20 minute recital for A-Level music - Advice needed!

[ballade_1]

Hi, I've been reading here for a while, but this is the first time I've posted!

So I'm taking A-Level music, and one of the requirements is either to compose two pieces or perform a 20 minute recital, and I have eventually decided to take the performance option. The only requiremnt is that the pieces are all linked in some way, though there does need to be contrast between the pieces preferably for the higher marks. I've decided to play all piano transcriptions, as I've never really played many before, and I read through the topic here a while ago where you discussed your favourites. I used that as a starting point but I'm still having a bit of trouble. I was wondering if anybody could suggest some possible recitals? It can be two or three minutes over, but none under!

I had thought about...

Bach-Busoni - Nun komm der Heiden Heiland
Mendelssohn-Rachmaninoff - Scherzo from 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
Beethoven-Liszt - Symphony No.7 - II (Allegretto)

I would like to play atleast one piece about 9-10 minutes long, I don't want 4x5 minute pieces, atleast.

I'm also interested in two of the pieces Volodos plays on his one CD, the Tchaikovsky Symphony 6 Scherzo and the Bach Trio 5 Largo, but I have no idea where I could get the music from. Does anyone have it who could send it me please? Atleast so I could have a look at it (scherzo is hard I'm guessing).

In term of difficulty, I don't want anything crazily hard, I have got until about May to learn them, but I've got a lot on my plate! I'm almost finished with Chopin's 1st Ballade (hence the name ) which I'm playing for the main solo I have to play for my A-Level, though I probably don't want anything quite that hard again. I probably shouldn't have learnt it tbh, but oh well, I don't regret it now I can!

I'm open to any suggestions, you can suggest something totally new if you want. Thanks in advance for any replies!

[dnephi]

I don't know what A-level music is, but you seem to be biting off far more than you could chew. 

If you can play the pieces you've suggested, how about Godowsky-Chopin, three studies on Op. 25 No. 1, the Mendelssohn-Rachmaninoff Scherzo, and finish with the finale of 3 movements from petrouchka.

Cheers!

(And with a tinge of sarcasm)

[amelialw]

is'nt petrouchka hard?? it definately is.

Why not learn a Mozart/Haydn/Beethoven/Schubert sonata?? That would be more impressive. Yeah, a chopin etude would be great and Op.25 No.1 is'nt too hard...

[pita bread]

Yeah, a chopin etude would be great and Op.25 No.1 is'nt too hard...

If you're going to suggest a Chopin etude, at least suggest something insane like 25/6 or 25/10.

[cloches_de_geneve]

Did you have a look at Liszt-Schubert song transcriptions? Here are some of my favorites:

Das Wandern (not to be confused with "Der Wanderer")
Wohin
Ungeduld (first rather than the third version)
Die Forelle
Die Rose
Liebesbotschaft
Erlkoenig

They range from medium difficulty (Wandern, Rose) to Chopin-Godowsky levels (Erlkoenig).

Naxos has an amazingly beautiful recodring of these, and others, in volume 17 of its Liszt piano music edition, interpreted by Valerie Tryon.

[ballade_1]

Sorry, I should have pointed out - A-Levels are the things that you do in England just before university, normally when aged 16-18.

I will have a look at the Schubert-Liszt pieces, thanks! I had thought about just playing a whole Sonata, but wasnt sure. I can play the first movement of Beethoven's Pathetique, and would really like to learn the other two, but I already played the first movement for the first year of my A-Level (stupidly) so can't use it again now. And dnephi, I think that your exaggerating slightly - I've had a look at two of the pieces in my suggested recital, the Beethoven-Liszt and Bach-Busoni, and I don't think that quite as bad as your making out. As for the Mendelssohn-Scherzo, I've never had a go at playing it since I don't have the music, so I'm not too sure. Ignore the Tchaikovsky suggestion, I was just more interested in seeing if I could scav the music probably lol.

However, I guess this is the point where I state that you only have to play pieces grade 6-7 standard to be able to get full marks... (though it's good to go a bit higher to be safe, but not so high that your playing it badly!)

If there are any more suggestions, that would be great please!

[dnephi]

Beethoven-Liszt requires a complete technique.  The Bach-Busoni you're playing isn't too hard, but it's contrapuntal. 

The Mendelssohn-Rachmaninoff is legendarily difficult. Don't even consider it.

Why not one of the SChubert-Liszt Valse-Caprices, like the popular #6?

[amanfang]

This is something totally different...  

What about a program dedicated to "weather"

Beethoven - "Tempest"
Liszt - L'Orage
Chopin - "Raindrop" Prelude
Debussy - Preludes
 - Le Vent dans la plaine
 - Des pas sur la neige
 - Ce qu'a vu le vent d'Ouest

There are others of course.  Or you could do "water" and include some of those above, Debussy Lisle Joyeuse, Liszt - Au lac du wallenstadt, etc.  

I always thought a program centered on death would be cool too.

[amanfang]

Or you could do a program of dance music.  That would be cool.

Part of a Baroque suite, Brahms waltzes, any of Chopin's Polonaises, waltzes, mazurkas. 

Debussy - Danse or there's some preludes from Book 1 that would work. 

Ginastera - Danzas Argentinas or Malambo

[jabbz]

Regardless of what board you're doing, in A-levels you are expected to play around grade 6-7 standard, if your teacher is suggesting that you prepare virtuoso technique, I worry for you. Examiners really aren't impressed with the high end technique, especially if they're pianists. Play something semi-hard brilliantly, rather than a chopet 'passably.

[ballade_1]

Yup, I mentioned above that it should really be grade 6-7, and my teacher has said that under no circumstances should we play anythin beyond our skill level, and that we must know the recital inside out... But it's just so tempting! So many nice difficult pieces! Nah, I'm gonna try and be sensible this year lol. I'll have a proper talk with my teachers about it.  But amanfang, I really like that idea, gonna look into it a bit more. Chopin's Raindrop certainly isn't tooo hard and is very nice. My piano teacher keeps trying to get me to learn it cause she really likes it lol. Thanks very much!

Last year I didn't start learning the pieces until a few months before the recording, and well... it didn't go too well. Making sure I get a good start this year. I just want to find pieces I like. Easy pieces that I don't enjoy can be far more difficult for me to learn than hard pieces I do. Not that I'm saying I only like difficult pieces! Just gotta spend time and get it right now.

[zheer]

  O well trip down memory lane, almost 9 years ago as an A level student the teacher asked us to perform three solo piano music and two composition of our own, i chose a Beethoven sonat,Mozart Rondo and a Chopin nocturne, the two solo piano composition written by myself were a flashy etude and a prelude.In those days a was a good pianist but bad at accademic study ,so no did'nt get a good grade .
   Good luck.

[pita bread]

Easy pieces that I don't enjoy can be far more difficult for me to learn than hard pieces I do. Not that I'm saying I only like difficult pieces! Just gotta spend time and get it right now.

To be honest, there's a whole lot more good difficult music than good easy music.

[dnephi]

Simply because there's more for a composer to work with.

[the_duck]

another possible theme could be childhood. there are loads of grade 6-7 pieces that fit into this category

schumann- kinderszenen
schumann- album for the young
debussy- children's corner
ravel- pavane pour une infante dufante
mozart- early piano music

[richard black]

Seconded about the Mendelssohn-Rachmaninov being hard work. Rachmaninov himself had a lot of trouble with it!

[ballade_1]

Thanks for replies. After thinking for a bit and talking to my teacher I think I'm gonna go with amanfang's suggestion fo doing dance music. Bit different from what I originally thought, and I think a lot of people do it, but there's a lot of good material which isn't too hard so I think it's best. So far, pieces that I've got as possible pieces are:

Bach - Partita No.4 in D: Sarabande (this is one of the pieces that we have to study and write about in the exam next year, we have to study a Debussy Saranbande aswell but I think I'll give it a miss)
Beethoven - 6 Ecossaises, WoO 83
Brahms - Waltz No.15 in Ab major
Brahms - Hungarian Dance No.5 in G minor
a Chopin Polonaise, still need to look at this

I also like the Ravel Valses nobles et sentimentales, and have always wanted to learn some Ravel, so maybe...?

I was wondering if anyone knew where I could download the Beethoven Ecossaises, or if someone could send them please? I don't mind buying them eventually I'd just like to have a look through first. Also, there seem to be loads of versions of the Brahms Hungarian Dance, is there some main version? The sheet music I've got seems to be the both the Violin and Piano part at once, and looks kinda hard. I've seen videos where people seem to be playing an easier version though. Come to think of it, I might even be able to get a Violinist to play with me, but I'd have to ask about that. Might be kinda wierd having just one small piece with a Violin.

[thorn]

I just want to find pieces I like. Easy pieces that I don't enjoy can be far more difficult for me to learn than hard pieces I do. Not that I'm saying I only like difficult pieces! Just gotta spend time and get it right now.

you sound like me when i was doing A level music lol

my final recital was Ravel 'Vallee des Cloches' and Debussy 'Soiree dans Grenade' along with the Dutilleux Flute Sonatine (i split the time between the two).

ive never played the Valses nobles et sentimentales so i cant say much about those. if you want to play some Ravel, you could look at the middle movement of the Sonatine or the third, fourth and fifth pieces of Le Tombeau de Couperin.

i wouldnt use the Bach Sarabande if i were you. i did the same syllabus as you and someone in my class pretty much played all of the study pieces for his recital (Debussy Sarabande, Shostakovich Prelude and Fugue and the Mozart B flat sonata) and didnt end up with a very good mark- if you're going to play one of the study pieces you pretty much have to have them at professional recording standard.

[lohshuhan]

I had thought about...

Bach-Busoni - Nun komm der Heiden Heiland
Mendelssohn-Rachmaninoff - Scherzo from 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
Beethoven-Liszt - Symphony No.7 - II (Allegretto)

I would like to play atleast one piece about 9-10 minutes long, I don't want 4x5 minute pieces, atleast.


In term of difficulty, I don't want anything crazily hard, I have got until about May to learn them, but I've got a lot on my plate! I'm almost finished with Chopin's 1st Ballade (hence the name ) which I'm playing for the main solo I have to play for my A-Level, though I probably don't want anything quite that hard again. I probably shouldn't have learnt it tbh, but oh well, I don't regret it now I can!

I'm open to any suggestions, you can suggest something totally new if you want. Thanks in advance for any replies!

look at the 2 quotes.  you were saying? 

[lohshuhan]

is'nt petrouchka hard?? it definately is.

Why not learn a Mozart/Haydn/Beethoven/Schubert sonata?? That would be more impressive. Yeah, a chopin etude would be great and Op.25 No.1 is'nt too hard...

i agree with this. 

a late beethoven sonata is brilliant if you pull it off well.   

or if you're free enough to practice the mendelssohn/rach, do schubert's B-flat major sonata.  the very massive one.  i forgot the catalogue number though...