Performance piece, please...

[russ]

Hello everyone,

I have a request (if I may). I'm looking for a piece to play for my HSC. It must be around 4 minutes (not more than 4.20).

Here are the conditions: Rustle of Spring by Christian Sinding would be marvellous, but its not exactly technically brilliant, so something a little more challenging. It also must have been composed in the 19th century.

Essentially something with some roulades and a nice cantabile melody would be nice. But these are only guidelines... please feel free to suggest anything remotely melodic and showy. I have already begun looking around, but its nearly impossible to wade through everything... so I though I could pick some of your brains.

Thankyou for any help,
Russ.

[lostinidlewonder]

Random 3.
Beethoven Pathetique Sonata 2nd Movement.
Chopin Etude Op 10 No. 3
Schumann Romance Op28 No.2

[thalberg]

Schumann-Liszt Widmung

[russ]

Ooo... thankyou for drawing my attention to that Chopin etude. You see, in my haste to try and find something, I immediately brushed over pieces that didnt immediately catch my attention. Likewise with Widmung.

The others, it so happens, I have already played, and are unfortunately probably not up to standard.

Any other suggestions would be wonderful, after all... my ability to put on a good performance will determine whether i fail at life or not.

[ilikepie]

Liszt Transcendental etude no.2, perhaps too short
Liszt Transcendental etude no.3, around the right time.
Chopin Etude op.25 no.5

[jehangircama]

a liszt transcription, perhaps rigoletto paraphrase?

[faustsaccomplice]

Liszt Transcendental etude no.2, perhaps too short
Liszt Transcendental etude no.3, around the right time.
Chopin Etude op.25 no.5

haha, maybe he should play comme le vent, or grand galop chromatique


seriously, russ, how about a chopin waltz or a liszt valse oubliee? 

[slobone]

Some of the Schubert Impromptus ought to fit the bill.

[dan101]

How about the Chopin E major etude (op. 10 no. 3). It has a beautiful melody and the technical challenges that you require in its middle section. Good luck.

[faustsaccomplice]

You know, it sounds like Russ is at a lower to mid intermediate level, yet many of you are recommending very difficult pieces.  It will be best for Russ to have a piece he will play securely and successfully, not something he will have to hack through.  The op. 10 no. 3 etude is quite difficult for someone at his level.

Furthermore, Russ has requested something brilliant.  2nd movement of the Pathetique also doesn't fit the bill. 

[lostinidlewonder]

Faustaccomplice you are quick to critique the choice of music suggested, why don't you offer some suggestions of your own instead? It would have been a lot more constructive.

[faustsaccomplice]

Faustaccomplice you are quick to critique the choice of music suggested, why don't you offer some suggestions of your own instead? It would have been a lot more constructive.

i already offered suggestions.

my concern is for somebody who might have an unsuccessful experience due to poor advice. 

i waited several days to critique, and the suggestions kept coming in, which didn't fit the bill. 

i don't see where your critique of me holds water.

[lostinidlewonder]

Your reply to me offered no suggestions maybe previously you did but not to in response to me. How do you know russ's ability so well to know whats too hard for him? When I suggested the Chopin he jumped and was happy to think about it. Is that a sign of delusion on his behalf? I don't think any of us know him well enough as a pianist to say so just by knowing he says something harder than the Sinding. And saying the Pathetique doesn't fit the bill, not brilliant enough? Thats totally your opinion, not an all encompassing truth. So I better protect russ from bad advice too. MEOOOOOOWWWW

[faustsaccomplice]

rustle of spring is our point of reference for the repertoire russ is considering.  liszt's second transcendental etude is in another universe, technically.  it is poor advice to suggest that to him.

whether or not the slow movement of the pathetique is brilliant is not "totally my opinion."  i can assure you that it will be universally held that it is not considered a brilliant piece.

and what have you said? "your reply to me offered no suggestions maybe previously you did but not to in response to me."  ok....? 

[schubertiad]

If i can jump in the middle of this cat-fight, might i suggest a chopin nocturne. One of the lesser played ones (if there is such a thing) would be a good choice. Many of them are both lyrical and brilliant.

[lostinidlewonder]

If i can jump in the middle of this cat-fight, might i suggest a chopin nocturne. One of the lesser played ones (if there is such a thing) would be a good choice. Many of them are both lyrical and brilliant.

OHHHH no no no not a chopin nocturne that is certainly not BRILLIANT enough... at least not for some people

[russ]

Hey guys... you're all wonderful and thankyou for the many suggestions.

Im sorry there was debate about my level. So to clarify (if I havent exhausted all of your brains already) I'm playing Brahm's Intermezzo Op 118 no 6 in Eb minor. The second piece (the one that I'm requesting) ought to be around the same if not a tiny bit less demanding. One option of mine was Rachmaninoff's prelude in C#m, although perhaps not as lyrical as I might have liked (hence this topic).

Faust, you make a valid point. I dont want to be slaving away over this piece and wind up giving a bad performance in the end, but its lucky that i have just under 9 months to get three pieces all set, so I'm determined to do the best that I can. Given that, the transcendental etudes are probably too demanding, but i enjoyed listening to them and they gave me numerous compositional ideas as well (music really does occupy a lot of time in your life when you give it one quarter of your time at school).

Again, thankyou so much everyone, I'm still mulling over a few.

[quantum]

Albeniz - Sevillia

[ahkow]

Chopin 25-10.. Powerful with a contrasting middle section