Schubert Serenade for 11 yo

[lani]

Does this piece work as a solo piano piece ?  My daughter is intermediate level and would like a contrasting piece to play for her upcoming workshop/recital in May.  She is currently practicing:

Beethoven Sonata Op.49 no. 2,
Chopin Nocturne E Flat Op. 9, no. 2
Czerny Velocity Pieces Book 1

Thanks,

Lani

[lani]

P.S. Since there have been no responses to the above post-I thought to clarify.  Does anyone have a recommendation of a solo piano version (editor and publisher name) for this piece? Thanks.

[bernhard]

You can find the score here:

https://www.rudolphsmusic.com/before/serenade.htm

However, may I ask you why choose a piece not originally written for piano (and in this particular case it sounds better in the original) when there is sucha vast repertory of piano solo music to choose from?

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[bernhard]

And come to think of it, Schubert is not really too much of a contrast with Beethoven and Chopin (they were all more or less contemporaries).

I would suggest either a baroque piece (Scarlatti, J.S. Bach) or a modern piece (Prokofiev and later) as a more suitable candidate for contrast.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[lani]

Thanks, Bernhard. I investigated a little further and she liked this piece because she happened  to hear this piece performed by Peter Nagy (?) on Naxos site.  When I went to look it up, I couldn't find it as a solo piano, which led me to posting this on the Forum.  I would love to provide your recommendations for Scarlatti or Prokofiev for her level.  She has played two Bach preludes from WTC (1st and 23rd from the 1st book), but just finished those for a competition and wanted to take a break, but she is thinking of following up on one of the fugues.  Thank you kindly for responding.  Was the serenade a composition for vocal and oboe ?  Any background info would be helpful.  

Regards,
Lani

P.S. Couldn't open the mime file for the source/link provided.  I'll need to download plugin.

[bernhard]

Thanks, Bernhard. I investigated a little further and she liked this piece because she happened  to hear this piece performed by Peter Nagy (?) on Naxos site. Was the serenade a composition for vocal and oboe ?  Any background info would be helpful.  

The Serenade is a song, originally written for voice with piano accompaniment. It is no. 4 of the Schwanengesang, D.957 (“Swan Song”)

The Schwanengesang (1828) is a collection of songs and comprise the last works composed by Schubert. It was published shortly after his death. Unlike his other song cycles, this is not really a cycle (and is rarely performed as one), but rather isolated songs put together.

The first seven songs in the set (which include Serenade) are poems by Ludwig Rellstab, the others are poems by Heinrich Heine and J. G. Seidl.

Rellstabe first gave his poems to Beethoven, and it is not known how they ended up being set by music by Schubert. Serenade is the most popular of them (and arguably Schubert’s most popular song – having being endlessly transcribed for all sorts of intrument combinations).

The Heine songs are considered to be far superior in musical terms, and modern performers rarely do the whole of the Schwanengesang, and rarely if at all in the published order.

You can find a printable score of a piano transcription (by Stephen Heller of the famous studies) here:

https://www.nla.gov.au/apps/cdview?pi=nla.mus-an14339985-s1-v

In the CD you mentioned (Peter Nagy – Naxos), the transcription is by none other than Liszt himself. Dover has published the complete Liszt transcriptions for piano of all Schubert’s song cycles. This version is far more difficult technically than the one by Heller above.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[lani]

Wow, thanks again Bernhard.  You are truly amazing.  Would the Lizst transcription by Dover be considered above my daughter's intermediate playing level?

[bernhard]

You bet!

In fact when people play this particular version they don not think of it as a Schubert piece, but as a Liszt transcription!

However bear in mind that I do not know your daughter, so I have no way to assess her potential. I would suggest that you ask her teacher.

Again it depends on what kind of teacher she has. Some teachers dislike giving more advanced pieces to students and insist on a gradual development.

I myself tend to give whatever piece the student wants to learn (the gain in motivation will more than make up for the extra work s/he will have to put up with).

You may also get the score and let your daughter have a go at it, so she can estimate if it is possible or not. IN any case, she should be able to do the Heller version without any problems.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

P.S. I have not forgotten your Prokofiev/Scarlatti query. I will come back to it. Must go now.

[bernhard]

 I would love to provide your recommendations for Scarlatti or Prokofiev for her level.  

After J. S. Bach, my favourite Baroque composer is Domenico Scarlatti. He wrote over 600 sonatas for keyboard all of them masterpieces. This makes ite really difficult to select one. The ones below are some of my favourites, at a level of difficulty that I believe your daughter can cope (grades are approximations only). Scott Ross has recorded all 600 hundred of them on the harpsichord (I don’t like them on the harpsichord though, even if it was the instrument for  which they were originally written). Several famous pianists have recorded selections of them and Naxos is now in the process of recording them all on the piano (currently they are on volume 5, and covered approximately 100 sonatas).

Usually Scarlatti sonatas are incredibly varied in musical ideas and keyboard technique. (I really cannot understand why bother with Hanon, Beyer , Pischna, Czerny and co. when you can get better results playing Scarlatti.) Broadly however they can be divided into slow and lyrical (not so technically demanding, but very demanding musically) and fast and dazzling (demanding both in terms of technique and musicality). Yet most of them are not that difficult. So, here are some:

K 1 - (D minor - Allegro) This is actually a two voice invention. Fast and delicate with lots of thirds and scale runs on the right hand, but no difficulty at all in the left hand. Difficult to play at full speed but easy if played slowly (and still effective)  Recorded by Ivo Pogorelich for DG. (2:30). Grade 6

K 32 – (D minor – Aria) Lyrical sonata much easier than it sounds. Slow and melancholic. Although just one page long it requires some musical maturity to be truly effective. This is an ideal piece to open a recital, since it is slow and introspective it will calm you down. Recorded by Michael Lewin for Naxos. (2:26)  Grade 3.

K 54 – (A minor – Allegro) – After a typical plaintive start in A minor, it suddenly displays a most romantic theme. Very unusual sonata. The main difficulty is to be found in the several bars where the hands cross. There are some thirds and sixths but they are easily negotiable.  Recorded by Jeno Jando for Naxos (4:44) Grade 6

K 69 - (F minor) My favourite amongst the slow, lyrical sonatas, this is a hauntingly beautiful piece with a complex polyphonic texture – difficult to read but easy to play. Spend sometime analysing its structure before tackilng it at the piano. A masterpiece. Recorded by  Jeno Jando for Naxos. (5:18 ) Grade 7

K132 – (C major – Cantabile – ¾)A slow (well, sort of) A lyrical sonata with beautiful lush harmonies, haunting dissonances and arpeggios that are suddenly interrupted by a heart wrenching delicate melody based on repeated notes. One of my all time favourites. Has been recorded by: Maria Tipo for VoxBox.  (7:24) Grade 6

K 213 – (D minor - Andante ) – Another of my favourites amongst the lyrical sonatas. A slow, full-of-longing melody increases gradually in intensity up to an unusual harmonic climax. Great to play and to listen to. Recorded by Michael Lewin for Naxos. (8:00). Grade 5

K 402 – (E minor – Andante) One of my favourites slow sonatas. Harmonically advanced and elaborate – at seven pages is one of the longest sonatas -  this is a masterful sonata with a superb central melody. Reflective and spiritual. Recorded by Eteri Andjaparidze for Naxos (12:34) – Grade 5

Now the final two I am going to suggest are much more difficult. However most of the difficulty comes from the fast tempos. They are easy to read and to play slowly. They are so wonderful though that you may consider them as an investment in the future. Start learning them now and eventually your daughter will be able to bring up the tempo.

K 46 – (E major – Presto) This one of my favourite fast sonatas. As the Cheyene Indians found of saying “ it makes my heart soar like a hawk”. One of the most catchy motifs amongst all sonatas it makes one wish to dance and jump for joy. This is amazing music. Recorded by Jeno Jando for Naxos (4:16) Grade 8+ (Much easier – unfortunately less effective also – if you don’t play it presto).

K 427 – (G major – Prestissimo) Wonderfully exhilarating sonata, both to play and to listen to. The tempo direction (“as fast as possible”) gives you an idea of what to expect. A really electric and uplifting work requiring pianism of the utmost degree. Has a recurring motif that is incredibly joyful and catchy. My favourite fast sonata. Has been recorded by Maria Tipo for VoxBox. But if you want to listen to a hair raising performance in terms of speed try Eteri Andjaparidze for Naxos (2:19) Advanced (But only if you play it at top speed.  It is still effective at lower speeds – as Maria Tipo shows beautifully).

One or two of these sonatas (do one fast and one slow) should provide a nice contrast to your daughter’s other pieces.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

Next: Prokofiev and other moderns.

[lani]

Bernhard,

Thank you very much for the wonderful list.  I'll check these out w/ my daughter.  She is really tired of the Czerny pieces so this will be a great change for her.  So fortunate to have your help on this ! Regards, Lani

[bernhard]

Bernhard, would you know where I could find Scarlatti's K213 and K402.
The sheet music archive doesn't have them.
Thanks Bernhard.

How would you like to get ALL Scarlatti sonatas plus ALL Haydn sonatas for less than US$ 20? (That's over 2500 pages of music!)

It all comes in a CD from CD Sheet music.

Check their Website:

https://www.cdsheetmusic.com/

[bernhard]

This site has a lot of interesting information on Scarlatti sonatas. And best of all, you can hear (harpsichord though) all of his 555 sonatas:

https://www.midiworld.com/scarlatti.htm

Enjoy!

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[lani]

Bernhard,

We went to the Naxos site, and listened to Jeno Jandos/Scarlatti Sonatas.  My daughter very much enjoyed your recommendations, especially the k 54, k 46 pieces.  She also like two others: k 201 (G Major, 3:40) and k 39 (A Major, 2:57).  May we ask what level/grade are those two latter pieces.  She would like to practice a minor/slower one and one faster one.  Would like to hear of your contemporary recommendations (Prokofiev), et al).  Thanks, Lani

P.S. Thanks for the websites.  I thought the Naxos site was fine for your recommendations-but will bookmark the one above.

[minsmusic]

How would you like to get ALL Scarlatti sonatas plus ALL Haydn sonatas for less than US$ 20? (That's over 2500 pages of music!)

It all comes in a CD from CD Sheet music.

Check their Website:

https://www.cdsheetmusic.com/

But does it come with a set of steak knives?

[bernhard]

 She also like two others: k 201 (G Major, 3:40) and k 39 (A Major, 2:57).  May we ask what level/grade are those two latter pieces.  She would like to practice a minor/slower one and one faster one.  

K 201 and K39 are around grades 7/8.

K201 is also excellent to replace technical exercises dealing with arpeggions and thirds.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[bernhard]

 Would like to hear of your contemporary recommendations (Prokofiev), et al).  

Prokofiev is my favourite modern composer.

Most of Prokofiev’s music is advanced level. However there are some real gems that are not that difficult (grades 5 – 8 ). Here are some of my favourites:

Visions fugitives Op. 22  - This is a collection of 20 pieces, very atmospheric and evocative. Most of them are difficult musically, not technically. (They vary from grade 5 to grade 8+)

No. 1 – “Lentamente”  - Slow and melancholic (grade 5)
No. 9 – “Allegretto tranquilo” – this is my favourite of the set, but it may be too difficult for your daughter. I estimate it at around grade 7/8
No. 11 – “Con vivacita” (grade 7)
No. 17 – “Poetico” (grade 8 )
No. 18 – “Con una dolze lentezza” (grade 8 )

Music for Children Op. 65  - 12 pieces written for children. This is Porkofiev at his most melodic and tonal. Each piece is a little masterpiece, and yet the difficulty is never above grade 6. My favourites are (but they are all excellent):

No. 2 – Promenade – Joyful and bouncy (grade 4)
No. 4 – Tarantella – Fast and rhythmical with a melodic middle section. Sounds much more difficult than it actually is. (grade 3)
No. 6 – Waltz  - A nice little waltz with unexpected turns of the harmony. Wonderfully tonal and yet very modern. (grade 5)
No. 9 – Playing tag – a fast moto perpetuo requiring good finger agility. (grade 6)
No. 12 – The moon strolls in the Meadows – This is my top favourite – A beautiful, melodic piece of great delicacy with the melody played alternatively in the right and left hand. (grade 5).

Juvenilia – These are pieces that Prokofiev wrote in his teenage years. They have no opus number and may be difficult to find. My copy was published by a Japanese company called Zen – On under the title: “First piano compositions”. There are 13 pieces in this collection. Here are my favourites:

Allegretto (A minor) – A quiet, lyrical piece  with a gentle accompaniment in repeated notes. (grade 4)

Vivo (G minor) – Exhilarating piece with a nervous, fast and percussive introduction followed (as Prokofiev often does) by a lyrical middle section of great melodic beauty. (Grade 6/7).

Allegro in D minor – Great piece. An intensive, addictive melody on the righ hand with a repeated note accompaniment on the left. (grade 5).

Tarantella in D minor – Similar to Op. 65 no. 3, but more difficult (gets ultra fast at the end). (grade 5).

Scherzo in C major – Brilliant and dazzling piece. Starts with a fast section with thirds on the right hand, lush and romantic, followed by a slow section and a return to the first section. Difficult but definitely worthwhile working on it. (Grade 7/8 ).

Study Scherzo in C major – Wonderfully uplifiting piece, bouncy and joyful. Much easier than it sounds. Handspan may be a limiting factor (lots of octaves and some ninths) (grade 6/7).

Melody in Eb major – Beautiful melody over an arpeggiated left hand pattern. Main difficulty is handspan (lots of octaves). (Grade 5/6).

Grandmother tales Op. 31 – Very Russian flavour. All four pieces are slow and lyrical.

No. 1 -  Moderato – Lots of crossing hands. Main difficulty is pedal use. (grade 6)
No. 2 – Andantino –  grade 5
No. 3 – Andante Assai –  Grade 5
No. 4 – Sostenuto – the most difficult of the lot. The melody is in the left hand while the right hand plays a repeated (but complex) dotted rhythm pattern. (Grade 6/7)

10 pieces Op. 12. In these compositions Prokofiev follows a classical model. The easiest ones are:

No. 2 – Gavotte – requires a large hand span. (grade 7)
No. 6 – Legende – Slow, lyrical piece, slightly reminiscent of Scriabin (grade 8 ).
No. 7 – Prelude – My favourite. A beautiful, magical piece with a fast broken chord accompaniment creating a mist of sound around the right hand melody. Very impressive (watch out for the glissandi!). This piece was originally written for harp. (grade 8 ).
No. 10 – Scherzo – A wonderful show-off piece (probably too difficult, but what the heck, I love it!) full of tension and nervous energy jumping all over the keyboard. (Grade 8+).

The complete piano solo music of Prokofiev has been recorded by Frederic Chiu for Harmonia Mundi.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[bernhard]

But does it come with a set of steak knives?

Yes, manufactured with Toledo steel and exact replicas of the ones Scarlatti's missus used in her kitchen. But hurry, only the first hundred customers get a set.

[bernhard]

I've just noticed that typing 8 followed by brackets results in this:

So please, whenever you see this   replace by 8 ).

Sorry.

[lani]

Thank you again, for the incredible detail and consideration, Bernhard.  We'll look into these.  I thought maybe the simile /smiley was intended for encouragement!  Regards, Lani

[bernhard]

You are welcome.

[lani]

P.S. We are having a hard time finding midi files for Prokofiev's pieces. The Juvenilia work as mentioned is difficult to find.  Would you have a recommendation for a cd recording or site with midi files of his work per your list above?  Regards,Lani

[bernhard]

P.S. We are having a hard time finding midi files for Prokofiev's pieces. The Juvenilia work as mentioned is difficult to find.  Would you have a recommendation for a cd recording or site with midi files of his work per your list above?  Regards,Lani

As I said before, Frederic Chiu has recorded the complete piano solo music by Prokofiev for Harmonia Mundi. You may have to purchase the whole set though, I am not sure if they sell the CDs separately. But there are other complete sets around. You will have to research.

The scores for Prokofiev's Juvenilia are originally published by Sikorski. I believe they are out of print, but if get in touch with them they will supply you with a copy. The last time I treid to get it, they said they were printing new copies on a demand basis.

My own score is form a Japanese publisher called zen-on. I am afraid that is all I can say for the moment.

They are very nice pieces. It will be worth the effor tto get them.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[lani]

Bernhard,
We would be very interested in getting a copy.  How might we arrange for that?  The cd you mentioned by Chiu did not list the Juvenilia works-is it under a different name perhaps?  Here's the url I found:https://www.harmoniamundi.com/hmUS/prod_main.asp?numb=2907301.10

Thank you, Lani

[bernhard]

Bernhard,
We would be very interested in getting a copy.  How might we arrange for that?  The cd you mentioned by Chiu did not list the Juvenilia works-is it under a different name perhaps?  Here's the url I found:https://www.harmoniamundi.com/hmUS/prod_main.asp?numb=2907301.10

Thank you, Lani

That's it. The juvenilia are spread over CDs 4 (Early fame) 5 (Themes of Childhood) and 6 (in Paris 1923 - 25).


You can contact Sikorski here:

https://www.sikorski.de/en/index.html

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[lani]

Got it!  Thanks, Lani