing repertoire that suits it).  suppose that a bad tuning would really throw me off - so ask about tunings, too.  can you bring a friend tuner to check it?  (just an idea)  i hate those last minute things where you have to 'make due' (though i haven't done my recital yet, and not sure if i'm going to finish the master's or not - or just do adult education stuff like organ lessons also).

anyway, hope that all goes well for you!  narrowing your recital repertoire down as speedily as possible is probably a really good idea.  and, putting it all down on a calendar as to what you need learned by when.  your teacher probably will help you with all this.  i was too perfectionistic after a year and let a summer recital slide by (should have gone for it).  i wanted everything to be perfect and it wasn't yet.  it's a feat to have everything ready at the same time (like a formal dinner).  i'm still working on the barber.  memorizing 20th century music used to be very very hard, but it's coming.  someone else said, practice like your life (livelihood) depends upon it. 

[pianowelsh]

All recitals must be taped for reasons of parity but it isnt a thesis requirements as such.  In the first recital we would have to play a work relating to our thesis topic but not for the final recital - its completely free choice.  What do you folks think to the Handel.  Noone seems to know it!!

[mcgillcomposer]

 Handel/Bach: I think the Handel suite in Dmin is a great choice...it's not often heard.  Personally, I would stay away from the Bach partita. 

Beethoven: The Waldstein and Appassionata are both OK to do, but why not give some exposure to a lesser-known Beethoven sonata?  You will certainly have more freedom in your interpretation...and well, just because the sonatas are well-known doesn't mean they are the best written.  For example, Beethoven did not consider the Mondschein sonata to be one of his best, and the popularity of the Waldstein comes from its historical associations more than anything else.  Have you ever looked at Op.22? It is a very interesting work (especially the rondo!), and is by no means cliché or easy.  This sonata offers a much better opportunity for you to show the jury how much you have developed as a musician, and not as a technical wiz.

Chopin: Nice choices!  I am glad you stayed away from the first ballade and the second scherzo   They are great pieces, but, well...I'm sure I don't need to tell you.

Liszt: OK...show off your chops here

Janacek/Ravel: Again, some really nice choices, but what happened to the modern era?!  Ravel and Janacek both died fairly early in the 20th century.  Have you ever considered doing a work by a major composer of more recent times?  Maybe Copland's sonata, Ligeti's Musica Ricercata, or a Ginastera sonata.  Just some suggestions. 

Part of me also feels that the Chopin and Liszt are too similar for a master's recital.  Maybe omit one of them, move the Ravl/Janacek up one place, and add a modern composition.

These are just some suggestions based on my experience; however, the key thing (which you made note of), is that you present yourself as a mature artist, who is able to make each work his own.

Best of luck!

- Andrew

[pianowelsh]

Thanks Andrew - really helpfull 

[jason2711]

though i'm nowhere near this stage I thought I'd add my own 2 cents 

I agree with andrew in that playing the waldstein or appassionata may not be a good way to stand out, these being his two most famous sonatas of this standard

Some of his later works have the required difficulty, and are nowhere near as overplayed... opus 109 is one of my favourites

You could always try opus 111 if you dare... but it might be a bit hard to pull off in front of jury types .

[pianowelsh]

I wouldnt do op111 atleast 4 MMus students have done this in recent years and recieved harsh marks for near perfect renditions.  I like op109 but it is in someways harder to programme....i'll have a think...op101 was a consideration at one point but i know someone who recently played that for an undergrad recital so i was not certain whether the level would really be high enough. Granted the person was exceptionally talented.