Repertoire Suggestions for Pre-College Audition

[nucleartide]

Hey guys, I'm applying to the Manhattan School of Music Pre-College program (age 15), and I just need some ideas and suggestions for my repertoire.

I know I'm playing the first movement of Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata, but I need another piece to accompany and contrast the passion of the first movement of the sonata.  I already have Chopin - Waltz op. 64 no. 1, half of Chopin - Scherzo no. 2, and some Debussy pieces, but after being told by a teacher there that most people auditioning would play these types of light-hearted pieces, I wanted to play something different.

So my options:
~ I'm not really comfortable with my Bach Prelude and Fugue yet, so I won't be playing Bach.
~ Should I abandon my current Chopin pieces in favor of some Chopin Preludes (or maybe some Etudes, but these take awhile to get up to performing standards)?  I've taken a liking to them, and they are more "mature" pieces.
~ Are Debussy pieces such as Arabesque no. 1 and Clair de Lune received badly at auditions?  Anyway, I probably won't be playing these.
~ Does anyone have any underplayed pieces that are appropriate in terms of contrast to Pathetique?  I looked at Faure Barcarolles and they are really nice pieces.

Thanks in advance!

[sharon_f]

"Des Abends" from the Fantasiestucke by Schumann. A very mature piece, not technically showy but very beautiful and would showcase your musicality.

[omar_roy]

I recently auditioned for the D'Angelo School of Music and Mercyhurst College in Erie, PA and was accepted, so i know what you must be going through.  You need to show that you're proficient in a wide range of pieces.  The pieces must show that you are technically proficient, but also musical.  Try to pick one piece from each era.

Baroque: Bach's Partita No. 2, Sinfonia.  Great piece to show technical proficiency and fairly difficult to make sound really good. 

Classical: I would choose Mozart over Beethoven.  Mozart's work takes very precise touch and polishing.

Romantic: For Romantic i would shy away from Liszt and go towards Chopin or Rachmaninov.  I played Rachmaninov's Elegie in e flat minor at my audition and they received it with warm remarks and even some applause (which, as far as i've heard, panels rarely do).  The best I can say is to find a piece you connect with on a very deep level and play your heart out on it.

Contemporary: This is up to you.  I'm fond of Prokofiev and chose No. 14: Feroce from his Visions Fugitives.

Try not to be too narrow in your choice of pieces.  Who would you choose? Someone who excels at solely Romantic music? Or someone who displays adeptness in all fields?

[nucleartide]

I recently auditioned for the D'Angelo School of Music and Mercyhurst College in Erie, PA and was accepted, so i know what you must be going through.  You need to show that you're proficient in a wide range of pieces.  The pieces must show that you are technically proficient, but also musical.  Try to pick one piece from each era.

Baroque: Bach's Partita No. 2, Sinfonia.  Great piece to show technical proficiency and fairly difficult to make sound really good. 

Classical: I would choose Mozart over Beethoven.  Mozart's work takes very precise touch and polishing.

Romantic: For Romantic i would shy away from Liszt and go towards Chopin or Rachmaninov.  I played Rachmaninov's Elegie in e flat minor at my audition and they received it with warm remarks and even some applause (which, as far as i've heard, panels rarely do).  The best I can say is to find a piece you connect with on a very deep level and play your heart out on it.

Contemporary: This is up to you.  I'm fond of Prokofiev and chose No. 14: Feroce from his Visions Fugitives.

Try not to be too narrow in your choice of pieces.  Who would you choose? Someone who excels at solely Romantic music? Or someone who displays adeptness in all fields?

The thing is, I'm only allowed two contrasting pieces...

Anyway, thanks for the replies!  I'll try out the Bach and Schumann pieces. 

As for the Beethoven, does playing the Pathetique extremely quickly and lightly instead of dark and passionate further show off technical ability (to make it more "Mozartian")?  And does anyone have any opinions on Chopin Preludes?

[amelialw]

well since you are playing the 1st movement of Beethoven's Pathetique a nice contrast would be a romantic piece in major key.

would'nt suggest etudes not just because of the speed issue but the time needed to really absorb it and play it flawlessly and beautifully.

for romantic, I guess Chopin's Preludes could be an option, if you dare go to the early 20th C, one nice, short, simple and beautiful piece would be Rachmaninoff's Prelude op.32 no.5 in G major if you are capable of learning it fast and well.

[nucleartide]

well since you are playing the 1st movement of Beethoven's Pathetique a nice contrast would be a romantic piece in major key.

would'nt suggest etudes not just because of the speed issue but the time needed to really absorb it and play it flawlessly and beautifully.

for romantic, I guess Chopin's Preludes could be an option, if you dare go to the early 20th C, one nice, short, simple and beautiful piece would be Rachmaninoff's Prelude op.32 no.5 in G major if you are capable of learning it fast and well.

Just found a video of Horowitz playing that piece: I like it, but I still feel that I haven't matured enough to play Rachmaninoff.  On a second thought, I think I'll stay with more familiar composers.

Anyway thanks for the replies!  And does anyone have any romantic pieces?

[dana_minmin]

How about Schubert's Impromptu Op. 90 No. 2.
Technical difficulty in my opinion is similar to Pathetique 1st mov.
This one is light, with some 'doubts' in the middle. a little show-off of your technique.

[sharon_f]

Anyway thanks for the replies!  And does anyone have any romantic pieces?