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Topic: Crazy piano music?  (Read 6822 times)

Offline kefka95

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Crazy piano music?
on: October 27, 2002, 07:23:58 AM
I'm looking for recordings of some technically incredible piano pieces, basically stuff that's fast and furious. It doesn't have to be the most musical thing in the world (although it would be nice if it is ; ) ), I'm just looking for some stuff that really shows off what a piano can do.

As a trombone performance major I will always love trombone first and foremost, but I've always been fascinated by some of the crazy things piano players can do. Please let me know of any pieces/CDs that come to mind. Thanks!

Offline Estel

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Re: Crazy piano music?
Reply #1 on: October 27, 2002, 09:47:03 AM
If you're looking for "nice" technically demanding pieces,
the conventional would be enough wouldn't it?

Liszt is a perfect starting place; his Hungarian Rhapsodies.

If you're looking for something a little easier the Chopin etudes would be perfect.

Of course, different pieces are harder/easier for different people, so you might find these pieces easy.

Offline pskim

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Re: Crazy piano music?
Reply #2 on: October 27, 2002, 10:49:59 AM
Try listening to some of Leopold Godowsky's piano transcriptions of other composers, especially the Chopin etudes.  He wrote some of the most difficult piano pieces one can ever imagine and most are very musical.  Listen to the complete Chopin/Godowsky recordings by Marc Andre Hamelin.  It is fabulous.  Also try listening to Kissin's recording of Brahms's Paganini variations books 1 and 2.  Hellishly difficult.

Offline davy10tunes

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Re: Crazy piano music?
Reply #3 on: October 27, 2002, 12:48:25 PM
Here's a few pieces that might fit the bill.
No.1: "Toccata" Op.155 by York Bowen.Published by Joseph Weinberger.Stephen Hough has recorded this piece for Hyperion, CDA 66838.
No.2: "Danzas Argentinas" Op.2 by Ginastera.It's the third one you'll be interested in.You can hear them played (brilliantly) by Martha Argerich on the CD, "Live From The CONCERTGEBOUW".It's available on EMI classics.
A couple of CD's that might interest you are "Poulenc piano music volume 2"8.553930 and "Rautavaara works for piano" 8.554292.These are available on the NAXOS lable.I think their website is www.hnh.com
If I come across any more crazy pieces I'll let you know.

 David
DAVROS

Offline e60m5

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Re: Crazy piano music?
Reply #4 on: October 28, 2002, 03:36:24 AM
Tough pieces that sound great?

Balakirev's Islamey

Liszt's Orage from Annees de Pelerinage bk.1 "Suisse"

Godowski's Chopin Etudes transcriptions

So many more... those are my personal favourites of the powerhouse genre  ;)

Offline ned

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Re: Crazy piano music?
Reply #5 on: October 29, 2002, 08:30:07 PM
Here is some more wild stuff:
Prokofiev:  Scherzo, last piece from opus 12. And Suggestion diabolique.  
Toccata op 11
Last movement of Seventh Sonata

Alkan: Any of the big pieces like the Symphony for Piano and Quasi Faust.

Scriabin: Etudes in Ninths and Fifths, op 65.

Ned

Offline Neno

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Re: Crazy piano music?
Reply #6 on: October 30, 2002, 02:15:07 PM
Hey everyone forgot rachmaninoff!
What about the second sonata(the original verdsion is more difficult than the revision)It is supposed to be as difficult as the rach3!
What about ravels gaspard de la nuit?

Offline eddie92099

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Re: Crazy piano music?
Reply #7 on: August 06, 2003, 01:59:31 PM
I thought I would let this topic resurface...

Alkan: Concerto for Solo Piano, "Allegro Barbaro", Many of the 12 etudes in minor keys
Chopin: Most of the etudes, 16th and 24th preludes etc.
Brahms: Handel Variations and Paganini Variations
Liszt: Transcendental etudes, Paganini etudes, Rhapsodies etc.
Balakirev: Islamey
Ravel: Gaspard de la nuit, Jeux d'eau, Toccata from le tombeau de Couperin
Debussy: L'isle Joyeuse, Toccata, Many of the preludes and etudes
Prokofiev: Toccata, Sonatas
Stravinsky: Three Mvts from Petrouchka
Bizet/Horowitz: Carmen Variations
Chasins: Rush hour in Hong Kong
Rautavaara: Etudes
Ligeti: Etudes
Birtwhistle: Harrison's clocks
Boulez: Sonatas

Ed

Offline callidus

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Re: Crazy piano music?
Reply #8 on: August 07, 2003, 04:57:27 AM
has everyone decided to neglect bach's sinfonia XV? i've heard this played pretty fast, and it's really wild.

Offline Irock1ce

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Re: Crazy piano music?
Reply #9 on: August 07, 2003, 10:04:53 PM
ohh theres this one helllla crazy piece.. its a toccata by a pretty modern composer..... to play it you have to open the grand up and pluck the strings and stuff...
Member of Young Musicians program at University of California, Berkeley.
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