Introduction to the Romantic Era

[squinchy]

I've been playing the piano for five years. I am working on a Mozart Sonata (K283 in G), a Beethoven Sonata (Op. 79), and a Passapied in E minor from the fifth English Suite. I'm also attempting Mozart's Coronation Concerto at the nudging of my teacher, but I don't think I'm doing it justice. Both hands reach a ninth comfortably.

I have never played anything that could be considered 'romantic' except for one Chopin Prelude (Op. 28 No.6), unless the Moonlight Sonata counts. I think the main reason for that is my need for order, predictability, and organization, things that I associate with classical and baroque music. Many people seem to like Chopin and Lizst, and I think I'm missing out on something.

My question: What would be some good 'introduction-ish' pieces to the romantic era that would be feasible for me to learn?  

[mosis]

Chopin's Nocturnes are some relatively easy romantic pieces. Some of the more well-known ones are Op. 9 no. 1 in Bb minor, Op. 9 no. 2 in Eb major, and #20 op. post. in C# minor. I like the Bb minor one the best.

[bernhard]

Amongst the best known (and avoiding Chopin & Liszt):

Schubert:
Impromptus (op. 142 no. 2, op. 90 no. 2 and op. 90 no. 4 are the easiest).

Schumann:
Bunte Blatter op. 99 (I particularly like nos. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, and 10)
Album Blatter Op. 124 (I particularly like nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 16, 17)
Kindeszenen op. 13
Album for the young Op. 68 (I particularly like nos. 13, 14, 28, 30, 32 and 35)  With the exception of Kinderszenen, none of these collections were composed as a cycle, so you can play separate pieces.

Mendelssohn
Songs Without Words

Alkan
Esquisses op. 63

Grieg
Holberg suite
Lyric pieces.

Not so well known, but definitely worth investigating:

Arensky
24 Character pieces op. 26
Consolation (op. 36 no. 5)
Elegie (op. 36 no. 16).

Gabriel Fauré
Nocturnes op. 33  op. 36, op. 37
Romances sans paroles Op. 17

John Field –
Nocturnes (I particularly like no. 4 in A)

Chaminade
Nocturne op. 165
Consolation Op. 87 no. 5

Enrique Granados
“Dedication” is just one page long and very beautiful

This should get you introduced!

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[Logar]

Actually it's not good for a pianist to play romanctic pieces - play alot of Bach, Classical (Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn) and the loads of exercises. This is a great way to gain good technique. Then once earn a good technique you should begin to play romantic pieces  '

But if you really can't wait i suggest you maybe wanna try some of Schumanns Phantasiestücke (Aufswung, Falbe) or play his Kinderscenen or Arabesque (it's very beautyful). Maybe Sindings - Rustle of Spring - a very cool piece too.

[ayahav]

You're talking out of your ears, Logar. The playing of romantic music is as important to the development of technique as baroque and classical music. Though it tends to be more difficult to perform well, it requires techniques sometimes that aren't required anywhere else. It also develops the interpretative and musical side a lot more than baroque music.

[bernhard]

Actually it's not good for a pianist to play romanctic pieces - play alot of Bach, Classical (Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn) and the loads of exercises. This is a great way to gain good technique. Then once earn a good technique you should begin to play romantic pieces  '

But if you really can't wait i suggest you maybe wanna try some of Schumanns Phantasiestücke (Aufswung, Falbe) or play his Kinderscenen or Arabesque (it's very beautyful). Maybe Sindings - Rustle of Spring - a very cool piece too.

Er...

Technique is specific to pieces. Developing a superb technique to play Bach is not going to help you play Schumann. With few exceptions, The great Bach specialists were hopeless when tackling the romantic repertory (just listen to Glenn Gould playing Mendelssohn's songs without words). In fact it can be argued that that only thing that will help you play Chopin is work on his etudes.

So, playing Bach, Mozart , Haydn and so on is certainly very important. And so is playing the Romantic composers.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[donjuan]

Er...

Technique is specific to pieces. Developing a superb technique to play Bach is not going to help you play Schumann. With few exceptions, The great Bach specialists were hopeless when tackling the romantic repertory (just listen to Glenn Gould playing Mendelssohn's songs without words). In fact it can be argued that that only thing that will help you play Chopin is work on his etudes.

So, playing Bach, Mozart , Haydn and so on is certainly very important. And so is playing the Romantic composers.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

Hi Bernhard,
I don't entirely agree with you there.  Think about Cziffra...He began by playing Liszt and ONLY Liszt.  later, after gaining technique from his Liszt, he did superb performances of Mozart and other non-romantic composers.

[zhiliang]

Maybe i am wrong, maybe i am not but i will disagree with you on that. Cziffra recorded a lot of Liszt but during the days when he is still learning the piano just like any of us, he probably didnt just play Liszt all his life. Our repertoire should consists of all aspects of music be it baroque, classical, romantic, contemporary and the likes. That is when your playing becomes more all-round. The composers that he never recorded, it might be that he felt that the piece is still not fully understood and he is not ready to perform it. Many artists have a much bigger repertoire than what is on records.

Zhiliang

[Hmoll]

later, after gaining technique from his Liszt, he did superb performances of Mozart and other non-romantic composers.

....by studying Mozart. Sorry, Bernhard is right. You are not going to learn to play Mozart by just playing Liszt.