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.
Topic: Schubert Serenade for 11 yo