material for a competition

[tsachi]

Hi everyone,

I am an amateur pianist, age 43, working as an electronics engineer. Recently I have decided to try one of the competitions for amateurs.
There is the Van Cliburn amateurs competition, there is one in Boston, one in New york, a competition in France and so on.

There are 10-12 minutes for the first round. You can play anything.
For the second round you get 15-20 minutes. Usually you can choose whatever you like, however, in France they require a piece of Bach and a romantic piece.
The third and final round lasts 30 minutes, again, the material is free.

They recommend selecting material which reflets different musical styles.

I thought of playing Chopin ballade no. 1 for the first round.
A Bach prelude & fuge and Chopin scherzo no.2 for the second round.
For the third round I thought of playing a Beethoven sonata, a Chopin etude (I like op. 25 no. 6) and one of  Rachmaninov's fantasy pieces.

I like the popular Beethoven sonatas (Pathetic, Appasionata).

Do you think it is good to select pieces which have been played over and over again so many times? Or is it better to select less familiar pieces?
Is playing 3 pieces of Chopin too much? (They recommend diverse composers).
What do you think of the program?

Thanks,
Tsachi

[pianisten1989]

I think you should play something else than Chopin. Though, most of them say "Play what you play best" and not only different styles. But if you have any other romantic pieces, you should probably play them, or maybe something 20th century - Prokofiev, Ravel (or anything modern for real, but that doesn't seem to fit most competitions...)

Good luck anyway!

[emilye]

congratulation. You chosen really difficult pieces. Appassionata, etude op. 25/6, ballade no.1, scherzo no. 2. Are you sure that this repertoire is good for amateur's competition?
and how about your question? maybe choose e.g. preludes by Debussy, maybe piano sonata by Prokofiev or Scriabin?
and I will choose for example piano sonata in C op. no 3 or different but in this level sonata, because even pianists play in big piano competition for example in Bolzano or Leeds they very rarely choose Appassionata etc.

[pianisten1989]

Yes, I didn't mention that! You haven't got very much time in the competition. Don't only play those very big works. If you play in a concert, you would never fill it with nothing but huge works. Think about it..?

[tsachi]

Thanks for the advices.
I am not experienced in concerts or competitions.
So any comment is welcome.

Pianisten 1989,

Regarding your comment about big works:

In order to stay in the competition I think I need to have something that will leave a big impression in each round. This is not necessarily what I would do in a concert. In a concert I would probably leave the most impressive pieces for the end.
It's like three different concerts.
You can't play any of them without a big piece.

Emilye, thanks for your response.
I never played any Prokofiev or Scriabin.
Do you have anything to recommend ?

Thanks again,
Tsachi

[emilye]

Oh (and sorry for my wrong English). first question. How long do you play the piano?
Second question: Which pieces do you play in your life and how many chopin's etudes. Believe me that op. 25/6 is one of the most difficult etude by Chopin. What do you think about op. 10/12 or op. 10/4, op. 10/5? When the piano competition will start?

And I think that you can try some of Rachmaninov's preludes, many people play these pieces in the piano competition.

Scriabin: II Sonata op. 19 ? Preludes
It is very difficult to write proposition because I don't know how good and how long do you play the piano :-)

Prokofiev - II sonata is quite difficult but very often many people play this piece in the piano competition.

Listen e.g. prelude op. 23 no 5 and the next preludes. It's good idea to play several preludes (Rachmaninov)

And ... you choose many Chopin's piece. Big piece. Maybe you should :-) play one piece e.g. ballade or scherzo, and one piece by Liszt or Brahms. What do you think?

[tsachi]

Emilye, Thanks for your interest and for trying to help me here.

I have played the piano 8 years as a child (ages 10-18). It was only a hobby then.
I stopped because I started studying in a University and didn't have time to practice.
Now, after 25 years, I started taking piano lessons again.

I have played several Chopin etudes. Maybe 6 etudes, but that was long ago.
My right hand is so much lighter and quicker than my left.
So it is easier for me to play op.25/6 than op.10/12.
When I play op.10/12 my left hand gets tired towards the end. 

I also played op.10 number 4 and 5 when I was younger.
But since I can play op.25 number 6, I think it will make a better impression.

The competition is about a year from now. So I have enough time to prepare.
They call it amateurs competition, but those who participate usually play nearly like professionals.
They are not professional pianists because they don't make their living from playing the piano, but most of them have graduated music schools and have some degree in music, and some have experience in playing public recitals.
As a person who just plays piano at home without any formal education in piano, my chances are low. Anyway, I am going to do my best and try to enjoy every moment.

I don't usually like 20th century composers. I don't think I will enjoy playing Prokofiev.
I am not used to listening to Prokofiev.
However, I can try Scriabin, and I love Rachmaninov.

I tried playing two pieces by Liszt. I played La Campanella and love dream number 3.
La Campanella was too difficult for me. What do you think of love-dream?

I see you play Chopin's Ballade number 4.
I would love to play it but it seems extremely difficult.
Are you a professional pianist ?

I wish to thank you again for your help.
I really appreciate it. 

Tsachi

[emilye]

If you feel that etude op. 26/6 is better for you ok :-) ... but I warn you, because maybe now you think that this piece is not difficult but many pianist, (professional pianist) have a big problem to play this etude and the problem will be visible soon.
yeah I'm a professional pianist and I know that when you play this piece in slow tempo everything is good, but when you try to play quicker and fluent right hand have a big problem


You choose only famous and difficult pieces and these works people play many years. One year for Chopin's etude is not a long time.

And La Campanella You are a really brave pianist :-)

Listen my proposition ;-)

Debussy:  Suite bergamasque (all) and I give you a link to the most beautiful part of this suite:

Maybe Pour le piano:

Brahms:

it is wonderful!!



and Scriabin:

[tsachi]

Thank you so much Emilye 

Now I am even more confused 

Richter plays Scriabin so well, and I also love the Brahms raphsodies and the suite by Debussy.
(I listened to all parts).

I think I will try Scriabin sonata no. 2.
It is so wonderful. Is it difficult?

Thanks again.
You are wonderful too.

Tsachi

[emilye]

it depends... you know ... musically it is really difficult piece because you must be a mature pianist to play this work good enough. Technically ... more difficult than Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata, but certainly easier than Appassionata.