Ginastera Piano Sonata 1

[nanabush]

I have my ARCT exam this Friday, and after that I'm going to be looking at new repertoire for this year (hopefully I can go in an open competition in Ottawa in April with what I learn).

I'm playing the Ginastera Danzas Argentinas as one of my exam pieces, and about a week ago I heard his First Piano Sonata.  All I found about it on this forum is that it is "exponentially easier than his second and third sonatas".  For those of you that have played it (studied, or just free time, doesn't matter), how did you find learning it?  Does it share any similarities with the Three Dances?  I'm not asking about how difficult it is, I just want to know people's impressions with learning it.

I would try it myself, but I've been playing the same six pieces on a loop for the past two weeks   I can try it out next week, so I'm hoping not to get any "try it yourself" replies lol.

Thanks!

Nick

[retrouvailles]

I personally don't like this sonata as much as his other two sonatas because his compositional language wasn't as developed, but from a pianistic and objective perspective, this sonata is great stuff. There are plenty of technical fireworks with room for musical expression. I would say its a bit harder than his Danzas Argentinas, which are some of his simpler (and less mature) piano pieces. By the time he wrote this sonata, his pianistic and compositional vocabulary had evolved a bit. It definitely has the Argentinian rhythms that the dances share, notably his use of hemiolas to create that signature Argentinian rhythm. However, there is a slight allusion to his later style, with some 12 tone sections. I would suggest playing some his smaller piano pieces that he composed around the time he composed this sonata to get a feel for his pianistic language. His 12 Preludios Americanos, Malambo, or Suite de Danzas Criollas.

[kitty on the keys]

Nick,   I have been working off and on with the first Sonata. I enjoy the work alot. I find I divide the piece into sections and do slow work with the metronome. Be aware of your arms for the leaps----keep relaxed---and work on those daily so that movement becomes routine. A great piece to work on tone colors as well----have fun with the piece------try not to take the last movement too fast----let the rhythm do the work for you---and save your energy. What CD's have you listened too?

kitty on the keys

[nanabush]

My teacher has a CD with his music, and played it during a lesson, but I forget who the performer was.  Other than that, I've just been recently searching youtube for different interpretations.  I start up lessons again in 2 weeks, so I'm going to ask her to bring the music again, and hopefully I can start working on it then... thanks for the advice though, I'll keep that in mind when I start!