College Audition Repertoire

[randomtones]

My teacher has allowed me to come up with a list of pieces to play for my college audition. I have plenty of time because I won't be auditioning until January and February of 2012. Of course, my teacher will advise me to play certain pieces, however, I would like to hear other perspectives. After going through websites and looking at requirements, I need the following pieces:

1) Bach - Prelude and Fugue, Partita, English/French Suite
2) Classical Sonata
3) 19th Century Piece
4) 20th or 21st Century Piece
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is what I have so far:
1) Bach P & F Book 1 No. 6 in Dm
2) Beethoven Sonata No. 30
3) Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody No. 10
4) Not sure. Was thinking Bortkiewicz but not sure if he would be considered 19th or 20th Century.

 So any any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks in advance!

[kitty on the keys]

     In my simple opinion, you should have picked those pieces in May or June. You want these pieces memorized by November or December 1st. The more prepared, solid and comfortable you are, the better your auditions will proceed. Best of luck to YOU!

Kittly on the Keys


PS: nice choice of pieces

[faulty_damper]

What auditions look for in terms of repertoire requirements are contrasting works.  The 19th century requirement means "romantic" while 20th century means "modern".  These terms refer to style, not not the century composed, though many professors have varying degrees of acceptability for these loose and un-academic terms.

Borkiewicz would sound too "romantic" to be considered 20th century considering how obscure of a composer he is.  Choose something more common like a Bartok or Prokofiev sonata.

[randomtones]

Thanks for the replies. I made a typo. I will actually be auditioning in January/February of 2012.

[pianisten1989]

Don't choose something common. In that way, you wont be remembered.

[randomtones]

pianisten1989 - What woul you consider something common that I have so far? Any suggestions?
Thanks!

[faulty_damper]

If you choose something common, and play it very well, you will make a mark on their memories.  If you play something obscure, and play it well but not great, it leaves a lesser mark.  Common works allow for comparison - obscure does not unless it the work is impressive both on musical content and on pianistic grounds.

However, there is such a thing as being overplayed where the margin of error is just a sliver of a hair's width.  Common but not too common is best.

[tsaij]

i'd recommend avoiding op. 109-- i did auditions last year and heard a LOT of other pianists playing it. it may seem less 'ambitious' but a mozart or haydn or schubert sonata, played well, would probably make more of an impression. or some of the lesser played beethoven sonatas: op. 54, op. 90, one of the early sonatas, etc.

there is something to be said for common works, standards of comparison, and all that. but playing warhorses can be dangerous, especially when you're playing for a group of seasoned pianists who have sat through days and days of auditions, and have heard _________ countless times in their life, and maybe even already that day..

[mike1515]

I'd recommend you playing Gershwin. Maybe "Rhapsody in Blue" for one piano, or a prelude.

You will be remembered if you play it well, that I assure you.

About Bach, be careful with the prelude, don't underestimate it. Practise it with different rhythms on the right hand.

Michael

[randomtones]

Thanks for all the advice. I think I might change the Beethoven sonata to an earlier one. I'm still not too sure about the 20th century piece though.

[pianisten1989]

I didn't mean you picked anything too common, but some ppl here thought you should.
Anyhow, something 20th...
Maybe the Berg-sonata, or the Barber ballade?

[randomtones]

I was actually considering the Berg sontata.

[randomtones]

Updated Program:

1) Bach P & F Book 1 No. 6 in Dm
2) Beethoven Sonata No. 30
3)
4) Berg Sonata

I decided I shouldn't play pieces with the same key (E major) consecutively.

[randomtones]

After listening to TONS of music, I have once again changed my program.

1) Bach - P & F Book 1 No. 6 in Dm
2) Beethoven - Sonata 27 or 28
3) Undecided
4) Bolcom - The Garden of Eden: The Serpent's Kiss

Just realized all the names start with a B.

[randomtones]

UPDATE:
My teacher and I have come up with 2 possible programs. They are as follows:

Bach - P&F Bk. 2 No. 6 in Dm
Beethoven - Sonata 28
Glinka/Balakirev - The Lark
Bolcom - The Serpent's Kiss
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bach - P&F Bk. 2 No. 6 in Dm
Beethoven - Sonata 28
Bortkiewicz - Ballade Op. 42
Gershwin-Wild - Virtuoso Etude No. 3 (Embraceable You)

I like both a lot.
Comments?

[wert718]

I'd prefer the second one.