Competition Repertoire

[takeo]

Hello all!

I'm entering in a competition next october. It has two phases:

First you have to play a short romantic work (something like a chopin nocturne, waltz...) and a Bach Prelude and Fugue.

Then, if you pass, you have to play a free choice piece that doesn't lenght more than 30 min.

I don't know what to play. To get a idea of my level, I'm playing Rachmaninoff's prelude op 23/5, Mozart's sonata in A minor and Beethoven's variations on a trio by Süssmayr.

I've thought in something like Bach's PF in F major from WTC I, and some impressive piece as romantic (I don't know what, but not this rach's prelude, because I'm playing it for too long).

For the free piece I've thought something like Mendelssohn's fantasy op 28, but maybe it's too difficult...

To get an idea of the competition level, last year the winner played PF 12 Vol II, Chopins Fantasie Impromptu and Prokofiev sarcasm.

I don't mind to repeat era (I mean, I don't mind to play something romantic as free piece), but it has to be perfectly played.

Considering I have much time to prepare, I want something to challenge, but not impossible, because it's a competition, and I want to pass....

[avetma]

Sorry, can you tell me which competition is it?

Thank you!

[weissenberg2]

Round 1:
Bach PF 22 from book 1
Medtner fairy tale op.26 no.1

Round 2:
Brahms scherzo op.4

Do you think that will work for you? and I think the Mendelssohn is in your range, I don't know though, I have not played it and different pianists have more trouble with some pieces than others do.

[takeo]

Oh!
I completely forgot about the Brahms Scherzo!!
Avetma, it's a spanish competition, in Valencia.
The PF... maybe too played, isn't it?
And the fairy tale is too obscure to play in a competition, I think.
People usually plays Chopin waltz nº 2, FI, Mendelssohn's Rondo capriccioso...

[weissenberg2]

I don't think a piece can be too obscure, I think they would like it if you played an obscrue piece actually. I don't think it is that played, I was thinking it would be good because it is 5 voices and it would be impressive to play it clearly. If not that one, how about no.6 from book 2? or the A minor from book 1?

[takeo]

Yeah, maybe not too obscure, but a competition where everybody plays chopin, liszt, brahms and mendelssohn...
A minor book I is totally impossible to play. It's a real challenge...
D minor book II is a good suggestion, but it has to have a fast fugue...

Any other suggestions are appreciated!

[weissenberg2]

It does not really matter what everyone else plays, if you play pieces you are good at it does not matter.

How about the prelude and fugue G-sharp minor from either books?

[takeo]

Yeah, a good suggestion!

I prefer book I G# minor, because the prelude form book II has repetitions (too long) and the fugue is... Well, I don't like it.

I think I'll play Mendelssohn's fantasy... It's a work I'm love in. It's fantastic.
As a short romantic work... I don't like playing obscure pieces in competitions. Altough I play it well, it's a bit strange....

As a PF, I'm still doubting... book I F major or G# minor?

[berniano]

I've been using the G# minor from Book 2 for two years now in competition, and now in auditions. I found it VERY challenging to memorize the fugue (which is actually a double fugue), but it's a great competition piece if you can maintain extremely clear voicing in the fugue and hold the prelude in check. Don't start it now if you only have a few months to completely learn it. But all the same, highly recommended!

P.S. The fugue is incredibly gorgeous in my opinion.

[communist]

I think the B-flat major from book 1 would be good for you.

I think you can manage the Mendelssohn, if you have good scale and arpeggio technique then you can probably do it. I also like the idea of the Brahms' scherzo.

[takeo]

I think I'll have to revise the G# minor book II...

Book I B-flat major not. It's overplayed, and it's not good for competition.

Yeah, I've started Mendelssohn's fantasy... it's easier than it looks!
I'm still doubting the PF (book I F major, or book II G# minor?)
And I haven't decided yet the short romantic work... Medtner's fairy tale doesn't convince me...

[communist]

Its not overplayed, but it is one ofthe more played ones (The only one that is overplayed is the C major from book 1).

Do you like the E-major from either books? they might work. I think Chopin waltz in E-minor might be good for the short romantic piece, but maybe not.

[takeo]

E major?
If i don't remember bad, the book II has a boring fugue...

The waltz? I would prefer playing something that isn't chopin (played too often), and with some challenging parts (I don't mean it's an easy waltz. It isn't).
Maybe something like a miniature by Brahms. I've listened to the ballade in G minor (not op 10) and the Rhapsody op 119, but I don't like them...

[communist]

I don't think you should play the Chopin to be honest, I was just trying to narrow it down.

[takeo]

Oh, thank you, but I don't know what should I play as a short romantic piece, anyway...

[weissenberg2]

Have you decided which PF & small Romantic piece you are going to do yet?

[takeo]

I was thinking PF 3 book II (C# major) and Brahms rhapsody op 79/1, but it isn't totally decided...

Still opened to suggestions!

[pianisten1989]

I'd probably say Chopin Ballade in F major. But if you don't want to play Chopin, that might be a problem. Hmmm, maybe a Liszt Rhapsody? The 6th is somewhere around 6 minutes..

About the Bach, I think you can pick almost any of them. Go with one you're comfortable in.

Can you give the link to thins competition?

[communist]

I think the Brahms rhapsody would be a good competition piece, few people play it well so I think it would be impressive if you played it well.

The C# major from bk 1 would be good also.

[takeo]

Pianisten1989: the two pieces you mentioned (Chopin's ballade 2, Liszt's HR 6) are far too difficult. I don't think I can play them well.
Anyway, it's a spanish competition.

Communist: Yeah, I also thought it: it isn't very played, and it souds quite difficult.
About the Bach, C# major book I is another I had in mind, but it's too difficult. The voicing in the fugue is very tough, and I think it would be very difficult to play well.

I'm still opened to suggestions!

[liordavid]

if u want something diffucult
1st round liszt hungarian rapsody 12 and bach prelude and fugue in f# minor wtc book 1
2nd round debussy suite pour piano

[takeo]

Maybe too difficult for me...

I was thinking maybe something not very heard to impress the judges in the first round. For example, I thought about Weber's Rondo Brillante in Eb major... the fugue is a problem.

I'm spanish, so I would like to play something spanish for the second round, so I've thought to play Granado's Allegro de Concierto, but I'm not sure... maybe it's too difficult.

If I play this program, the problem would be the prelude and fugue. I don't want a really slow one, because I don't like them. But I don't know... I think it should be in a minor key to contrast with the other two pieces...

Still opened to suggestions!

[sjeon]

Bach Prelude and fuge in c minor
Chopin waltz op.42(I strated playing it and I love it!)
Finally, Chopin ballade no.2

Even though you don't prefer chopin, if you play it well, you will win

[liordavid]

This is not as hard as the first program but i think it could do you well.
Bach WTC book 1 Ab major prelude and fugue
Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody no 5. it is s expressive and beuatifal.
Hummel: First piano sonata.