Need help in choosing short piece

[fhertzbe]

Hello,

this is my first posting to the Piano forum. I'm 40 and an adult learner. I'm no sure at what level I am. I've taken piano lessons once every other week for a year now. I have a musical background, having played the guitar from early on (13) and some piano since my gymnasium days. Now: I've been asked to play at a public event at work, which takes place in about four months. I've decided to begin with the first piece from Schumann's Bunte Blätter (Op. 99) and to end with Mendelssohn's last Song without words (102/6). However, I need something to put in between these pieces - they are, in a sense, too alike in tempo and mood. Mendehssohn's relaxed piece would come off better if preceded by a piece which creates more of a contrast. I've thought of the Beethoven Écossaise in Eb, but that again perhaps creates too much of a contrast. It would have to be something that doesn't take forever to learn, but which would fit together with these two reflective pieces, like the piquant beef in the midst of a hamburger. Very grateful for any suggestions! It doesn't have to be a Romantic piece.

Fred

[dnephi]

Well, for an exciting piece of that style which is fairly feasible to learn, perhaps you might want, dare I say, Rachmaninoff Prelude in C# Minor.  You might like Schumann Kinderszenen, "An Important Event."  It is not prodigiously difficult but shoulds uffice