Transcriptions

[kay3087]

My teacher would like me to play a transcription of something (for a learning "experience", and it's a long story). So!

What are some of your favourite transcriptions for Solo Piano?

Though please recommend something that is not too difficult. The Liszt transcription of Beethoven's ninth is out of the question &c.

[thalbergmad]

I think perhaps it might be an idea if you could think of any theme you would like to play, such as an aria from an opera. There are just so many thousands of transcriptions.

Also, if you could let me know what pieces you have been playing so i can have an idea of your level.

The Liszt you mention is probably beyond most of us, but anyone with grade 7 or 8, could probably handle some transcriptions by Salon composers such as Pixis, Herz, Hunten & Sydney Smith.

I am glad your teacher has suggested this. You will have some considerable fun.

Thal

[kay3087]

I've been playing these pieces recently.

Op. 109 and Op. 126
Beethoven

BWV 974 and various pieces from the WTC
Bach

Sonata No. 4
Scriabin

but I've learned and played many more pieces in years past. CPE Bach, Clementi, Haydn, Couperin. I have an affinity for Baroque and Classical era music, in case that helps. But I'm open to anything.

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Bearing in mind what you said about baroque, you might want to take a look at Liszt's Sarabande and Chaconne from Handel's Almira. I would upload the score, but I only have it in sheet music form. Here's a recording of the Sarabande part:

A few attractive transcriptions which are not as difficult as some (by Liszt, Thalberg and Anton Rubinstein respectively):

[perfect_pitch]

How about Liszts Transcription and arrangement of Saint-saens 'Danse Macarbe'...

Bloody beautiful.

[thalbergmad]

I think the Donizetti Liszt is a superb idea.

Thal

[weissenberg2]

Since you seem to have a pretty good technique I recommend the following:

Liszt-Schubert lieder

Tchaikovsky-Rachmaninoff berceuse

Bach-Busoni chorale preludes & Chaconne

Bach-Vivaldi concerto in G minor

Bach-Marcello concerto in D minor

Schubert-Tausig military march (if you have good octaves)

Tchaikovsky-Feinberg scherzo from symphony no.6

Tchaikovsky-Pletnev Nutcracker & Sleeping Beauty

hope that helps!

[richard black]

Be brave and have a look at some Godowsky transcriptions. A lot of them are rock hard, but there are some perfectly playable ones among them - for instance, Schubert's 'Morgengruss' and Bohm's 'Still wie die Nacht'. Godowsky went out of copyright at the beginning of this year so a lot of his stuff is on IMSLP.

[michel dvorsky]

I second the Bach-Marcello.

[kay3087]

Thank you for all of your suggestions. The Donizetti-Liszt Valse is beautiful, and so is the Handel Sarabande. I'll listen to the rest of these today and hopefully choose one, but any more recommendations are quite welcome.