I'm looking for a concerto

[byarbrough]

My college does a concerto thing where students from any instrument can audition to perform a concerto and play it with the school orchestra later in the year. I'm working on the 1st movement of Rachmaninoff's 2nd concerto right now, but I think this is probably too advanced for me. I'd like to find something that's easier but still very accessible for the audience. I heard some complaints this year about the student concerto being too boring (I think it was a Mozart flute concerto). Basically, I'd like to find something like Rachmaninoff, Grieg, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, etc, but on an easier scale. Any ideas?

[felixtdrsc]

my music university does the same thing. rachmaninoff is one of the hardest, anything beetween haydn to ravel is easier( technically at least). get listening and looking at scores. good luck!

[slobone]

I think you can't go wrong with Mozart, but if the students find him boring...

Some of his concertos are easier than others. The A major is one of the great ones, but technically it's not that hard. Do the second movement as well if you have time, it's very moving.

[mikey6]

Well the Mozart flute concerto is not one of his greatest (he hated the flute, can't say I blame him too much  ).  But if they think Mozart concerti are boring, change school!   So they're looking for the popular rep? heh......
Shosta 2 1st movt is fairly easy and audience friendly, not too long.

[lau]

crayo?

[jinfiesto]

The Grieg Concerto is really quite accessible. It's not that difficult. Learn a couple of lyric pieces first, and you'll probably be good to go. The Shostakovich 2 is also accessible. You may also consider the Prokofiev 3, although it's a little more difficult. The Chopin E minor is a wonderful concerto as well. Of those, I believe the Grieg and the Shostakovich are the easiest. Oh, the Bach D minor is wonderful as well, and it's easier than any of the concerti that I've just listed.

[communist]

Prokofiev 3rd concerto maybe

[eddie54]

how about Schumann Piano concerto in a minor......not as difficult as rach 2, chopin 1, etc.....and very lyrical.....

maybe Beethoven 3, c minor......

mendelssohn no 1 in g minor is fun to play as well.....

grieg a minor is pretty easy once you get the patterns, since it's very repetitive.....imo, that concerto is just too played out, and everybody plays it just to get through it.....i guess it really depends on your level and the amount of time you have to commit to this....no point in doing one of the large concertos if you can't do it right

[byarbrough]

Thanks for all the help guys. I'll definitely be looking into those once I can find the scores. I should also note that you do have to perform and entire concerto, not just the first movement. I'm currently working on the first movement of the Rachmaninoff, but I would have to learn the other two as well. So if there's a concerto with a fairly easy first movement and much harder second and third movements, that probably wouldn't work. But the ones you've told me about so far all seem like great ideas. I'm also interested to see that you think the Grieg one isn't as bad, I've never tried playing it but looking over the score makes it seem very difficult. Cool stuff

[g.gould]

Saint-Saens concerto is a very nice concerto, and not one of the hardest too!

Have a look at this wonderful boy :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqlADlXDZKU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eqv0hH6jQBg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7BrIHzmNXo

[byarbrough]

Funnily enough I just watched that one for the first time the other day, he is a great player. Makes it sound easy

[dnephi]

Saint-Saens concerto is a very nice concerto, and not one of the hardest too!

Have a look at this wonderful boy :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqlADlXDZKU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eqv0hH6jQBg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7BrIHzmNXo

You know, he did write FIVE concerti.  Why not give another one a try?

[retrouvailles]

You know, he did write FIVE concerti.  Why not give another one a try?

Seconded. He also has other works for piano and orchestra.

Also, take a look at any of Kabalevsky's 4 piano concertos. They are not that difficult and are reminiscent of Shostakovich, Rachmaninoff, and Prokofiev.

[sharon_f]

Saint-Saens concerto is a very nice concerto, and not one of the hardest too!

Have a look at this wonderful boy :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqlADlXDZKU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eqv0hH6jQBg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7BrIHzmNXo

He is wonderful. Just won 2nd place at the Gina Bachauer Junior competition.

[jinfiesto]

I haven't had time to check that video, but I believe that's the G minor concerto, and it's really quite difficult. I think I've seen it before. Anyhow, if you can't do the Grieg, you certainly can't do the Saint Saens G minor.

[icilkovich]

isn't prokofiev 3 harder than rach 3?

I'll recommend shostakovich 2, short and lively, since you don't want to bore the audiences. It lasts only about 7 minutes. Or Liszt?? but, you have to play the whole thing, or else it will be strange to hear. Or wanna try listening to Mozart A minor? Since he rarely wrote minor concertos, I think it will be quite interesting.

[mikey6]

i. Or wanna try listening to Mozart A minor? Since he rarely wrote minor concertos, I think it will be quite interesting.

ah...Don't believe he wrote a piano concerto in amin 

[thierry13]

isn't prokofiev 3 harder than rach 3?

Huh. No.

[icilkovich]

ah...Don't believe he wrote a piano concerto in amin 

sorry. I mean D minor. K 466 for sure

[storyseller]

Scriabin PC! I think it's exactly what you are looking for.

[slobone]

He is wonderful. Just won 2nd place at the Gina Bachauer Junior competition.

Wow, who came in first? This kid is very impressive, anybody know how old he is?

Only thing is, he's already started playing with a "soulful" expression on his face. I wonder who  these young kids are imitating, that do this?             

[retrouvailles]

Scriabin PC! I think it's exactly what you are looking for.

I don't think so. This concerto is extremely difficult, both technically and interpretatively.

[sharon_f]

Wow, who came in first? This kid is very impressive, anybody know how old he is?         

George Li is 12. The first place winner was another 12 year old, Ching Toa Aristo Sham from Hong Kong. My teacher refered to them as "two little tiny guys who played like Gilels."

[storyseller]

I don't think so. This concerto is extremely difficult, both technically and interpretatively.

He is asking for something like Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff, and Scriabin's piano Concerto is not as complex as Rach 2-3 or Tchaikovsky 1, or Prokofiev 3, plus it is underplayed, and juries tend to be less demanding because of that. Grieg is easier technically but most high level professors know it note by note so you just cant get away with it.

[sharon_f]

I know someone who not only won their college concerto competition with the Grieg, but came in 3rd at the national MTNA competition with it. It depends on how well you play it. It is very accessible and audiences love it. I would also second the Shostakovich 2. Another great crowd pleaser. Also look at the Prokofiev 1st, a one movement work, woefully underappreciated and much less difficult that the 3rd and 2nd (OMG).

[musicgirl-2004]

I think you should play grieg .His music is beautiful .
Try to find some intersting things in his concerto .
Beautiful melody ,sunny mood etc.
I was studied in grieg academy school of music two years for piano perfomance master degree,if somebody has question just ask me
.Now i was young teacher in china .
I am a professional pianist .
HAHA

[tds]

I am a professional pianist .
HAHA

a great post. can i quote you on that?

[teresa_b]

Beethoven 1 or Mozart 17 are both beautiful and not too difficult technically. 

Teresa

[hunkyhong]

there are two aspects when looking for a concerto. you want easy, but you want brilliant. you want flashy and entertaining, but at the same time you are a pianist. don't sacrifice either for the sake of the audience. i don't recommend that you do mozart because it will take a long time to work on phrasing and ear. But i do recommend that you do some technical pieces. you're in college, andyou need to develop your technique as well as your tone. you might be surprised what the college audience is suseptable (spelling?) to listen to. I think that if you play one of the beethoven concertos well, then you will grasp their attentions. But for technique, stick to the prokofiev third. It will be a challenge in the beginning, but once you learn it, its cake.

[birba]

Khatchaturian.  Not that difficult but very effective.

[thalbergmad]

I think you should play grieg .His music is beautiful .
Try to find some intersting things in his concerto .

I have been trying all day, and i still cannot find anything.

Does the music world really need another performance of this annoying snippet??.

Saint Saens 2, Litolff 4!!!

Thal

[dan101]

The Schumann A minor is beautiful, but it has its difficulties. Beethoven's second concerto isn't too tough, technically. Good luck.

[jepoy]

My suggestion: Mendelssohn in Gmin. Manageable length, nice tunes, and good for building technique. If you want a little more challenge, try Liszt #2.

[russda_man]

My college does a concerto thing where students from any instrument can audition to perform a concerto and play it with the school orchestra later in the year. I'm working on the 1st movement of Rachmaninoff's 2nd concerto right now, but I think this is probably too advanced for me. I'd like to find something that's easier but still very accessible for the audience. I heard some complaints this year about the student concerto being too boring (I think it was a Mozart flute concerto). Basically, I'd like to find something like Rachmaninoff, Grieg, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, etc, but on an easier scale. Any ideas?

Why don't you have a look at the Beethoven 1st? It's much easier than Chopin, Grieg or Rachmaninov, and it is a brilliant piece of music.