Complete Sonata?

[kyeng1001]

There is a requirement from a school of music, stating that students must audition on the following:

1. A Prelude and Fugue by J. S. Bach from the Well-Tempered Clavier
2. A complete sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, or Beethoven, excluding Beethoven opus 49 & 79
3. A complete work of a 19th-century composer
4. One piece or single movement by a contemporary composer
5. An etude of virtuosity at the level of those by Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Debussy, Bartok, Stravinsky or Ligeti

On number 2, it says a complete sonata. Please tell me it means any 1 of the movements from 1 sonata. Having to memorize everything above is crazy!

[pianisten1989]

I don't want to sound mean, but if you think it's crazy to memorize all that, I don't think you are ready for it yet. And yes, it's a complete sonata. Not only one movement.

[pianistcellist]

This is a very standard requirement for many auditions and competitions. They do indeed mean the entire sonata.

[asianpianoer]

YES ALL THE MOVEMENTS

[floydcramerfan]

Not to be redundant, but that sounds like that's what it means.  That's a lot stricter than the music program at my college.  They just asked me what I played and then picked something from that.

[thinkgreenlovepiano]

 

On number 2, it says a complete sonata. Please tell me it means any 1 of the movements from 1 sonata. Having to memorize everything above is crazy!
 

Yes, it does mean the entire sonata, like everyone else said.
It might sound crazy at first but once you start working on it I'm sure you won't find it so horribly crazy anymore... especially if you pick a short sonata! I mean I've played single movements that were 8 pages long, and I've also played a whole sonata that was just 8 pages long.

It does say any Haydn, Mozart, Schubert or Beethoven with 2 exceptions- so you have lots to choose from.

So don't worry, just practice!

[floydcramerfan]

I wonder why they have two exceptions for the Beethoven sonatas.

[scott13]

I wonder why they have two exceptions for the Beethoven sonatas.

Either they will be too easy for a university audition, or too frequently played, or too difficult. Be careful if you take the approach of learning an easier/shorter sonata, they most likely want something around grade 8 ABRSM to ATCL ABRSM so try find a sonata you like amongst that skill range.

Also what is it with university auditions not have Clementi down on the sonata list? Anybody else find this slightly funny as Clementi was far more influential in piano writing than Mozart or Haydn were, and his music is (in my opinion) far more difficult than Mozart of Haydn to perform well.

[kyeng1001]

Yes, it does mean the entire sonata, like everyone else said.
It might sound crazy at first but once you start working on it I'm sure you won't find it so horribly crazy anymore... especially if you pick a short sonata! I mean I've played single movements that were 8 pages long, and I've also played a whole sonata that was just 8 pages long.

It does say any Haydn, Mozart, Schubert or Beethoven with 2 exceptions- so you have lots to choose from.

So don't worry, just practice!

Wow that's cool. The current sonata I"m working on is Beethoven's Pathetique. I think the 3 movements are way too long. What is the entire sonata you played that is 8 pages long? I think I will work on that instead. I only have few more months left. What is the title of that sonata?

[pianisten1989]

There are a few by Haydn that are only 2 movements, and not too demanding. Most sonatas by Haydn are short, and not very difficult. You should check them out.

[kelly_kelly]

Beethoven op. 78 and 90 are both short and appropriate for this type of audition.

[po1onius]

Nobody has questioned whether going to a music school is a good idea for someone who does not want to learn a whole sonata.  Unlike a college or university, a school of music exists to prepare you to be a professional musician.  This is a very demanding profession, and there are many classical musicians for the available jobs.  Obviously, your teacher is encouraging you in this direction, and others on this forum are providing helpful suggestions.
Please take the time now to consider: Are you ready to devote your life to music?
Whatever your answer, I wish you the best.

[pianisten1989]

Not to be redundant, but that sounds like that's what it means.  That's a lot stricter than the music program at my college.  They just asked me what I played and then picked something from that.

Yes, I did.

[thinkgreenlovepiano]

Wow that's cool. The current sonata I"m working on is Beethoven's Pathetique. I think the 3 movements are way too long. What is the entire sonata you played that is 8 pages long? I think I will work on that instead. I only have few more months left. What is the title of that sonata?

Mozart's Sonata in E flat K282 ...

But I'm going to say po1onius has a point. If you're going to music school, you're probably going to have memorize realllly long pieces and programs one day. And I'm not sure if you should pick something just because it's short... I don't know.

[kyeng1001]

There are a few by Haydn that are only 2 movements, and not too demanding. Most sonatas by Haydn are short, and not very difficult. You should check them out.

Thank you

[kyeng1001]

Mozart's Sonata in E flat K282 ...

But I'm going to say po1onius has a point. If you're going to music school, you're probably going to have memorize realllly long pieces and programs one day. And I'm not sure if you should pick something just because it's short... I don't know.

Thanks for your suggestion. Actually I have no problem with memorizing the whole sonata. I love them, especially the one I'm playing right now, pathetique. Just that I do not have much time as I'm trying to catch up so I can get in by Spring intake. Thanks again

[thinkgreenlovepiano]

Thanks for your suggestion. Actually I have no problem with memorizing the whole sonata. I love them, especially the one I'm playing right now, pathetique. Just that I do not have much time as I'm trying to catch up so I can get in by Spring intake. Thanks again

Good luck!