Another "I need some suggestions" thread

[rachmaninova]

Hi there!

I'm a little bit lost on choosing the only thing that is missing from my next year's program.
I need some suggestions on a romantic piece/cycle that has a minimum of 12 minutes and a maximum of 15-17 minutes.

I was going to Schumann's "Forest Scenes" but it's too big and I don't think it's really suitable to my technique and personality (despite the fact that I played "Papillons" this last year, but they aren't as similar as one should think). I'm also putting Rachmaninov aside. I don't really need to play something extremely difficult in terms of technique (I also have small hands) but I would like to play something musically interesting (mainly something with depth, and not simple fireworks). It can also be a transcription or paraphrase and it doesn't have to be from a mainstream composer (like Schumann, Chopin or Liszt - although I do like Liszt a lot).


Since I have other restrictions imposed from my school to my last year program, my recital would be something like this:

- Romantic piece min. 12 minutes
- Hindemith's 3rd Sonata

(intermission)

- Messiaen:
    La Premičre Communion de la Vierge
    La parole toute-puissante

- Stockhausen: Klavierstück IX

- Ligeti: Arc-en-ciel

- Tristan Murail: Cloches d'adieu et un sourire  OR  Takemitsu: Rain Tree Sketch II (hommage a Messiaen)


I know it lacks something from classical or baroque, but my hands are tied.
I'm also going to study Franck's Symphonic Variations because I also have a concert exam.


Thanks in advance for your help! 

Best regards,
Carla

[communist]

Mendelssohn sonata op.106
Brahms intermezzi op.117
Brahms klavierstucke op.119
Lyapunov variations and fugue on a Russian theme
Medtner sonata in G minor op.22
Medtner Skazka op.34
Prokofiev sonata no.4

[rachmaninova]

Mendelssohn sonata op.106
Brahms intermezzi op.117
Brahms klavierstucke op.119
Lyapunov variations and fugue on a Russian theme
Medtner sonata in G minor op.22
Medtner Skazka op.34
Prokofiev sonata no.4

Excellent Brahms suggestions! I don't know how I didn't remember those... I'll check the others.

[communist]

Excellent Brahms suggestions! I don't know how I didn't remember those... I'll check the others.

My pleasure 

[rachmaninova]

I'm still trying to find a recording of Medtner's Op. 34. The other sonata is a little hard to play followed by Hindemith's Sonata. The Lyapunov's Variations and Fugue is a wonderful piece, but again there's the problem of my small hands.

Does anyone have more ideas? I'd like to have a great deal of alternatives to explore. It's always thrilling to read new repertoire! 

[furtwaengler]

That is a wild and wildly enjoyable program! I'd love to hear this recital.

Communist's Brahms suggestion is really great and appropriate. But in the case that you wanted to indulge in something less standard, which would put your already unique program into extra unique territory, consider Busoni, the Sonatina's (either the first or the last, but...oh...really the first! Who hears such a world? And on this recital! ) or selecting from the elegies (sublime pieces, all). Think about it.

And small hands...I to feel your pain. I if we persevere, we can conquer, and there are some role models (Alicia de Larrocha, etc.). Hey..Albeniz? It's an anniversary year!

Happy choosing! 

[rachmaninova]

Mendelssohn sonata op.106
Brahms intermezzi op.117
Brahms klavierstucke op.119
Lyapunov variations and fugue on a Russian theme
Medtner sonata in G minor op.22
Medtner Skazka op.34
Prokofiev sonata no.4

Isn't Medtner's Op. 34 the "Fairy Tales"? I found one sonata Skazka Op. 25/1 in C minor. I'm listening to it, and I'm enjoying it a lot! I don't know if it is doable because the score isn't on IMSLP.

[rachmaninova]

That is a wild and wildly enjoyable program! I'd love to hear this recital.

I'm glad you liked this alignment!    It took me a lot of time to consider. I've always wanted to gather some works related to Messiaen for the 2nd part of the recital (I have an obsessive passion for this composer). The only problem was on the first part, which had to be (due to those restrictions I mentioned before) made of one cycle/piece of a minimum of 12 minutes and a sonata (if one of them was romantic, the other had to be modern). A friend composer suggested the Hindemith sonatas and I fell in love with the third one. So, I'm left to choose the romantic piece/cycle.

Communist's Brahms suggestion is really great and appropriate. But in the case that you wanted to indulge in something less standard, which would put your already unique program into extra unique territory, consider Busoni, the Sonatina's (either the first or the last, but...oh...really the first! Who hears such a world? And on this recital! ) or selecting from the elegies (sublime pieces, all). Think about it.

You're right about adding something that suits this out of mainstream program (at least it's quite unique comparing to the usual programs in my school or even my country). I'm considering the Brahms suggestion and also the Skazka Op. 25 (if I manage to look at the score to see if I can play it), but Busoni could really be the thing that completes the program. I'll see if I can find the scores or recordings.

And small hands...I to feel your pain. I if we persevere, we can conquer, and there are some role models (Alicia de Larrocha, etc.). Hey..Albeniz? It's an anniversary year!

I already have my role model in my country: Maria Joćo Pires, but Alicia de Larrocha is the next door role model!
I played Albeniz' "El Puerto" several years ago so, why not Albeniz?

Happy choosing!  

Thank you so much for your suggestions... "The more, the merrier!!!"
Keep them coming!  

[thalbergmad]

Why don't you learn the Ballade by Vianna da Motta?

Should be standard rep for Portuguese pianists

Its pretty impressive as well.

Thal

[rachmaninova]

Why don't you learn the Ballade by Vianna da Motta?

Should be standard rep for Portuguese pianists

Its pretty impressive as well.

Thal

I knew you would suggest Vianna da Motta! 
Unfortunately, since I played it in the past, I can't play it again on this recital.
Do you have Sequeira Costa's recording? It's amazing! Pizarro's is also good.


Thal, you are the specialist on transcriptions. What do you suggest?

[thalbergmad]

Yes, i was pretty predictable with that one. Your hands can't be that small if you coped with that . Not heard Costa's recording only Pizarro.

There are squillions of transcriptions. Is there any particular melody or piece you would like to play, like an italian aria or a Strauss Waltz?

Thal

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Paraphrases from opera, from 12 minutes to c. 15?

Two good non-Liszt ones of that length which spring to mind are Thalberg's Caprice on La Sonnambula and Pabst's Eugene Onegin.

[rachmaninova]

Yes, i was pretty predictable with that one. Your hands can't be that small if you coped with that . Not heard Costa's recording only Pizarro.

There are squillions of transcriptions. Is there any particular melody or piece you would like to play, like an italian aria or a Strauss Waltz?

Thal

I had to arpegiate lots of things and it didn't go that well, to be honest...
This is the Sequeira recording: https://www.amazon.com/Vianna-Da-Motta-Piano-Music/dp/B00005A7K0/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1250291931&sr=1-6

I once heard Gretchen un Spinnrade, but then I looked at the score and I started on my tears when I saw it didn't fit my hands. I'm not very familiar with opera transcriptions (I'm more acquainted with song transcriptions), but I like Wagner a lot (and we know Liszt made a great deal of transcriptions on Wagner's operas). I also like Puccini, Mozart. I'm not that acquainted to Bellini, Donizetti (except for "Una fortiva lacrima") and other bel-canto composers. There are transcriptions on french composers operas too... It's a really vast and undiscovered world to me. So, it really is pretty much the same as to search for a needle in a stack (I'm not sure if I wrote the expression properly).    I'm really not helping you, right?

[rachmaninova]

Paraphrases from opera, from 12 minutes to c. 15?

Two good non-Liszt ones of that length which spring to mind are Thalberg's Caprice on La Sonnambula and Pabst's Eugene Onegin.

Thank you, I'll have a look at them! 

[ronde_des_sylphes]

I'm not very familiar with opera transcriptions (I'm more acquainted with song transcriptions), but I like Wagner a lot (and we know Liszt made a great deal of transcriptions on Wagner's operas).

Almost all the Wagner-Liszt ones are shorter than 12 minutes. Offhand, I think the only really large scale one is the Tannhauser, and it is both technically and physically very demanding.

[thalbergmad]

I'm really not helping you, right?

Well, you are not narrowing it down mutch

Just with Wagner, Puccini and Mozart you probably have about 300 choices, albeit not all in the time range required.

Have a think about a particular theme from an opera you would like to play.

Thal

[rachmaninova]

Almost all the Wagner-Liszt ones are shorter than 12 minutes. Offhand, I think the only really large scale one is the Tannhauser, and it is both technically and physically very demanding.

Well, you are not narrowing it down mutch

Just with Wagner, Puccini and Mozart you probably have about 300 choices, albeit not all in the time range required.

Have a think about a particular theme from an opera you would like to play.

Thal

Well, it doesn't have to be just one transcription. The only thing required is the minimum of 12 minutes (and maximum of 15, or 17 with a stretch). Imagine you have Liszt's transcription on "Liebestod" from Tristan and Isolde and other composer made a transcription on other section of that opera... It could be a great idea.

In the mainwhile, I'll do a fast research on opera arias and I'll give you more hints!
You've all been great and very patient with me! Thank you!

[communist]

Isn't Medtner's Op. 34 the "Fairy Tales"? I found one sonata Skazka Op. 25/1 in C minor. I'm listening to it, and I'm enjoying it a lot! I don't know if it is doable because the score isn't on IMSLP.

op.34 are the fairy tales, yes. But they are also referred to as skazka. The sonata op.25 no.1 is the sonata-skazka.

[rachmaninova]

op.34 are the fairy tales, yes. But they are also referred to as skazka. The sonata op.25 no.1 is the sonata-skazka.

I'm sorry, I read your post all wrong. I read "Medtner Sonata Skazka Op. 34" when you wrote "Medtner Skazka Op. 34". I'm really in need of vacations! 

[communist]

I'm sorry, I read your post all wrong. I read "Medtner Sonata Skazka Op. 34" when you wrote "Medtner Skazka Op. 34". I'm really in need of vacations! 

We all are