HELP WITH SONATA COMPETITION

[LiszTMaN]

I have a sonata competition for my music association in southern california. I have narrowed down my choices between these SONATAS:

BEETHOVEN"S SONATAS( APPASIONATA AND TEMPEST AND WALDSTEIN(CAN"T PLAY HAMMERKLAVIER))

PROKOFIEV"S SONATAS mainly 5-9

RACHMININOFF SONATA #1 or 2

THESE ARE MY CHOICES
TELL ME WHICH ONE YOU WOULD CHOOSE OR GIVE ME MORE SUGGESTIONS; I WANT ONE THAT PLEASE AND SOUNDS GOOD TO THE JUDGES

PIANO SONATA IN B MINOR IS NOT ACCEPTED

[Pumpkinhead]

Aw tight, you're competing in at convention. yeah, me too(Division III), but I'll be playing either Scherzo in Bb by Chopin, or the Mephisto Waltz by Franz Liszt

[Motrax]

Of those Sonatas, I like the Tempest. It's not terribly difficult, and it's quite a beautiful piece.

[Nightscape]

My vote goes to the Apassionata.  This sonata has both technical and musical demands, true, but it is one of the most beautiful and respected of the Beethoven sonatas.

[Hmoll]

I have a sonata competition for my music association in southern california. I have narrowed down my choices between these SONATAS:

BEETHOVEN"S SONATAS( APPASIONATA AND TEMPEST AND WALDSTEIN(CAN"T PLAY HAMMERKLAVIER))

PROKOFIEV"S SONATAS mainly 5-9

RACHMININOFF SONATA #1 or 2

THESE ARE MY CHOICES
TELL ME WHICH ONE YOU WOULD CHOOSE OR GIVE ME MORE SUGGESTIONS; I WANT ONE THAT PLEASE AND SOUNDS GOOD TO THE JUDGES

PIANO SONATA IN B MINOR IS NOT ACCEPTED

Why are you yelling? Take the caps lock off.

Listen and read through all 32. There are lots of really beautiful sonatas besides the ones that are overplayed.

Same goes with the Prokofiev. Why don't you use your imagination. Play one of the Ginestera sonatas, or the Vine sonata, or something else more original.

[liszmaninopin]

If you want to play Beethoven, try doing one that is played a bit less often.  Op. 7, 101, 109, 110, and 111 would all be excellent choices-and I don't see how pieces as great as they are could be overplayed.

If you want more uncommon Prokofiev-I'd recommend the fourth sonata.  It's a highly introspective and musical work-often unfairly neglected in my opinion.

The Rach Sonatas are both excellent, the first is the more uncommonly played of the two.

I would suggest something unusual, but not too unusual.  Again, you could play a Scriabin Sonata,  or Bartok's Sonata.  If you're up to it, you could even play Ives' Concord Sonata.  I could give you many recommendations of obscure stuff, but then again, the judges may not appreciate something that's totally new to them.

[Nightscape]

If you're going to play something a bit obscure, but still very good, you should try one of the Scriabin sonatas.  All ten of them are very good(although the 6th, 7th, 8th, and 10th are extremely difficult, probably not what you're looking for.)  You should look at the 2nd, 4th, or 9th sonatas.  They're the easiest of the sonatas(although still not easy by any stretch of the imagination).  If you want something longer, the 1st and 3rd sonatas are 4 movement sonatas of excellent quality.

[Nightscape]

I completely forgot to mention the 5th scriabin sonata, which is one of the most popular.  Scriabin wrote it in 6 days and is a brilliant example of inspiration at work.  It is one of the harder sonatas, though.  It is also a bit different from the others because it is not as dark and melancholy.  Rather, it is usually interpreted as the musical depiction of an orgasm.

[Rach3]

For an obscure but worthy challenge, consider the Alban Berg sonata op. 1.

[liszmaninopin]

Although I forgot to mention it, I definitely want to second the recommendation for the Berg Sonata.  It is a fabulous piece of music in my opinion.

[Medtner]

I would strongly recommend Rachmaninov's 2nd Sonata, but don't go with the revised, simplified 1931 edition with all the cuts, learn the 1913 version. It's much better with what Rachmaninov had in mind when he wrote it and the judges will not expect it--it's rarely played. Rach had a complex or fear that the public wouldn't accept his music so often changed things when he felt pressure and allowed other performers of his music a lot of liberties in performing. I try to play more to what he originally had in mind. And if the judges don't like it, remind them that Rachmaninov probably wouldn't have minded your "interpretation".
I have the Russian edition I can scan and send you if you'd like.
Don't know if it's as hard as Hammerklavier, but it's a different style and I feel more comfortable playing Rach than Beethoven.

[mhtaiwan]

JANACEK
Sonata (1.X.1905), the Street

I went to Richard Goode's recital at tanglewood this summer and heard him play this absolutely beautiful sonata.  Involved two movements, Premonition and death.  It was very powerful to hear this work in live concert.  Technically and musically demending.  I haven't looked at the sheetmusic yet, but it may be worth checking out as a 20th century repatoire.

[Regulus Medtner]

Among the Beethoven sonatas, I'd personally choose the Waldstein.

If you opt for the Rachmaninov style, I'd recommend a Medtner sonata instead, especially the F minor op.5. Much more substantial and insanely beautiful. I have the sheets, if you're interested.

[LiszTMaN]

I won the competition with Scrabian's Black mass Sonata.
Thnaks for the help

If anyone wants to comment on this Sonata please do, it is very sinister.

I won a 1000 dollars thanks to u guys