music college repertoire

[thorn]

im auditioning for music college next autumn. i've already narrowed the stuff i can play down to what i would feel comfortable doing at this point in time. but ive got pretty much a year so any help would be greatly appreciated

Bach- Prelude and Fugue in Ab (Bk 1 Nr 17)
          Prelude and Fugue in Gm (Bk 2 Nr 16)

Beethoven- Sonata Op 31 Nr 1
                   Sonata Op 31 Nr 2
                   Sonata Op 57

Chopin- Ballade Nr 1

Debussy- Nocturne in Db

Liszt- Gnomenreigen

Messiaen- Regard des prophetes, des bergers et des Mages

Ravel- Gaspard de la Nuit

Takemitsu- Litany I, II
                  Rain Tree Sketch II

[pianowelsh]

It would be helpfull to know whether its undergrad or post grad and how long yu have to play for?!

[quantum]

That's a heavy looking program for undergrad.  If it is undergrad, rather than put off a technical program, substitute some pieces with easier ones where you can show you also know how to handle the musical substance of a piece that does not have big technique requirements. 

[franzliszt2]

where are you auditioning?

[thorn]

i'm auditioning for: (in UK)

Royal Academy
Royal College
Trinity College
Royal Northern
Leeds College

@ quantum- which pieces would you suggest? personally i thought the Debussy Nocturne and the Takemitsu would cover that kind of piece?

as for the more difficult pieces- ive been playing the Chopin Ballade for months and have pretty much another year on it and i was only planning on doing Ondine from Gaspard.  The Beethoven Sonatas i'd only play the first movement and the Liszt isnt too bad once you get used to it.

and i wouldnt play all these pieces at every audition; only 3 or 4, the pieces listed are just what i have to pick from because im comfortable playing them.

and its undergrad auditions btw

[quantum]

Maybe something from Brahms Op 116, 118, 119

Scriabin: a prelude, poem, or other set of miniatures

Medtner: a fairy tale

Chopin: a couple Mazurkas


I'm not suggesting you play all of these, just some ideas to pick from. 

That Messiaen you selected is a crashy chord one isn't it?  Maybe pair it up with one of the quieter Regards. 

[pianowelsh]

Some of those colleges have part prescribed repertoire so you should check out with them any pieces they definately want to hear first then use that as a framework.  If your really strong on the 20/21st c pieces Id go for one of those because a lot of undergrads are scared of them and it will stand out as different. Also HOD's will be thinking this is someone who will actually volunteer to take part in my 20th c music prize and the contemporary music ensemble etc.  A beethoven sonata well played is always a good plan. If you play ondine REALLY well it may work well for you but if its just coming ready or not something you really connect with leave it to bring out later on during your time in college (let it mature - secretly!) An etude liKe Gnomenreigen is usually a good bet or Campanella but bear in mind it needs to be VERY highly polished as this one is one most of the students in college will be playing ofr their technical exams or recitals so the HOD's have heard it countless times so it needs to be a bit special to suceed.  bear in mind also that you possibly wont get much of a warm up prior to your auditions as piano time/space is often restricted during audition time so something which you can play cold to begin is often desireable and will set you at an advantage over the ones who have decide to try Islamey or Feux follet - at which you can sit and silently chuckle in the next room. You probably dont need anything like that programme for Leeds college. The classical course there is much easier to get onto that  any of the Royal colleges. Trinity like NEW music so a contemporary slant would work well. RNCM and RCM are much more traditional and there you just need to play the canonical stuff really well to keep them sweet. RAM are more open and are looking more at your cv and who you are as an emerging musical personality.

[thorn]

i've been investigating the colleges and all of them let you choose everything you play.

@ pianowelsh  people play Islamey and Feux Follets for audition? are they mad? as for ondine im playing it in a piano competition a few months before i even apply so i will see what feedback i get from there before i decide if its matured enough.

@ quantum- im looking through the brahms/scriabin and medtner you suggested and some of them are really nice. im going to select 2 or 3 over the xmas break i think

also, after what was said about picking pieces that were more about musical substance than technique for this level, im thinking of replacing the Liszt Gnomenreigen with the Lyapunov etude Nuit d'Ete; which is technically easier and in my opinion, a lot deeper. what do people think?

[franzliszt2]

I did gnomenriegen for my college auditions and they seemed to like it. I think it is a great piece to play, it's hard, but not too hard, and fun. I've never met anyone who played it at an audition so I don't suppose it's that common.

I think the Medner suggestion is great, have you looked at op20 no1? Thats an incredible piece if music.

I know a lot of people tend to have at least one big piece, and I think Ondine is a great one to play, or even a chopin Ballade, although they hear them a lot.

Don't ever be put off by people playing stuff like Islamey and feux follets. They don't just go for technique at colleges. If they play them well, be scared, but I highly doubt it, they've probably spent all there life learning islamey, and have a totally rubbish programme after that. Academy loves that sort of stuff though, a teacher from there once told me... Academy students all play fast and loud, and nothing else. And they favour foriegn students big style for money. That was an actual teacher at academy that told me that.

Trinity love new music, at my audition there thats all they talked about in the interview "Do you like contempory music?". They made me play for literally 5 mins. I played about 2 pages of Chopin scherzo 3, and then gnomenrigen, and they stopped me.

Are you going to apply for Guildhall? Thats a great place as well.

[pianowelsh]

For the most part YES!  My housemate at college played Islamey for audition - I didnt! we both got in..we both graduated  - Well!   really dont be impressed by people who play the big stuff. most of them play very badly and the funniest thing is when they get in half of them are taken back to basics because they have crammed technically to get these big pieces ready and then have to relearn how to play - properly! You are better to play something well within your range and do it well - thats the only secret.  If as sometimes happens at the RAM they favour someone who plays well over someone who hacks off a big piece with lots of technical issues then they are the fools! and the drop out rate is significant in these places because people go with the illusion that they got in and are destined for stardom. Let me tell you its not the case. Its the same in all schools. A certain number of people fill up the places - they know not everyone is going to be the next Ashkenazy or Kissen. Show them YOUR personality when you audition and that you are comitted to doing what you do well. Most sane panels will prefer that. franzlist is right about folk who do Mephisto and Islamey etc by and large they cant do much else. Of course you will get some who can and they will be the top 1 or 2% of applicants who will get in and get the limelight. Thats life.

If you feel confident with Ondine go for it. But dont make the mistake of enshirning difficulty over quality. The competition will be good for you and will give you something to talk about a the audition. max up on it... they like bankable and experience.

[iumonito]

i'm auditioning for: (in UK)

Royal Academy
Royal College
Trinity College
Royal Northern
Leeds College

@ quantum- which pieces would you suggest? personally i thought the Debussy Nocturne and the Takemitsu would cover that kind of piece?

as for the more difficult pieces- ive been playing the Chopin Ballade for months and have pretty much another year on it and i was only planning on doing Ondine from Gaspard.  The Beethoven Sonatas i'd only play the first movement and the Liszt isnt too bad once you get used to it.

and i wouldnt play all these pieces at every audition; only 3 or 4, the pieces listed are just what i have to pick from because im comfortable playing them.

and its undergrad auditions btw

These schools are not very competitive, so you should be fine with anything if you play it reasonably well.

One thing to think about is that in some places you cannot play in exams or recitals for credit works you have already performed for the school, and that would include you audition program.  Gaspard particularly seems an overkill.  If I were you, I would probably save that for a graduation recital.

On the other hand, if you don't get dazzled by the hoop-jumping, play the works you want now and you can play PDQ Bach in your graduation recital if you want to.

31.1 is very difficult and not a very good recital work, so that seems to me a perfect audition piece.

[franzliszt2]

These schools are not very competitive, so you should be fine with anything if you play it reasonably well.

I must disagree. Academy, college and northern are very competitive. They get applicants from Chethams, Menuhin, Wells, Purcell etc.. applying. The London ones get hundreds of foreign people applying, who tend to be rather good.

[iumonito]

OK.  My impression is that it is much easier to get in there than say Julliard or Curtis or Tchaikovsky.  Don't they pretty much take anyone who can play at these schools listed?

[franzliszt2]

Well they are obviously not as competitive as Juliard or curtis. But they don't take anyone, there is a very high standard. I mean you do get people at those schools playing Rach 3 in thier 1st year, and Godowsky Etudes are heard etc.. So I wouldn't say anyone who can play can play stuff like that would you?

[iumonito]

Absolutely.  Although when I said anyone that can play I meant anyone that can competently play, for example, Tchaikovsky 1, or Brahms 1 or Beethoven 53, 57, or 81, or Chopin or Liszt etudes.

I think we are in the same riff.

[franzliszt2]

Oh right, sorry, I misunderstood you at 1st, but understand your point now. 

[thorn]

I've been re-thinking and adding/taking away over Christmas and would be grateful for any thoughts:

Bach- Prelude and Fugue in Ab (Bk 1 Nr 17)

Beethoven- Sonata Op 31 Nr 1 (1st mvt)
                  Sonata Op 31 Nr 2 (1st mvt)
                   
Brahms- Intermezzo Op 116 Nr 4

Chopin- Ballade Nr 1

Debussy- Nocturne in Db

Kapustin- Concert Etude Op 40 Nr 3

Liszt- Gnomenreigen

Medtner- Fairy Tale Op 20 Nr 1

Messiaen- Regard des prophetes, des bergers et des Mages
               Plainte Calme

Takemitsu- Litany I
                 Rain Tree Sketch II


Ravel- Ondine (depending on competition feedback)