piano piece written after 1960?!

[madsfr1234]

Hello my name is Mads!
i'm going to play at the national steinway competition in Denmark.

but i need a piece that is written after 1960?
it has to be around 3 minutes in length and show a great deal of virtuosity!

At the moment i plays prokofiev's 3. sonata, chopin's 2. piano concerto 2. mvt and some of his etudes.

I'm going to play the chopin concerto for the principal pianist in LSO, John Alley at the 30. of november! I am SO EXCITED!

greetings from mads, Denmark. ( :

[kevinr]

Maybe a Ligeti Etude?

For example, Fanfares, Automne a Varsovie, L'scalier du Diable

Or for something very recent, Carter Catenaires.

[retrouvailles]

There is a little known piece by modern orchestral composer Christopher Rouse, who is known for his loud, violent, and passionate music that is called "Little Gorgon". It is modeled after a movement from his orchestral work "Gorgon", which has been called the loudest piece of classical music ever written (that is not its only virtue though, it's a great piece of music). There is not a treble clef in the entire work and the dynamic is rarely below forte. It is not just a bangy work, though. There is plenty of variation in the work to make it interesting. There is unfortunately no recording of it, but the sheet music is easy to get. I would recommend the orchestral work for listening though.

[lontano]

One of Michael Finnissey's shorter works?

[thalbergmad]

Yeh, how about Elephant 1994??

Personally though, I have no idea how to "insert a wedge" and that counts both for an elephant and Mr Finnissey.

Thal

[ahinton]

Yeh, how about Elephant 1994??

Personally though, I have no idea how to "insert a wedge" and that counts both for an elephant and Mr Finnissey.

Well, at least you have heard of the piece and presumably seen a score although, if that is so, you ought to have some idea as to how to do this if you have read the instructions on its final page.

And, for the umpteenth time, there is no "e" in "Finnissy".

Maybe you might have some other suggestions for post-1960 piano pieces (preferably by composers whose surnames you both can and will spell correctly, since that should help anyone interested to look it/them up)...

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

And, for the umpteenth time, there is no "e" in "Finnissy".

I copied the spelling from the post above mine, so i would be inclined to suggest that you vent your displezzure at Lontano.

Thal

[ahinton]

I copied the spelling from the post above mine, so i would be inclined to suggest that you vent your displezzure at Lontano.

That's hardly the point - and, in any case, far from expressing "displeasure" (however you might want to spell that), I merely sought to observe that, as this error has been perpetrated on numerous occasions, its perpetuation does not help anyone to find information on the composer if they then want to go and look for it.

Anyway, don't you have a repertoire suggestion to offer besides that one Finnissy piece?

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

I recommend the Morceau D'Anniversaire Op.11 by the composer Alistair Hinton. Regretfully one of the pieces he didn't throw away.

Charming little ditty. I am sure it will go down well with the judges if they are sufficiently pissed.

Thal

[ahinton]

I recommend the Morceau D'Anniversaire Op.11 by the composer Alistair Hinton. Regretfully one of the pieces he didn't throw away.

Regretted by whom? The composer? You? Someone else? And whichever it is, can you supply corroborative evidence of such expressed regret?

Charming little ditty.

It's certainly little, though not one of the composer's best works, I think.

I am sure it will go down well with the judges if they are sufficiently pissed.

That state of judgemental inebriation would be up to the competitors or someone to ensure in advance, would it not?

Subject to the length of piece that is being sought, I understand that there are several other piano pieces by the same composer, each of less than 10 minutes' duration, of which you may already know (given that you area aware of the one that you mention above) and might like to suggest - though that's entirely up to you, naturellement.

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

It's certainly little, though not one of the composer's best works, I think.

I am glad about that.

Going back to this Op.11, I am not sure i understand the preface.

"based on the names of the greatest composer for the piano since Chopin & the most richly endowed pianist since Liszt"

Was not aware you had met Rachmaninov.

Thal

[abj]

There's a wonderful work by Messiaen;
"Petites esquisses d'oiseaux". Although
it is a work of several short pieces,
each about three minutes in length or so.
I'm unfamiliar with the contest rules,
but if you are allowed to play one piece
from a larger work, I suggest one of these.

[abj]

Or one of the Rautavaara études.
One and five are just about three minutes;
The first being the more virtuosic.

[lontano]

I copied the spelling from the post above mine, so i would be inclined to suggest that you vent your displezzure at Lontano.

Thal

My sincere apologies. I was in a rush.
L.

[thalbergmad]

No worries Sir

Hinty appears to have a bee in his bonnet today.

Thal

[lontano]

Yeh, how about Elephant 1994??

Personally though, I have no idea how to "insert a wedge" and that counts both for an elephant and Mr Finnissey.

Thal

If it's anything like Cage or Crumb, it's no harder than closing up a Cage or stealing away a Crumb; you just have to read the instructions (Latin helps, esp with Crumb!) And these works are NOT written for every performer, just to those few who feel attracted.

I know the Cage well (once I prepared my one and only Somer grand piano), yet I never crafted the fingering/wedgies to make more than a few pieces sound remotely valid, yet as I did it, and a few of students around me absorbed some interest, and if that's all I could offer, let it be.)

I don't, yet, know Elephant (never heard it nor saw it), but anyone who can represent an Elephant musically, be my guest!!!

(I know Robert Plant of King Crimson has created a rather enormous work by that name, so please don't bring that up at this point!)

L

[ahinton]

I am glad about that.

Which? - its diminutive dimensions or that it's not one of the composer's best works or both?

Going back to this Op.11, I am not sure i understand the preface.

"based on the names of the greatest composer for the piano since Chopin & the most richly endowed pianist since Liszt"

Was not aware you had met Rachmaninov.

Oh, if only! Never mind, Thal; your lack of understanding here is curable, quite simply by reading the title of the piece and applying it to said preface...

Best,

Alistair

[ahinton]

No worries Sir

Learning OZ, are we?...

Hinty appears to have a bee in his bonnet today.

For the record, I neither keep bees nor possess a bonnet (other than the one on the car) but in any case it would presumably be better to have a bee in a bonnet than an elephant...

Now, at the risk of repeating myself - do you have any other appropriate repertoire suggestions here?

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

Now, at the risk of repeating myself - do you have any other appropriate repertoire suggestions here?

I have suggested two pieces thus far, but you done nothing other than spelling correction and attempts at humour.

Why don't you make a suggestion??

Surely Sorabji composed something under 3 hours which might be considered.

Thal

[lontano]

[...had a strange dream last night concerning the written thoughts of a man who unknowingly, as is the norm in such rare cases, had a multiple personality disorder. In real life he was known to friends and company as Thalistair Hinberg, M.A.D. (Master of Artistic Disambiguation), while his dual personalities were constantly at war over the internal conflict of diametrically opposed philosophic ideology, apparently brought on by the eternal angst of a crisis evolved from the cruel intent his schizo-affected parents suffered upon him when naming him at birth, Zenon Fudley. Unfortunately, just as T.M. was about to reach a glorious breakthrough in psychotherapy, by euphemistically "wedging the elephant" in learning to forevermore replace all errant "e"s with pure nothingness, my alarm went off...]

And if the judges are in need of a real tour-de-force impression, I suggest "Piano Media", by the ever reverent, always relevant Toshi Ichiyanagi.

Just my 2 bits, one more time. 

Lontano

[gothamglory]

Try the Wildwood Etude of David Del Tredici.  Published by Boosey and Hawkes.

[ahinton]

I have suggested two pieces thus far, but you done nothing other than spelling correction and attempts at humour.

Why don't you make a suggestion??

Surely Sorabji composed something under 3 hours which might be considered.

There are indeed plenty of short works by Sorabji that could satisfy most of the criteria here, not least any one or two of quite a few of the 100 Transcendental Studies, many of which play for just a few minutes each, but as the request is for recommendations for a post-1960 piece (and Sorabji reached the age of 72 in that year), the only possible recommendations would be 20 Frammenti Aforistichi (around 9 minutes altogether), carefully chosen extracts from 103 Frammenti Aforistichi or - well, there's not much else from that time, actually, but, if interested, you could always browse the catalogue of piano works on the Sorabji website at www.sorabji-archive.co.uk.

Best,

Alistair

[ahinton]

[...had a strange dream last night concerning the written thoughts of a man who unknowingly, as is the norm in such rare cases, had a multiple personality disorder. In real life he was known to friends and company as Thalistair Hinberg, M.A.D. (Master of Artistic Disambiguation), while his dual personalities were constantly at war over the internal conflict of diametrically opposed philosophic ideology, apparently brought on by the eternal angst of a crisis evolved from the cruel intent his schizo-affected parents suffered upon him when naming him at birth, Zenon Fudley. Unfortunately, just as T.M. was about to reach a glorious breakthrough in psychotherapy, by euphemistically "wedging the elephant" in learning to forevermore replace all errant "e"s with pure nothingness, my alarm went off...]

I daresay that there are suitable medications available to help you with most of this (though possibly not that part of your evident  afflication that gives rise to split infinitives such as "to forevermore replace"); have a discreet word with your GP and he may be able to help but, if not, he will no doubt be happy to refer you to a suitable consultant...

But to return to the topic - Thal was kind enough to recommend something of mine so, if as a direct consequence I may momentarily assume that mantle of indulgence, there are a few other such possibilities - Scottish Ballad, a Schumann transcription (sorry, Thal - one can't win 'em all!) or any one of Sieben Charakterstücke (catalogue again at www.sorabji-archive.co.uk)...

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

Just in case anyone missed it.
www.sorabji-archive.co.uk
Catalogue @
www.sorabji-archive.co.uk
Further info can be obtained @
www.sorabji-archive.co.uk
Not forgetting
www.sorabji-archive.co.uk
Can be obtained via
www.sorabji-archive.co.uk
Weekend breaks in the Country
www.sorabji-archive.co.uk
Wheel cleaning service
www.sorabji-archive.co.uk
Find a mate for your duck @
www.sorabji-archive.co.uk

Thal

PS www.sorabji-archive.co.uk

[ahinton]

Just in case anyone missed it.
www.sorabji-archive.co.uk
Catalogue @
www.sorabji-archive.co.uk

Well, Thal, you were the one that instigated these proceedings first by recommending something of mine and then by asking what Sorabji might have contributed to the repertoire that fitted into the requirements here - and, not content with that, berated me for my apparent laxity in making suggestions when you had already done so - so there's little point in getting all flustered as you appear to do here...

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

I am not flustered at all

www.sorabji-archive.co.uk

Thal

[ahinton]

I am not flustered at all

www.sorabji-archive.co.uk

In which case your PR machine is working splendidly on our behalf, for which the archive and moi personally each are greatly indebted to you.

To return the compliment,

www.thalbergmadnesss.fin-des-graves.co.kent

(well, I know that this is somewhat premature, but there really ought, at least in my 'umble opinion, to be a dedicated website for you and the Concerto Preservation Society)...

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

BACK TO TOPIC, how about some Ogdon.

Perhaps one of the preludes or part of the Dance Suite.

Thal

[ahinton]

BACK TO TOPIC, how about some Ogdon.

Perhaps one of the preludes or part of the Dance Suite.

Hear, hear! Excellent suggestions, if I may say so!

Best,

Alistair

[hansscherff]

You two always make my day, thank you 

[thalbergmad]

Thank you my friend. I thought i got on peoples nerves. Perhaps i do and they are too kind to say.

If it was a pre 1860 thread, i would have more suggestions.

Thal

[ahinton]

I thought i got on peoples nerves. Perhaps i do and they are too kind to say.

People who never get on anyone else's nerves achieve nothing; ask any honest composer if you have any doubt in believing that...

If it was a pre 1860 thread, i would have more suggestions.

But despite that fact that it isn't, you've not fought shy of providing some, for which I am sure others here will be - or perhaps already are - duly grateful.

Best,

Alistair

[communist]

Hinton capriccio op.8.

[retrouvailles]

Haha, so many nominations for Hinton's pieces. Given that there are no recordings of his piano music that are 3 minutes long, I'm starting to think that you all are just patronizing him (no offense to Mr. Hinton)!

[lontano]

I daresay that there are suitable medications available to help you with most of this (though possibly not that part of your evident  afflication that gives rise to split infinitives such as "to forevermore replace"); have a discreet word with your GP and he may be able to help but, if not, he will no doubt be happy to refer you to a suitable consultant...

To my infinitive dismay I never studied English, but I take medication to help me forget that fact, and for the most part, it works quite well...

[ahinton]

Hinton capriccio op.8.

Again, there are far better short piano pieces in the composer's output than this one, which was the direct result of participation in an experiment where some composers were put in separate rooms to compose a short piece - as the notes in the score read, "this short piece was written to a commission wherein the composer was challenged to create a three-minute piano work during the space of a single day; its composition actually occupied four hours from first idea to writing the final notes"...

Best,

Alistair

[ahinton]

Haha, so many nominations for Hinton's pieces. Given that there are no recordings of his piano music that are 3 minutes long, I'm starting to think that you all are just patronizing him (no offense to Mr. Hinton)!

...and none is taken, since there appears to be no evidence of such patronising!...

Best,

Alistair

[naturlaut]

How about Federico Ruiz's Merengue (1994)? 

[naturlaut]

And Kapustin Op. 66 No. 2?  It could be under 3 minutes if you take any of the repeats...

[lostinidlewonder]

Talking about Kasputin his Jazz Etudes are cool, I studied a few months ago his Reverie, Op. 40 no 2.
Here is a video of the composer himself playing it:

Quite a fantastic piece which fits nicely in the hand and is full of exciting stuff if you are into the "jazz" style although the opening theme could be classical. It is also spot on 3 minutes playing time but you could take it a little easier and make it mid 3:30