Modern pieces for an audition

[chopin1993]

As some of you might know, I'll be auditioning for the conservatory next year.
I already made a topic about which pieces would be nice, but I'll have to play 2 modern pieces also..
So what pieces do you think are nice to play?

Thanks in advance!

p.s.  I know my teachers opinions are important, but I'm just asking what YOU think..
It's not like I'll definitely play the piece.

Valerie

[nmitchell076]

Muczynski Preludes? or, if your too advanced for those, his piano suite is also quite cool.
https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/Six-Preludes-Op-6/3164567
Music (for purchase)

Video of em all


Also, the Griffes Roman Sketches are cool

A video of Nightfall, my favorite from that set

[nanabush]

Morel deux Etudes de Sonorites

Bartok Sonatine

Prokofiev 'Scherzo' from 10 pieces. (I think it's 10 pieces... anyways)

[john11inc]

Define "modern", because I'm sure you don't just mean like, 1910-1945.  Neoclassical, Impressionist, late romantic?  Like, what is "modern"?

[nanabush]

Ya I was about to suggest some Faure or Rachmaninoff, then was like.. hmmm modern... ?

[avguste]

American Composers such as Carter Pann, Robert Rollin, Michael Colgrass and the likes.
You could possibly also play Francois Rosse(french composer).

But at the end it all depends on your level

[chopin1993]

Woah, sorry for the veeery late reaction 
With modern I mean eh... something like the 20th century?
At least I think that's what they mean with the conservatory auditions.
To show that you can play anything they want.
Or maybe impressionist or expressionist.
I'd refuse to play Schönberg, though. I really don't like that 
But if anyone thinks they know a nice piece of Schönberg, don't hesitate to send a link.

I still need more advice.
For those who placed a comment already, thanks! 

Valerie

[pianist1976]

Bartók Microkosmos is just wonderful. Its a progressive difficulty set of some 150 pieces ordered in six books, from very easy to pretty difficult (book 6).

Schönberg little pieces Op 19 are also beautiful, short and (relatively) not very difficult to play. I think they are a good first approach to Schonberg's music.

What's your piano level? What works are you playing now? That would be a better staring point to better recommend you pieces 

[retrouvailles]

American Composers such as Carter Pann, Robert Rollin, Michael Colgrass and the likes.
You could possibly also play Francois Rosse(french composer).

I would say these are the best suggestions, for they really fall under the definition of "modern", which should be defined as a living or recently deceased composer, in my opinion. I wouldn't define a composition from approx. 1950-1959 and back as modern, for it would be like calling the "I Love Lucy" TV series a new TV series. That means that most of the other suggestions (Bartók, Schoenberg, Morel, Prokofiev, etc) are out. I would look at some piano works by Muczynski, personally. He has some good piano sonatas which remind one of Barber. Also, take a look at someone like Carl Vine, who seems to be quite popular these days. His piano sonatas of 1990, 1997, and 2007 are all quite good.

[qoogla_55]

paganini jazz by say.

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[liordavid]

try some Eric Quezada at imslp.org/
maybe the paraphrase on mozarts turkish march

[quirky]

A piece that I have attempted to champion on this site many times before and one that is tragically underplayed is Pierre Boulez's 12 Notations taking about ten minutes to play in their entirety. Also, another less modern piece chronologically but equally so in musical language is Lutoslawski's 2 studies for piano.

[chopin1993]

Bartók Microkosmos is just wonderful. Its a progressive difficulty set of some 150 pieces ordered in six books, from very easy to pretty difficult (book 6).

Schönberg little pieces Op 19 are also beautiful, short and (relatively) not very difficult to play. I think they are a good first approach to Schonberg's music.

What's your piano level? What works are you playing now? That would be a better staring point to better recommend you pieces 

Sorry for my late reaction,
Last weeks I've been pretty busy with school.
But now I have my well-deserved holiday!

I listened to a couple Bartók pieces you said, but I just can't get used to the sound! Bartók isn't really one of my favorites either, I'd have to say.
And about Schönbergs little pieces op 19, I don't like the unexpected tones (I don't really know how to explain, but I hope you understand what I'm trying to tell). I'm just getting used to Debussy and Ravel, I didn't like them first, now I do! So maybe, if I listen more to Schönberg and Bartok, I'll get used to the sound!
At the moment I'm busy studying on Chopin's nocturne op. 55 no.1, some Bach Inventions, Debussy's "La Fille aux Cheveux de Lin" and Haydn's Sonata in D major, Hob:XVI/37 (<- pretty hard!).
I hope you can give me some more advice!

[qoogla_55]

Ravel's Sonantine is also nice.