Music Wishlist: What should I learn next?

[pianoperformer]

Hi,

I'm working on perfecting two pieces, and learning a third. However, I'm thinking and hoping there will be some time next semester I can choose a piece I want to learn, after I learn whatever I need for jury.

I've been putting together a music wishlist, of sorts, of things I would love to learn sometime. I don't know how difficult any of these are, except by hearing them, though I suspect the Beethoven sonata is rather challenging.

So which of these would you recommend learning next?

Here's what I'm working on now, for context:

• Saint-Saëns: Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22
• Rachmaninoff: Polichinelle in F-sharp minor, Op. 3, No. 4
• Scarlatti: Sonata in E major, K.380

For further context, I've been playing for 15 years, and I'm a sophomore music major in college.

I've not heard of Scarlatti before now, so I've been exploring his pieces, and like quite a few of them. Only two are listed here now, but I'm pretty sure there are others.

Anyway here it is:

Scarlatti

• Sonata in A major, K.113
• Sonata in F minor, K.519

Chopin

• Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 35
• Prelude in E-flat minor, Op. 28, No. 14

Rachmaninoff

• Prelude in G major, Op. 32, No. 5
• Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18

Beethoven

• Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111

The Rachmaninoff concerto is mostly just here for completeness sake, because I certainly don't want to be working on two concerti at once. I'm supposed to be preparing the one I have for a competition, so I want to focus on that.

[aslanov]

Grieg- A minor Concerto
Grieg- Ballade
Beethoven - appassionata
beethoven - waldstein sonata
Hungarian Rhapsody #12

[pianoperformer]

Grieg- A minor Concerto
Grieg- Ballade
Beethoven - appassionata
beethoven - waldstein sonata
Hungarian Rhapsody #12

Not a fan of the Ballade, but I love all the others. Thanks.

But, that only expands my list of things to learn. My post was to get suggestions for what to learn next among those choices.

So here's my updated list, with some of the common titles added in:

Beethoven
Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53 (“Waldstein”)
Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 (“The Appassionata”)
Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111

Chopin
Prelude in E-flat minor, Op. 28, No. 14 (“Fear”)
Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 35 (“Funeral March”)

Grieg:
Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16

Liszt:
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 in C-sharp minor

Rachmaninoff
Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18
Prelude in G major, Op. 32, No. 5

Scarlatti
Sonata in A major, K.113
Sonata in F minor, K.519

[cmg]

Opus 111 is VERY ambitious and I'm sure you have the skills for it, but it's rather a piece for life-battered old blokes like me.  You're young, so why don't you tackle the "Waldstein?"  Enormous fun to learn. 

As for Scarlatti, I can't get enough of him.  Such an enormously gifted composer.  Definitely expand your Scarlatti repertoire.

The Chopin Sonata is a major, major challenge and that last movement presents enormous interpretive problems.  A group of his preludes, mixing the virtuosic with the sublime, is always a good student choice.  The "Barcarolle" is fabulous, of course, and the F-minor Fantasy.  I offer any of these suggestions in place of the Sonata, which, I found very frustrating to learn.

If you can do the Saint-Saen's Second, you can cope with the entirety of the Greig Concerto.  Rachmaninov's Second is very problematical.  The first movement, I found, is quite possible.  The second movement as well, except for that particularly nasty cadenza-like section that brings the central section to a close.  I still find it a pain in the neck.  And, well, the last movement is a tremendous challenge.  Truly it is.  Stamina issues arise in the very first four pages!  Hardly fair after you've survived the previous two movements.  I'd go with the Grieg, sir.

The Liszt is an excellent choice.  You might also consider, alternatively, his "Benediction de Dieu dans la Solitude."  Highly effective, "virtuosically introspective" and it might counter-balance your choice of the Waldstein (quite showy) over Opus 111, totally profound.

[pianoperformer]

Opus 111 is VERY ambitious and I'm sure you have the skills for it, but it's rather a piece for life-battered old blokes like me.  You're young, so why don't you tackle the "Waldstein?"  Enormous fun to learn.

The Waldstein does sound fun. That's
 too bad about the Op. 111, as that sounds like a great piece, too.
 

As for Scarlatti, I can't get enough of him.  Such an enormously gifted composer.  Definitely expand your Scarlatti repertoire.

Indeed! My piano teacher just introduced me to this, and I was doubtful how much I'd enjoy it, but the piece I'm learning now, as well as most everything else I've heard by him, is great.

The Chopin Sonata is a major, major challenge and that last movement presents enormous interpretive problems.  A group of his preludes, mixing the virtuosic with the sublime, is always a good student choice.  The "Barcarolle" is fabulous, of course, and the F-minor Fantasy.  I offer any of these suggestions in place of the Sonata, which, I found very frustrating to learn.

Hmm. Maybe the sonata can be held for a later date. Definitely on my to-do list, though.

I love almost all of Chopin's preludes, so a mix of those might not be a bad idea.

The Barcarolle, I don't like quite as much, though I didn't listen to the entire thing.

That Fantasy in F minor, are you referring to this:

If so, I quite like it, and from what i've heard, it doesn't sound too challenging?

If you can do the Saint-Saen's Second, you can cope with the entirety of the Greig Concerto.

I love that concerto. Again I think I'll hold off any further concerti until Saint-Saëns is satisfactorily learned and perfected, though.

Rachmaninov's Second is very problematical.  The first movement, I found, is quite possible.  The second movement as well, except for that particularly nasty cadenza-like section that brings the central section to a close.  I still find it a pain in the neck.  And, well, the last movement is a tremendous challenge.  Truly it is.  Stamina issues arise in the very first four pages!  Hardly fair after you've survived the previous two movements.  I'd go with the Grieg, sir.

Indeed. How's Rachmaninoff's third?

The Liszt is an excellent choice.  You might also consider, alternatively, his "Benediction de Dieu dans la Solitude."  Highly effective, "virtuosically introspective" and it might counter-balance your choice of the Waldstein (quite showy) over Opus 111, totally profound.

Quite beautiful indeed.

A few years ago, I attempted the third movement of Beethoven's sonata no. 14. I was able to play it, but not as well as I would have liked. But that was before I went to college, and feel like I've much improved in technique since then, so I might be tempted to try it again at some point, too. My previous piano teachers didn't focus on technique much, unfortunately.

I think I'll look into some more Scarlatti, as well as the Waldstein, for now, though, and maybe some Chopin preludes.

Thanks a lot for the suggestions!

Edit: Well I guess that Fantaisie gets more difficult near the end. That's a great piece, though.

[cmg]

The Rachmaninov Third is extremely difficult.  Definitely rule that one out for now!  Many professional concert artists have been confounded by it.  The Rachmaninov First, however, is wonderful and you could play it!  Not easy by any stretch of the imagination.  Very beautiful.

No, forget the Rachmaninov Third.  It's a total terror in all ways and only the most accomplished of pianists attempt it.  Maybe when you're working on your doctorate in piano!

The Chopin Fantasy is far from easy.  It's quite a handful and it's difficult to memorize, but I'd still go for it over the Funeral Sonata.  It repays your hard work.  Beautiful piece.

And I really think the Waldstein would be perfect for you.  Beethoven at his best.  Opus 111 is glorious, but, I think, better studied when you have more life experience.

[pianoperformer]

The Rachmaninov Third is extremely difficult.  Definitely rule that one out for now!  Many professional concert artists have been confounded by it.  The Rachmaninov First, however, is wonderful and you could play it!  Not easy by any stretch of the imagination.  Very beautiful.

No, forget the Rachmaninov Third.  It's a total terror in all ways and only the most accomplished of pianists attempt it.  Maybe when you're working on your doctorate in piano!

Lol OK. That first does sound beautiful, though.

The Chopin Fantasy is far from easy.  It's quite a handful and it's difficult to memorize, but I'd still go for it over the Funeral Sonata.  It repays your hard work.  Beautiful piece.

Yeah, I just didn't listen far enough into it. I love it though.

And I really think the Waldstein would be perfect for you.  Beethoven at his best.  Opus 111 is glorious, but, I think, better studied when you have more life experience.

The Waldstein is nice. A cheerful piece it seems.

So it'll be a tossup between the Waldstein and the Fantasy. I'll ask my piano teacher about them when she thinks I can take on something else.

Again, thank you very much.