Auditions for Music School - recommendations??

[hwangs]

I'm planning to audition to a few music schools (like U of Michigan and UWisconsin). Some of my current repertoire:

Bach - English Suite #2
Beethoven - Opus 57 (Waldstein)
Beethoven Concerto #3
Brahms - Intermezzo Opus 118.6
Chopin - Etude 10.2

-- I think I'm gonna stick with Waldstein for the Classical Sonata, and maybe the etude (for etude req) but Does anyone have any suggestions for
(1) a suitable Romantic piece,
(2) a 20th century or Impressionistic piece, and
(3) WTC Prelude and Fugue from Bach?? I've learned from book 1: C, cm, C#, D, dm, E, G; and from book 2: dm.

What I'm bogged down with is suitable and standard Romantic and 20th Century pieces that will be acceptable for multiple schools.

Thank you!!

[amelialw]

for romantic you could try Mendelssohn's Rondo Cappriccioso,Schumann's Carnival or Novelettes, List Legends. for 20th Centuary Debussy's images or preludes, Rachmaninoff's Preludes, Prokofiev's Visions Fugatives or Sonatas. quite a lot more... oh yeah the P+F from book 1 in A major is pretty nice

[burstroman]

How about one of the "Soiree de Vienne" by Liszt. For 20th century, play the "Sarcasmes" by Prokofiev.  For the P&F, maybe the e minor of Bk2 of WTC.

[ilikepie]

romantic- chopin ballade, liszt annees de pelerinage(Au Bord d'une Source, 'Les Jeux d'Eaux à la Villa d'Este are my favorites)

20th century - ravel gaspard de la nuit (ondine maybe?), miroirs(une barque sur l'ocean, alborada del gracioso or any of them really), jeux d'eau, prokofiev sonata no. 3?, debussy estampes(any of the 3), l'isle joyeuse, stravinsky petrushka(one of the three movements??)

w.t.c=w.t.f

[pita bread]

I'm planning to audition to a few music schools (like U of Michigan and UWisconsin). Some of my current repertoire:

Bach - English Suite #2
Beethoven - Opus 57 (Waldstein)
Beethoven Concerto #3
Brahms - Intermezzo Opus 118.6
Chopin - Etude 10.2

-- I think I'm gonna stick with Waldstein for the Classical Sonata, and maybe the etude (for etude req) but Does anyone have any suggestions for
(1) a suitable Romantic piece,
(2) a 20th century or Impressionistic piece, and
(3) WTC Prelude and Fugue from Bach?? I've learned from book 1: C, cm, C#, D, dm, E, G; and from book 2: dm.

What I'm bogged down with is suitable and standard Romantic and 20th Century pieces that will be acceptable for multiple schools.

Thank you!!

You auditioning in a few months? If so, I suggest you use pieces you already know... especially if this is in like 4 or 5 months. Keep the number of brand new high-end pieces to a minimum, otherwise you'll regret it the second you try to them off on stage.

Wait a second... I just re-read your post... you're lacking your romantic and 20th century pieces? Wow, I hope you're not auditioning soon then 'cause those are generally the "big" pieces in the program...

[soliloquy]

For the 20/21st century, what I've seen work very consistently is Rzewski North American Ballad No. 4.  The Prokofiev Piano Sonata No. 6 also seems like a popular choice... but I don't suggest it if you're going to have to learn it in a short period of time, not because you can't learn it, but because a lot of people will be using it and you will be playing it second-best to people who have played the piece for several years.  Also, I would very much avoid Gaspard de la Nuit or Debussy Images II; you will be judged at an EXTREMELY high standard if you try one of those.


For the romantic though... I dunno I'd personally go with Liszt.  Probably the Wagner-Liszt Tannhauser, which is also 100% consistent (although I only know two people who have attempted this piece in an audition, but it worked for both of them )  Another ballsy choice would be the Chopin Preludes Op. 28, although that might be a bit creative for an audition.  There's of course the ever-popular Chopin Sonata No. 3, but again, same thing with the Prokofiev 6.  Schumann Symphonic Variations/Fantasy Pieces or Brahms Op. 116 might work better than the Liszt if that uber-romantic stuff isn't your style.

[pita bread]

For the romantic though... I dunno I'd personally go with Liszt.  Probably the Wagner-Liszt Tannhauser, which is also 100% consistent (although I only know two people who have attempted this piece in an audition, but it worked for both of them )  Another ballsy choice would be the Chopin Preludes Op. 28, although that might be a bit creative for an audition.  There's of course the ever-popular Chopin Sonata No. 3, but again, same thing with the Prokofiev 6.  Schumann Symphonic Variations/Fantasy Pieces or Brahms Op. 116 might work better than the Liszt if that uber-romantic stuff isn't your style.

Those giant pieces are such flaming overkill when the jury is only going to hear a few minutes of each piece. Small sets of late Brahms pieces work nicely, as do Chopin Ballades/Scherzi if you're looking for something more mainstream. Remember, the bigger your pieces, the more you'll be spread thin trying to maintain and perfect all of them. This isnt a recital, it's an audition... there's more at stake here so pick manageable pieces that flaunt your strengths and also demonstrate various facets of pianism and musicality.

[hwangs]

Thanks a lot everyone for the input!! I'm auditioning in the end of January, so I have about 4 months to prepare. This is what I decided on (at least tentatively), because I agree it wouldn't be wise for me to learn all new music for the audition:

Bach - Prelude & Fugue Book II in G-major (new)
Beethoven - Waldstein Sonata (learned/polishing)
Chopin - Scherzo #2 (learned)
Debussy - Estampes, La Soiree dans Grenade (new)
and Chopin Etude - Opus 10 No. 8 (learned)

Does this look like a good list?

[viking]

If at all possible, don't do the 2nd Scherzo. 

[pita bread]

Thanks a lot everyone for the input!! I'm auditioning in the end of January, so I have about 4 months to prepare. This is what I decided on (at least tentatively), because I agree it wouldn't be wise for me to learn all new music for the audition:

Bach - Prelude & Fugue Book II in G-major (new)
Beethoven - Waldstein Sonata (learned/polishing)
Chopin - Scherzo #2 (learned)
Debussy - Estampes, La Soiree dans Grenade (new)
and Chopin Etude - Opus 10 No. 8 (learned)

Does this look like a good list?

You really solid on the 10/8? Otherwise that sounds like a good program.

[soliloquy]

Those giant pieces are such flaming overkill when the jury is only going to hear a few minutes of each piece. Small sets of late Brahms pieces work nicely, as do Chopin Ballades/Scherzi if you're looking for something more mainstream. Remember, the bigger your pieces, the more you'll be spread thin trying to maintain and perfect all of them. This isnt a recital, it's an audition... there's more at stake here so pick manageable pieces that flaunt your strengths and also demonstrate various facets of pianism and musicality.

what.  Super-wrong.  Lol "pick small Brahms pieces".  Like the Op. 116 I suggested?  Why does it have to be Brahms instead of Schumann?  (two of the other pieces I suggested).  Or Chopin?  (like I suggested).  And the Tannhauser is only 15 minutes; it's not a massive piece.  Also, you can never rely on the jury only wanting to hear a couple minutes.  Also, they ask for a "major romantic work" for a reason.  If they wanted "piss-easy set of crap" they would ask for "piss-easy set of crap".  Anyway, the only Chopin Scherzo suitable for something like this is No. 4, and that is a MASSIVELY difficult and mature work.  And the Balladen?  If he doesn't already play them (which he's made it clear he doesn't) he's going to be going up against little chinese prodigies who've been playing Chopin G Minor since they were 9, and lose.

Bach - Prelude & Fugue Book II in G-major (new)
Beethoven - Waldstein Sonata (learned/polishing)
Chopin - Scherzo #2 (learned)
Debussy - Estampes, La Soiree dans Grenade (new)
and Chopin Etude - Opus 10 No. 8 (learned)

Does this look like a good list?

Don't do Chopin Scherzo 2.  And the Debussy is a bit weak.  Seriously, if you're gonna do Debussy, go in there with Preludes or Images I.

[pita bread]

what.  Super-wrong.  Lol "pick small Brahms pieces".  Like the Op. 116 I suggested?  Why does it have to be Brahms instead of Schumann?  (two of the other pieces I suggested).  Or Chopin?  (like I suggested).  And the Tannhauser is only 15 minutes; it's not a massive piece.  Also, you can never rely on the jury only wanting to hear a couple minutes.  Also, they ask for a "major romantic work" for a reason.  If they wanted "piss-easy set of crap" they would ask for "piss-easy set of crap".  Anyway, the only Chopin Scherzo suitable for something like this is No. 4, and that is a MASSIVELY difficult and mature work.  And the Balladen?  If he doesn't already play them (which he's made it clear he doesn't) he's going to be going up against little chinese prodigies who've been playing Chopin G Minor since they were 9, and lose.


Don't do Chopin Scherzo 2.  And the Debussy is a bit weak.  Seriously, if you're gonna do Debussy, go in there with Preludes or Images I.

I never said he shouldn't play Schumann. A complete Brahms Op. 116, 117, 118, or 119 is plenty sufficient for the "significant romantic work" requirement. You don't even need to play the complete opus either! I know people who have gotten in with just selections from one opus. You need a decent level of repertoire, but it still really boils down to how well you play.

You and I both know that the Liszt-Wagner is absolutely insane. The hell are you doing suggesting the complete Chopin 3rd sonata or Schumann Symphonic Etudes? It is absolutely unnecessary to offer half-hour long romantic works when you're already demonstrating your mastery of large forms with your classical sonata.

[hwangs]

Hmmm.. wow -- I'm kinda getting scared. Is Undergrad Auditions that competitive at schools like Michigan, Wisconsin, and IllinoisUC?? I'm transferring from a liberal arts college to study Piano, and I haven't really studied piano seriously before I started attending college, so my repertoire is pretty limited.

(1) I'm very comfortable with Chopin Etude 10/8, because it was my very first etude, and I recently picked it up again.

(2) I dont think I have enough time to learn and polish a new "major" Romantic piece. Would Scherzo #2 really be a bad decision??

Lastly, (3) 20th century is my weakest genre (I love Baroque), so I haven't played anything too extensive or difficult...

Thanks --!!

[viking]

Learn Scherzo No.1.  It only takes like 3 days to learn. 

[mike_lang]

Learn Scherzo No.1.  It only takes like 3 days to learn. 

For whom?

[viking]

YOUR QUEER

[sharon_f]

YOUR QUEER

Woo, what's that all about? Absolutely no need for that.

[pita bread]

Hmmm.. wow -- I'm kinda getting scared. Is Undergrad Auditions that competitive at schools like Michigan, Wisconsin, and IllinoisUC?? I'm transferring from a liberal arts college to study Piano, and I haven't really studied piano seriously before I started attending college, so my repertoire is pretty limited.

(1) I'm very comfortable with Chopin Etude 10/8, because it was my very first etude, and I recently picked it up again.

(2) I dont think I have enough time to learn and polish a new "major" Romantic piece. Would Scherzo #2 really be a bad decision??

Lastly, (3) 20th century is my weakest genre (I love Baroque), so I haven't played anything too extensive or difficult...

Thanks --!!

Actually, ignore our advice if you're just transfering to universities, they're usually more chill.  Chopin Scherzo no. 2 is fine, just make sure you play it well.

[soliloquy]

Oh I thought this was for conservatory.  Yeah... you can ignore this.  Your program is fine for university.

[thorn]

20th century is my weakest genre (I love Baroque), so I haven't played anything too extensive or difficult...

if 20th century is a weak point then i would just leave it out completely; an audition is neither the time or place for weaknesses. im auditioning for places this autumn and not playing anything Baroque because not only do i find it boring, but i dont play it very well. you dont HAVE to cover every period, just most.

but if its a requirement you play something 20th century, why dont you look at a Messiaen prelude?

[pianochick93]

YOUR QUEER

Your Queer what?

If you are going to attempt to insult someone, use proper grammar.