'Restaurant Pieces'

[franz_]

Hi, next month I will play every Friday in a restaurant. Mostly when you have a pianobar it is jazz music or something. Now they want CLASSICAL music. Which pieces are good to learn quick and are suiteble to play in a restaurnat while people are eating (So I don't think they will aprreciate Rachmaninoff f.e.)

Thanks a lot.

[jre58591]

perhaps some slower, lyrical pieces would do the trick. some slower chopin pieces like nocturnes came to my mind first.

[bench warmer]

........I got nothin'.............but I wish you a lot of luck. The only place worse to play classical piano would be a sports bar.     I hope you get paid a lot.

[jakev2.0]

 .seceip nibaircS wols ot evitpecer yllareneg era elpoeP

[Motrax]

Actually, Rachmaninoff 16-5, 23-4, 23-6, and 23-10 are all perfect pieces for the occasion; I don't know how much time you have, but Op. 23 No. 10 is only two pages long, unobtrusive, and rather beautiful.

I actually have a binder of quiet music that I can take with me when a pianist is needed for some reception or another. These pieces require very little preparation or are entirely sightreadable for me. I don't know what level you're at, but I hope this helps:

Ravel
Prelude
Pavane de la Belle au bois dormant (from Ma Mere l'Oye)

Debussy
Clair de Lune (from Suiter Bergamesque)
The Snow is Dancing (from Children's Corner)
Et La Lune Descend Sur Le Temple Qui Fut (from Images Book II; this will probably require some work beforehand)
Des Pas Sur La Neige (from Preludes, Book I)
La Fille Aux Cheveux De Lin (from Preludes, Book I)

Eric Satie
3 Gymnopedies

Scriabin
LOTS of great pieces. Buy the Dover book of preludes and etudes; you'll find between 15 and 20 pieces that are well-suited to your needs. And if you have a little more time, there are a few etudes you could learn which would be appropriate for the situation.

Chopin
Nocturne Op. 9 No. 1
Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2
Nocturne Op. 37 No. 1
Nocturne Op. 55 No. 1

Schubert
Any of the Impromtus are great, but would probably require a significant amount of practice beforehand.

Liszt
Six Consolations

This list is by no means exhaustive - for example, I've left out Mendelssohn, who wrote many great pieces suitible for this sort of occasion. I'm more familiar with the works listed above, as I've played or sightread all of them before.

If you're comfortable with it, also try improvising! I tend to improvise about as much as I sightread at these occasions.

What's most important, perhaps moreso than the repertoire you play, is keeping the atmosphere serene. Resteraunt-goers aren't expecting or even desiring a concert (unless that's what's being advertised). It's possible to play loud and fast music in an unobtrusive manner, just as it's possible to play quiet, slow music in a jarring, attention-grabbing manner.

Sorry if I've bored you with things you already know; it wasn't clear from your post at what level your playing is or how much experience you have with playing at social functions.

Good luck! 

- M

[panic]

The devil in me wonders what kind of remarks you would get for playing either Sorabji's Gulistan or Count Tasca's Garden, since they have the perfect sort of mood, particularly Gulistan, but just have that occasional weirdness that the ignorant ears of the restaurant-goers may not like.

[nicco]

Just improvise something 

[jre58591]

i think sorabji's gulistan would be good. when you refer to count tasca's garden, are you referring to the 2nd movement from his 4th sonata? if so, i think that would be great also.
also, perhaps some respighi piano pieces would do the trick. his nocturne is very lyrical and touching.

[baron_von_heimlich]

I seriously doubt he's going to be playing any sorabji for the restaurant, even things like le jardin perfume or gullistan are insanely difficult - lots of preparation for that.

Motrax has really good suggestions - a lot of that are things that I play in restaurants and weddings and receptions too.  Improvisation is also a very useful thing to have - especially if you are going to be playing for several hours.  Don't worry about the 'dissonance' level of your pieces - I've improvised completely atonal/tone cluster stuff in these situations and as long as it is quiet and 'lyrical' no one seems to notice (actually, last time I did that kind of improv I got a lot of compliments).  Just stay away from loud, percussive pieces and you'll be fine.  Although, the occasional showpiece can be effective, as long as you don't do that sort of thing too much.

And make sure to put seed money in the tip jar and display the jar prominently!!

[kaiwin]

Hi franz,
My friend also use to work at a restaurant and what he played was a lot of Schubert.
Remember, the customers won't care what you play as long as you sound good.

PLAY SCHUBERT

haha

Easy to play, Easy to Listen

[debussy symbolism]

Schubert impromptus? Really? Aren't they too good for a simple social gathering. They are far too beautifull. I am playing the A flat major one, and the Trio is so beautifull that it should not be introduced at such a simple gathering.

[Nightscape]

?

[pianote]

things that come to mind...

Joplin                     Solace, A Mexican Serenade
Beethoven             Op.90, No.2
Tchaikovsky            The Seasons: November: Troika Drive, April, etc.
Saint Saens            Le Cygne
Debussy                  Reverie, Claire...etc.
Bolcom                    A lot of his rags would be nice...Field of Flowers, maybe
Chopin                    Tons of things
Brahms                    Op.118, etc.

...tons more that'd work

[franz_]

Thanks a lot for all the reactions!
Very interesting things here. First of all, yes I will be payd. Otherwise I would't pay in such a situation. Also it will be a great experience. Pieces like Chopin nocturnes, Satie, Debussy and Schubert are indeed very suitable. I can improvise a bit and so I will have to do that. Mostly when I improvise it sounds a bit jazzy. But I don't think that is a problem? Thanks a lot allready.

[ahinton]

The devil in me wonders what kind of remarks you would get for playing either Sorabji's Gulistan or Count Tasca's Garden, since they have the perfect sort of mood, particularly Gulistan, but just have that occasional weirdness that the ignorant ears of the restaurant-goers may not like.

Donna Amato did once - no, twice - play his Fantaisie Espagnole on a cruise, although this was admittedly in a recital programme rather than in a cocktail bar. I doubt very much that any restaurant pianist would play the Sorabji works you mention, not so much because of he risk of adverse audience reaction but because they are very hard to play well compared to the kinds of "classical" pieces that would more usually be played in this kind of context.

The whole point of playing in a restaurant is that you provide sonic wallpaper rather than anything that might risk encouraging diners to put down their cutlery and concentrate on the music, so it would in any case not be worth all the effort to learn Gulistan only to perform it during the main course; the diners wouldn't be accompanying their meal with The Wine of Jami, either...

Best,

Alistair

[mephisto]

Slow Chopin waltzes
Cute Chopin mazurkas
Chopin nocturnes without a fury section

Poulenz intermezzo in e

Godowsky alt wien. Actually all of those typical sentimental encore type of pieces created around 1900( Mozkowski etc)

And may I say: Mompou Especially impression intimes.

[Motrax]

Oh! There's some Messiaen that would work very well, but I've never seen any sheet music of his, so I couldn't say how difficult it is to learn.

If you think your improv is too jazzy, use less interesting rhythms and it'll sound classical. 

- M

[verywellmister]

You could play Debussy's Bruyeres (Preludes).  Slow, tranquil, and very beautiful.
or Poulenc Intermezzo in Ab
and Schumann's Traumerei from Kinderscenen
or Tchaikovksy's Dumka, if you wanna shock the patrons.

[jre58591]

Oh! There's some Messiaen that would work very well, but I've never seen any sheet music of his, so I couldn't say how difficult it is to learn.

the kind of messiaen that would work is something like the 1st of the vingt regards. that one, and other pieces like it, is very solemn and peaceful. it would be perfect for teh occasion.

[pianochild]

Ok there is a place where i live called the smoking gun reasturant. And on saturday evenings there is a piano player that comes in. The big problem with him is that he repeats some pieces  , not a good idea.

I would do some
- Songs,
- Classical,
- Soft - rags,
- some modern.


Here are some of my ideas:

Somewhere over the rainbow works well,      | -     dont sing
Billy joel "piano man" Songs                            | -       tho!

Some joplin rags:
The entertainer
magnetic rag
maple leaf rag
stoptime rag
some more soft ones.

Brams waltz op39 no 15, has to be done

Satie Gymnopodie no 1 + 2, defo.

Chopin noctures definately:
ones that come to mind are:
- op 9 nom 1
- op 15 no 3
- op 27 no 1
- op 48 no 2
- op 55 no 2
- op 72 no 1

these are soft and elegant and not "too" heavy.

Debussy:
Clair de lune - defo.
Arabesque no 1
le cathedrale engleute
reviere

some easy burgmuller op 109, sound nice - most will disagree

mendelssohn songs without words
Andante,, from andante and rondo capriciossio

And thats about it from my ideas. Have a look at some they are very sooting and relaxing.

You could also buy classical chillout, the book, it has some good ones like pavane, adagio for strings, etc.

When you play, it is a good idea to sort of memorize the pieces if you can, and try and play with emotion and movement, not like a stick, cause people like to watch!!

Good look 

-+ DaNnY +-

[jre58591]

also, bolcom's ghost rags (my favorites of his) or garden of eden rags would be some nice pieces for this kinda setting.

[kaiwin]

Well if you have to play for 4 1/2 hours long and are really good pianist who can sight read anything I suggest
Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji - Opus Clavicembalisticum

 

[ahinton]

Well if you have to play for 4 1/2 hours long and are really good pianist who can sight read anything I suggest
Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji - Opus Clavicembalisticum

 

Surely this would be appropriate only if it were to accompany a 12-course meal? - although, ven then, it occurs to me that the effects of that nitric acid in the coffee as the Coda-Stretta comes to its close might be such that none of the diners would be in any condition to pay the check afterwards...

And anyway - why "sight-read" it? Why not actually learn it first?

Best,

Alistair

[mephisto]

Surely this would be appropriate only if it were to accompany a 12-course meal? - although, ven then, it occurs to me that the effects of that nitric acid in the coffee as the Coda-Stretta comes to its close might be such that none of the diners would be in any condition to pay the check afterwards...

And anyway - why "sight-read" it? Why not actually learn it first?

Best,

AListair

My time is preciouss(sp?)

-da Meph

[ahinton]

My time is preciouss(sp?)

-da Meph

OK - so it won't be you doing this, then?...

Best,

Alistair

[mephisto]

OK - so it won't be you doing this, then?...

Best,

Alistair

I mean, that a man/boy like me can`t spend many years trying to learn a piece that I could sight-read with my back against the piano

[mikey6]

Satie, he invented background music so use his music for his own idea!

[jre58591]

play some kapustin. the variations, bagatelles, andante op 58, and some of the slower pieces really get the mood going. try to aim for the less flashier pieces, like andante op 58. hes SO unappreciated in these forums. why is this?

[franz_]

play some kapustin. the variations, bagatelles, andante op 58, and some of the slower pieces really get the mood going. try to aim for the less flashier pieces, like andante op 58. hes SO unappreciated in these forums. why is this?

I adore Kapustin. I know some of his sonatas, toccatina, variations,... but do not know is andante op. 58, also his bagatelles I don't know. Could anyone post me the audio file, or even better, the scores?

[sissco]

I adore Kapustin. I know some of his sonatas, toccatina, variations,... but do not know is andante op. 58, also his bagatelles I don't know. Could anyone post me the audio file, or even better, the scores?

https://ca.geocities.com/cm_index/indexK-O.html#K

I have the audio files to, I will rip them now

[franz_]

https://ca.geocities.com/cm_index/indexK-O.html#K

I have the audio files to, I will rip them now

OMFG, what a site! Thanks a lot.

[moi_not_toi]

Wallpaper Music by Satie.
for obvious reasons.