Which one should I play for a competition?

[wilmerguido]

Which one should I play and which one is more difficult for you?
Ravel Toccata from Le Tombeau de Couperin
Ravel Alborada del Gracioso from Miroirs
Debussy Reflets dans l'eau from Images
Prokofiev Tocatta
Prokofiev Suggestion Diabolique

I know diffuculty is subjective... but I just need an overview, also, please point out the most difficult parts in these pieces

[wilmerguido]

Please add Ravel's Jeux d'eau to that list

[pianisten1989]

The piece you think you can play best. That's the only real answer you can get...

[wilmerguido]

I'd have to learn all of them in that case... but i don't think i have enough time... so... having said that... let me change the question...

Which do you like best instead?

[ch101]

the debussy

[jian10]

I'm guessing you are a teenager.  You should choose whichever you like the best.  No matter how beautiful and loved by others, if you don't like it as much, then it's not going to be a master piece.

By the way why are your options limited to Impressionistic and Contemporary?

[birba]

It depends on what you want to impress them with.  If you could do two, you should do Jeux d'eau and the Prokofiev toccata.  Are you only allowed ONE piece?!  Sounds very strange.

[edubia]

I would go with Reflects dans l'eau... that one is my favorite, at least.

[kitty on the keys]

What one do you connect with?
1. Debussy   2. Diabolique  3. Toccata

Kitty on the Keys

[grandstaff]

Personally, I would vote for the Alborada del Gracioso, or the Suggestion Diabolique. But all of these pieces are fantastic, as a matter of fact, I would say that all of them (other than the Ravel Toccata) are in my top... maybe 50 or 60 favorite pieces. Alborada and Suggestion Diabolique are probably top 30 or 40.

Right now, at least.

[werq34ac]

Let me tell you that you don't want to attempt to impress the judge with technical skill. Showing off is the last thing you want to do (unless you're playing Liszt. Then you have to know HOW to show off instead of just banging loudly and trying to play as fast as you can). Really if I were a judge, I would look more favorably on someone who played Debussy La Plus Que Lente incredibly well over someone who played Ravel Toccata like a machine.

And in the end it doesn't matter which piece is harder. This is a MUSICAL competition so a judge (assuming they are competent) should judge by what they hear rather than how difficult a piece is.

With that in mind,
There is an element of the fantastic in playing difficult pieces however. Difficult pieces tend to have either musical subtleties or big fantastic virtuoso sections full of emotion. Debussy has the musical subtleties, Ravel Alborada has the fantastic virtuoso sections.

Having played the Alborada, I found the repeated notes to be the most difficult. Then the coda. Then the more virtuosic sections in the middle section.


In the end, think about what you love about the piece you choose. And then communicate your love for that piece. Get the judge to love what you love about the piece.

Personally, I really like the Toccatas, although they are probably the least musical on that list. They probably won't be as common as Jeux D'eau if it's a competition. Alborada might be pretty common too. I think the Debussy would be strongest of all of them if played incredibly well however.

[j_menz]

What werq34ac says, in spades.