Help pick a piece!!!

[frederic]

Hi

Can any of you suggest a piece by any composer that you have enjoyed studying or you have liked.
I am trying to listen to as many music as i can.

And what other BIG pieces besides the ballades, scherzos are there by Chopin?

[pskim]

try his Fantasy-Polonaise.  That's about 15 minutes.  Why not try other composers?  Busoni is good if you like Bach transcriptions (Chaconne).  

[Desperado]

Both of Brahms'  Op. 79 are awsome "big works" they are more extended so thematic material takes longer to return and development takes center stage in these two works. The 2nd in G minor is the shorter of the two and would be a good place to start. the first one is a lot longer and poses more technical challenges.  They also "sound a lot harder" than they really are if you're wanting to perform them in public to general audiences

[Colette]

a couple years ago i played ravel's jeux d'eau and i must say that it was one of the funniest pieces i've played; both the learning process and the performance. it's a really satisfying piece once u have it down. also try the chromatic fantasy and fugue by bach...it has a long, treacherous fugue but what a work! it can be played in so many different ways.

[ludwig]

If you're looking for bigger pieces, you could try the fantasy-polonaise pskim suggested. Its pretty fun with lots of contrasts and potentially expressive piece. Or even his fantasie op 49 in f minor.... They are pretty impressive pieces. Also if you are interested in Chopin's pieces, perhaps you could look at some Lizst pieces. They are pretty good as well...

[Diabolos]

Frederic, if you're looking for a really difficult Chopin piece, try his Berceuse or the Grande Polonaise+Andante Spinato. Besides, if you're looking for fine music in which every note and its tone needs to be exact and thoughtfully played - try his Waltzes. They're not that challenging technically, but delivering a good interpretation is tough.

Hm, Brahms is certainly good, Op.79 are great, I still enjoy playing them..and yeah, one better starts off with the 2nd one.

I certainly enjoyed studying Ravel's Menuet Antique, the Schubert Impromptus etc. There's a lot of music out there, and a whole lot of great pieces, too.
So - just start experiencing them by maybe concentrating on a period - that's going to make it a little easier.

Regards

[dschoenenberger]

Hi Frederic! Of course music is above all a matter of taste, but if you are looking for "something else" besides Chopin, Ravel, Rachmaniov, and all the other guys, I can only recommend George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue", specifically the original piano solo version. This masterpiece is unique, and it is not that difficult to play if you are fascinated. In case you prefer more classical music, Gershwin's "Concerto in F", arranged for piano solo by Grace Castagnetta, would perhaps fit your musical needs. It has three movements and lasts around 40 minutes. It is a blend of classical schemes with jazzy melodies. But it is very hard, a real challenge. Let me make a third suggestion: Igor Stravinsky's "Tango" is little nice piece of 4 pages, perfect as an "encore" after furious concerts! I wish you all the best and good luck in 2003, Dominic Schoenenberger from Switzerland.

[Diabolos]

Ok, Gershwin's certainly good - I'd also mention the preludes, a nice group to play in a concerto; and what about the 'I got Rhythm'- variations?

I forgot to mention one outstanding Chopin piece: the barcarolle.

If you wanna go for less performed pieces, you could have a look at Liszt's ballads, maybe also at some of the works by Granados and Albeniz.

You should also check out Hindemith's ludus tonalis and Grieg's Peer Gynt Suite (or however you spell that    )

And, finally, a special piece is Beethoven's 'marcia alla turca', arrangement by Rubinstein; you should really look for this one.

Regards,

[Nemo]

Have you considered Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto 3 in D Minor? its really awesome, and it should be enough challenge for anyone...too bad its TOO much challenge for me :-/ it lasts about 18 minutes and has everything on it to make it a "big work"

[frederic]

come on! more pieces! I didn't just mean Chopin Pieces!
Thanks

And no thanks, i didn't consider Rach 3.

[tosca1]

I know that you'd love this one Frederic:  Dohnany's Rhapsody in C.  Fun and fast in the opening and closing sections with a big, memorable tune in the middle.  Everyone loves it.
Or what about Khachaturian's Toccata?  Fast and furious with a swoon making slow section.
These used to be in the Trinity College Diploma performance lists. Both pieces sound brilliant and more difficult technically than they really are.
Greetings,
Robert.  

[willcowskitz]

Just a general note:  COME ON, Rachmaninoff's third is such a pop song for classical listeners it makes me want to throw up. The piece is really superb but the more I hear people talking about it, more I want to take my business elsewhere, to something less hysterical, undiscovered. Its pretty much the same thing as that I wouldn't want to use other people's towels. There's a lot more music out there, not just those few titles that even the local drunkard can name. Plus: Rachmaninoff's third, as many other works, is so massive from its romantic contents that it's performance requires seriousness and strong interpretation. Not to mention you kind of *need* an orchestra. It either sounds inspiring or totally impotent.

By the way, if you like Bach, I personally like "Little fugue in G" BWV 578. The note is available at SMA.

[BoliverAllmon]

Here are a few pieces I enjoy:

Mozart's Turkish march
Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata (I really enjoy the fury of the third movement)
Chopin's Fantasie Impromptu
I agree with others Gershwin's concerto is a very nice piece. In fact, I went and heard it played last Sunday.

Boliver Allmon III

[cygnusdei]

By the way, if you like Bach, I personally like "Little fugue in G" BWV 578. The note is available at SMA.

I like this piece, but it looks impossible to play on the piano, unless we do away with the trills ....... ?

[molto-marcato]

Rather short and beatiful:

Mozart:
- Fantasy d-minor

Chopin:
 - Etudes (all of them)
-  Nocturnes 9.1, 55.1, 20 ph (and a lot more)

Rachmaninow:
- preludes 32.10, 32.12, (and consider 3.2)
- Etudes tableaux 33.4´, 33.7, 33.8, 39.5, 39.8

Brahms:
- ballades op.10

Rather complex:

Beethoven:
- Appasionata, Tempest, op.111, Hammerklavier, Waldstein,.l.....

Schumann:
- Kreisleriana

I could suggest tons more i guess  .

[Kassaa]

No one notices that this topic was made more than four years ago and the topic started hasn't replied since?

[la_leggierezza]

No one notices that this topic was made more than four years ago and the topic started hasn't replied since?

eheheheh