5 minute long piece for a competition??

[chopin1993]

Hi guys! 

In January I'll be doing audition for a piano competition called the "Prinses Christina Concours".
It doesn't matter which level you're at or how old you are, they accept pretty much everyone.
Everyone gets 10 minutes to play some pieces.
This competition is pretty big and known in the Netherlands.

The one thing I can't make up my mind about, is which pieces I should play.
For sure I'll be playing Chopin's Nocturne op. 55 no. 1..
But the second piece... I was thinking about "Claire de Lune" by Debussy?

My question for you guys is;
Could you name a few pieces which are impressive and aren't longer than 5 minutes?


I know my teachers opinion is important, but I'm just asking for your opinion!!


Thanks! 

Valerie

[mike1515]

Hello Valerie, I know a piece which is around 5 minutes long and very VERY impressive. It's a little difficult, but you will be able to play it in one month.

It's called "Malagueña". It's from Ernesto Lecuona. Not very well-known, but that's better, because in competitions, the judges don't like famous pieces.

Here it is:

Hope you like it, it's really worth the effort.

Sorry for my English and good luck.

Michael

[chopin1993]

Hello Valerie, I know a piece which is around 5 minutes long and very VERY impressive. It's a little difficult, but you will be able to play it in one month.

It's called "Malagueña". It's from Ernesto Lecuona. Not very well-known, but that's better, because in competitions, the judges like not very famous pieces.

Here it is:

Hope you like it, it's really worth the effort.

Sorry for my English and good luck.

Michael

Thanks!!
This sure is impressive! 
If I can find the sheet music, I'll give it a try!

[mike1515]

I'm glad I could help! Here's the music sheet. That music video I sent you is played by my last teacher 

Good luck!

[chopin1993]

I'm glad I could help! Here's the music sheet. That music video I sent you is played by my last teacher 

Good luck!

Thanks!
I'm gonna try to play it!
Your last teacher is a great pianist   


Other people;
Feel free to comment.
I'd like to get more advice so I can see what's impressive to you guys.

[slow_concert_pianist]

On a Spanish theme any of the Spanish Dances by Granados are only a few minutes long (from memory) and very beautiful. If you are going French and want something easy-difficult try the composer Florent Schmitt - i.e. the Soirs Suite. Hard-difficult would be Jules Massenet's Valse Folle oe Courante Vite, etc.

[liordavid]

The liszt shortEr hungarian rhapsodies are great. They are beuatifal And can show off a lot of tequnique and expression. 3, 5, 11, 16, 17 and 18 are what I am talking about

[wert718]

Or a Liszt Grand Etude after Paganini.

[chopin1993]

Thanks for all the ideas!!
Great suggestions! 
Those Spanish Dances by Granados are really beautiful,
but I stumbled over "Valses Poeticos op. 6", which is also by Granados, and this really caught me!
It's just so Breathtaking!
But this piece is only 1:30 minute long and I have 10 minutes to let the jury hear what I can.
So I still need a short piece, which isn't longer than 2:30 minutes!!
Maybe something by Bach??

Anyone? 

( I'm sorry for any mistakes, my English isn't that great  )

[chopin1993]

Thanks for all the ideas!!
Great suggestions! 
Those Spanish Dances by Granados are really beautiful,
but I stumbled over "Valses Poeticos op. 6", which is also by Granados, and this really caught me!
It's just so Breathtaking!
But this piece is only 1:30 minute long and I have 10 minutes to let the jury hear what I can.
So I still need a short piece, which isn't longer than 2:30 minutes!!
Maybe something by Bach??

Anyone? 

( I'm sorry for any mistakes, my English isn't that great  )

Oops, of course I meant "Valses Poeticos no. 6" 

[wert718]

Bach's Chromatic Fantasy in d minor?

[pianisten1989]

Hummel- Rondo in E-flat

[extremelyfatchicken]

toccata by debussy

[chopin1993]

Thank you all for the suggestions 
Now that I know which 2 pieces I'm going to play,
I still need a short and impressive one!
Thinking about 2 minutes :]
Anyone? 

[wert718]

Try Chopin's prellude no. 16

[chopin1993]

Try Chopin's prellude no. 16

Thanks for your suggestion!
The only thing is.. I'll be playing a piece by Chopin already (Nocturne Op. 55 no. 1) and I want to play different kinds of pieces from different composers, to show the jury my versatility.
So I don't want the third piece to be a Nocturne, nor a Waltz.
And I don't want it to be composed by Chopin or Granados.

Thanks everyone, for all the suggestions!

[lontano]

Hello Valerie, I know a piece which is around 5 minutes long and very VERY impressive. It's a little difficult, but you will be able to play it in one month.

It's called "Malagueña". It's from Ernesto Lecuona. Not very well-known, but that's better, because in competitions, the judges don't like famous pieces.

Here it is:

Hope you like it, it's really worth the effort.

Sorry for my English and good luck.

Michael

I would point out that this piece is far from "not very well-known". I've heard it played and seen it on LPs/CDs since I was a teen. Any judge would be most likely to know it well. That doesn't make it any more or less worthy for a recommendation. Also, it's quite a bit shorter than 5 min...

[chopin1993]

I would point out that this piece is far from "not very well-known". I've heard it played and seen it on LPs/CDs since I was a teen. Any judge would be most likely to know it well. That doesn't make it any more or less worthy for a recommendation. Also, it's quite a bit shorter than 5 min...

Well then, could you recommend a piece for me? 
It has to be around 2 minutes, something impressive..
Not by Chopin or Granados, and no Waltz or Nocturne.

And btw, I did like the piece Michael recommended, haven't heard of it before. 

[lontano]

Well then, could you recommend a piece for me? 
It has to be around 2 minutes, something impressive..
Not by Chopin or Granados, and no Waltz or Nocturne.

And btw, I did like the piece Michael recommended, haven't heard of it before. 

There's nothing wrong with the Lecuona "Malaguena". I have no idea how frequently it is performed in a situation such as yours; it may be a perfectly fine offering. As for a lesser known option with lots of bravura go to youtube.com and do a search on "villa-lobos piano" and look through the many videos for those that are solo piano. Villa-Lobos wrote many fine short piano works with a South American flair. Just a suggestion; your question leads to an almost infinite number of answers. 

[chopin1993]

Thank you for your reply 
Haven't thought of Villa-Lobos myself, I'll go and take a look on youtube!

Just a suggestion; your question leads to an almost infinite number of answers. 

That's exactly what I need 
Because I want the perfect piece for this competition, I just can't think of that perfect piece myself.
Unfortunately I don't get as much suggestions as I expected here on Pianostreet.

Valerie.

[phillip21]

For your short piece, may I suggest you consider a short study by Eduard Schutt, say:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGYuoGNYuVs Au Ruisseau, or
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMKwNg_fQSk  Etude Mignonne
or any other of many short brilliant pieces he wrote.  They are very evocative and audience-pleasing and were once very popular.  There is a fair amount of Schutt on IMSLP.

My YT channel has some other short pieces on it that might fit the bill for you.

Good luck!

[orangesodaking]

I notice that you have programmed a Chopin Nocturne. Maybe for a little more contrast, instead of doing a second slow work (and to stick with Debussy), how about the Passepied? It is from the same set as Clair de Lune (Suite Bergemesque), and is very pretty, catchy, and more upbeat. At least give it a listen.

[chopin1993]

Thank you for the suggestions!
Phillip21, I like the pieces, I've seen your YT channel before and I like the pieces you play!
Dutch composers are not very well-known, but you put them in the spotlight, I like that!

Orangesodaking,
Thank you so much!
I've never heard the piece before, at least I don't remember.
I absolutely love it and I'll give it a try!
This is a nice piece for my audition for the conservatory too
Thanks again!

Valerie.

[saypiano]

Check out prokofiev's scherzo op 12 no 10
Its very impressive, and challenging

[remy]

Well then, could you recommend a piece for me? 
It has to be around 2 minutes, something impressive..
Not by Chopin or Granados, and no Waltz or Nocturne.

There is no 2 minute piece of music more impressive and gorgeous than Felix Blumenfeld's Impromptu in G flat, Op.13 No.2.

The score is at IMSLP.

remy