Is this do-able in a year???

[ce nedra]

I must enter a competition for which I will need one hell of a repertoire.

My choices go as follows (not the entire required rep, but just the major works)

Schumann: Symphonic Etudes
Alkan: Allegretto Alla Barbaresca (from concerto for solo piano) op 39 no 10
Liszt: Venezia e Napoli
Liszt/Gounod: Vals a L'opera Faust (MAYBE... I will change the transcription if rep becomes too much to handle)
Chopin: 3rd Ballade (also replaceable if necessary)
Chopin: Op 27 Nocturnes
Liszt: Concerto no 2 in A

As I said this is not everything (not nearly), just everything I havent learnt yet and I have just under a year to learn it all. The rest of the rep I basically know. Any commets welcome. I just need to know if I'm commiting suicide or not. Leave my sanity (or lack of) out of this

CN

[rapmasterb]

Hi Ce nedra,

That is a very cool repertoire. When I first looked at it the Alkan just jumped out at me because it is one of the toughest pieces in existence. I believe that it will constitute about 3 quarters of your workload. Just my opinion.

Recycle,
Rapmaster B.

[ramseytheii]

Symphonic Etudes is a really serious piece, that takes a lot of time, and also, you have to put serious scholarship into it.  You will notice there are many different editions, and some editions have movements which others do not; and the movements appear in different orders.  It is up to you to make your own version and put it in a convincing order.  This comes with times and experience with the piece.  If you are diligent you can do it but I would not force Schumann Symphonic Etudes.

Walter Ramsey

[pianiststrongbad]

Thats very ambitious for one year, definately not something I would put myself through.  It generally boils down to how fast you memorize and how well you can figure out the technical difficulties, while making it very musical.  I think for me that would be more like a two year project.

[stevie]

the alkan is learnable, but dont expect to ever play it at hamlein level, noone else can.

[Kassaa]

the alkan is learnable, but dont expect to ever play it at hamlein level, noone else can.

Ogdon?

[rapmasterb]

ogdon - pffff.

Anyway ce nedra, what is this competition anyway?

Rap B.

[ce nedra]

It is a national piano competition where I live. Rather not say where. It is going to be tough as they only accept 15 people... before they accepted 25 but then I was still too young to enter. I think I am going to scrap the Alkan. From what I heard it is absolute madness. So, I dunno, I will have to talk to my teacher about that. I think my program might change a fair amount before settling.

Basically, the rounds go as follows:

Round 1: (25-30 mins)
Bach P&F
Any transcription
Own choice

Round 2: (30-35 mins)
Mozart Sonata
Own choice

In either the 1st or 2nd round, must be played a national piece.

Round 3 (65-75 mins)
Own choice

Final:

Concerto (I've chosen Liszt 2)

Anyway.

[stevie]

Ogdon?

no, his concerto is messy

[kreso]

I think that you'll have to choose between Alkan and Schumann because these are all very difficult things and you have to play them really on high level if you want to win.. all other things you can do in one year, but think good of those that I mentioned!
GOOD LUCK!

[Kassaa]

no, his concerto is messy

I like it way more than Hamelin's though.

[ce nedra]

Kreso, I think you are right and I knew that before I even put the rep up. The Schumann and Alkan are undoable together. But I will stick to the Schumann as it takes up a lot more time, which is what I need, and I like it só much more than the Alkan. But what instead? I need things that'll take up time, because, as you can see from the comp breakdown above, there is a lot of it that needs to be filled....

[franz_]

Btw, How difficult is Liszt 2?

[ce nedra]

Not nearly as difficult as Liszt 1. Not too bad. Well I dunno, I cant really judge.

[pianiststrongbad]

I'm learning Liszt 1 now and I was under the impression that Liszt 2 was harder.  I have never played the 2nd though so I can't speak from experience.

[viking]

Not nearly as difficult as Liszt 1. Not too bad. Well I dunno, I cant really judge.

I wouldnt say this.  Although everyone finds different things difficult, the only thing that tough about Liszt 1 is the repeated notes.  Liszt 2 requires greater stamina, more maturity, and is structurally much more difficult to play well.  That said, I think this piece is excellent for competition and for the development of a pianist.  This piece tought me so much!

Sam

[ce nedra]

I also chose the 2nd over the 1st as the 1st is so disgustingly well known, and there are just too many preconceived ideas as how it is "meant" to be played, and I dont want to put myself in a box in that regard. I like doing my own thing. And also, I've just heard it far too much so I am a little tired of it.
I relate to the 2nd a lot better, emotionally, etc and I also find it very comfortable on the hands to play. (I started learning it about a week ago) For me, it is incredible. I find I understand it more than the 1st. I prefer maturity over technical brilliance.

I actually wanted to play the Totentanz for this competition but it wasn't on the prescribed list. Pooh.

[tds]

Schumann: Symphonic Etudes
Alkan: Allegretto Alla Barbaresca (from concerto for solo piano) op 39 no 10
Liszt: Venezia e Napoli
Liszt/Gounod: Vals a L'opera Faust (MAYBE... I will change the transcription if rep becomes too much to handle)
Chopin: 3rd Ballade (also replaceable if necessary)
Chopin: Op 27 Nocturnes
Liszt: Concerto no 2 in A

As I said this is not everything (not nearly),

OMG!   this would do bad to one's stomach and blood circulation! if you asked me whether or not i can learn and master all of them up to a performing standard, in just a single year, i'd give you a quick answer: NO WAY.

well...but then again, i dont know you--you might be one of the very fantastic pianists who learn pieces extremely fast. if you have great technique, infallible memory, and are familar/comfortable with the musical language of all these composers, then you have a chance. i cant judge.

STILL, for a competition, i believe it is unwise to play this much new repertoire, even when you cancel either the schumann or alkan piece. do you have any learnt pieces in your repertoire that fit the requirement? if so, why wont u bring them back, instead of trying to struggle thru something you could actually avoid? all the time that would otherwise be spent on such struggle can be used for better purposes.

ok, here is a small note, nonetheless valuable: feeling good and confident before a competition is important. one major reason of having a healthy confidence is from your knowing the fact that you learn your pieces quite thoroughly, isn't it? what good is it to you if you could only master say 85% of all the pieces you listed on the day of your competition? also, competition is much about showing what we can do best. chances of revealing our weaknesses should be pressed down to a minimum. high ranked jury is fickle by nature, we are deemed to be careful when choosing pieces for ourselves. 


have you talked to your teacher? btw, i am very interested to know what you finally choose. whatever, whichever, however, choose wisely.

just my two cents.

all the very best, tds
 

[tompilk]

go for it... the alkan is worth learning if you fail all the other pieces... it's purely like a life-goal, for me at least, although I prefer the first movement. Like so many other pieces...
Tom