Repertoire about Mother, or related theme

[thaicheow]

Hi, all.

I am thinking of giving a very small concert on coming May, as a memory to my mum.

Thinking of doing repertoire related to Mother, or Ave Maria (as I hope to held it in the church). The concert should last only about an hour, the most.

I am thinking:

Sonata in A minor, Mozart, K 310

"Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman" variation, Mozart, K 300

Kinderstuck, Schuman


Anyone else? Thank you.

[nicco]

Harald Sæverud (Norwegian composer) has composed a piece called "Til Mor",  in english: "To mum" wich is really nice.

[thaicheow]

Harald Sæverud (Norwegian composer) has composed a piece called "Til Mor",  in english: "To mum" wich is really nice.

Never heard of him before. Do you have a copy of the score? Can send it to me? Thanks anyway.

[burstroman]

Maybe as an encore you could offer a solo transcription of a selection from Ravel's "Ma Mere L'Oye".    Meanwhile, I'm trying to think of a more serious suggestion.

[desordre]

 Dear Thaicheow:
 My most sincere condolences.
 The first piece that came to my mind was Liszt's Harmonies Poetiques et Religieuses II (Ave Maria). It's a transcription made by himself of his astonishing choral work.
 Best to you, and a happy New Year.

[musicsdarkangel]

Liszt wrote Mephisto Waltz with his mother in mind 
 

 

[brahms4me]

You may want to play some familiar pieces along with the ones that may not be as familiar to the general congregation.  Have you considered the first movement of the Moonlight Sonata?  Everyone loves that piece (at least that's my experience).  And perhaps Debussy's Clair de Lune and perhaps a couple of short Chopin works.

Let us know what you decide.  Good luck!

[pianistimo]

dvorak - 'songs my mother taught me' 

and, possibly any songs that you remember your mother particularly loving.  or, a song that reminds you of her.  just know - that when you make associations like this - though - you might get choked up.  tell your audience ahead of time that this concert is in memory of her.  they'll understand and appreciate the feeling more.  what is nice is that in May - everyone is celebrating their mother in some way - so you can invite others to participate in sharing what they love about their mothers - or speak of some general tendencies that mothers all have. 

[jre58591]

Harald Sæverud (Norwegian composer) has composed a piece called "Til Mor",  in english: "To mum" wich is really nice.

i would appeciate those sheets too. its impossible to find norwegian piano music here.

[nicco]

i would appeciate those sheets too. its impossible to find norwegian piano music here.

Ok, ill try to scan them asap.

[nicco]

Here we go, freshly scanned. Easy piece, but very nice. He wrote this to his mother on her deathbed.

[jpowell]

What immediately springs to mind is Josef Suk cycle of pieces called 'About Mother' ('O matince' in the original Czech). He wrote these pieces in around 1912 for his daughter about his late wife (i.e. the girl's mother, who was also Dvorak's daughter). They are not very technically complex, but are demanding from an interpretative point of view. They are also very good pieces in my opinion.

[pianistimo]

interesting, jpowell!  thanks for the tidbit.  didn't realize that this girl's mother (married to josef suk) was dvorak's daughter, too.  i heard something symphonic by dvorak that i never heard before (the other day on the radio).  i wish i could find out what it was.  extremely light and exhuberant.

[ahinton]

I would have mentioned it myself but thought I'd just wait for someone else to do so - suspecting indeed that the "someone else" concerned would - with luck - be Jonathan Powell, who has had this Suk work in his repertoire for quite some years! This thread was from its very outset simply waiting for just that answer; now it has it!

Best,

Alistair

[kreso]

What immediately springs to mind is Josef Suk cycle of pieces called 'About Mother' ('O matince' in the original Czech). He wrote these pieces in around 1912 for his daughter about his late wife (i.e. the girl's mother, who was also Dvorak's daughter). They are not very technically complex, but are demanding from an interpretative point of view. They are also very good pieces in my opinion.

If somebody wants here is this Suk cycle

[dabbler]

thaicheow, sincere condolescences also from me. I lost my mother two years ago, and I think a concert in the memory of your mother is a very good plan.

Most important thing, as somebody else already said, is to choose something that is personally connected to your mother, e.g. pieces she liked particularly. Personally, for this occasion, I would probably not play the whole Mozart a minor sonata, only the second movement.

Instead, I would suggest three choral preludes from Bach in Busoni's transcription:
1) Ich ruf zu Dir Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 639
2) Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 659
3) Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 645

They are highly emotional, and convey - as you can imagine - a strong faith. The third one is a warm-hearted, life-affirming, pastorale piece, and could IMO even be used as an ending for the whole evening. Somebody recently posted a nice interpretation in the audition room. They are also on Pletnev's wonderful "Songs without words" CD. The scores are available in a small booklet from Breitkopf (no. 2459).

I'd also be interested to hear which program you'll ultimately choose, and how you feel after the concert. Best wishes!

[thaicheow]

Hi,

Just check out the recording by Mikhail Pletnev and Martha Argerich on Ravel's "Ma mere l'Oye".

I wonder is the solo transcription is done by Ravel himself too?? I simply love their playing. By the way, I am doing the few repertiors I mentioned b4.

Thank for everyone here. You guys have been very helpful.

[liszt1022]

The solo version of Ravel's "Ma mere" is by Jacques Charlot.