University Audition Pieces, Thoughts ?

[scott13]

Hey all,

I have an audition for University piano performance in 13 weeks time and am after some suggestions for pieces to perform.

Rules are as follows :

1 piece from Baroque period
1 fast movement from a classical sonata
1 piece from Romantic period
1 piece from 20th C

Program must not exceed 15 minutes.

So far i have :

Prelude and Fugue #10 from WTC book 1
Clementi sonata Op 24 in Bb (1st Movement)
Chopin Polonaise Op 40 No.1
Prokofiev Harp Etude

What are your thoughts on the above pieces for displaying skill and technique ? Would appreciate suggestions for the 20th C piece as i am not confident i can have the Prokofiev etude up to high standard in 12 weeks.

Thanks in advance
Scott

[quantum]

For 20th C, look at some Bartok.

Do you know any other Bach?  Perhaps something a bit more difficult.  Like a Sinfonia, a movement from one of the dance suites, or a Prelude and Fugue?  Invention #1 is well known and a bit on the easy side for a university audition. 

You could also go with other Baroque composers such as Scarlatti, Soler, Daquin, Couperin, or Clérambault. 

[pianisten1989]

I agree with Quantum. Your repertoire seems to be a bit too much on the easy side for an audition... Do you have any older pieces that are a bit more difficult?

[ongaku_oniko]

Is this for piano major? or just usic major? which country?

[scott13]

I am not familiar with a lot of Baroque music at all as it isn't a style i overly like to perform. I had been giving some though to swapping out the invention for a prelude and fugue from WTC.

Also could you be more specific as to which of Bartok's works i should look into ?

Thanks for the replies

[iratior]

The Bartok piece I recommend is "From the Diary of the Housefly", in the sixth and last volume of Mikrokosmos.  But I'll warn you, it's much, much harder than it looks.  In the ideal performance, the pianist becomes a housefly, or at least, comes to be at one with a housefly, and all other life in the universe.

[scott13]

I have done some searching and decided on Prelude and Fugue # 10 from WTC bk 1.

Have also noticed my program is missing a slow expressive piece, and i was curious as to peoples opinions on Rachmaninoff's Prelude in C# minor as the 20 C piece? He falls into both Romantic and 20th C times, yet his writing style is not stereotypical of the Romantic era, so could this prelude be argued to be 20 C ?

[quantum]

Have also noticed my program is missing a slow expressive piece, and i was curious as to peoples opinions on Rachmaninoff's Prelude in C# minor as the 20 C piece? He falls into both Romantic and 20th C times, yet his writing style is not stereotypical of the Romantic era, so could this prelude be argued to be 20 C ?

I'd say it is more Post-Romantic than 20th C.  Go with something that contrasts more with the rest of your pieces. 

Have a look at

Samuel Barber - Nocturne Op 33, or Excursions Op 20. 

Ginastera - Danzas Argentinas (all of it)

Messiaen - Preludes (choose one)