ATCL Program Help

[andante_con_moto]

Hello everyone,

After having two years off of practising regularly, I have just gotten back into things in the past month or so. I am intending to start preparing for the ATCL recital diploma, and while I have chosen 3 pieces, I am struggling to make a decision for the 4th. The pieces I had decided on up to this point are:

1. Bach: BWV 848-Well-Tempered Clavier Book I-Prelude & Fugue in C sharp major
2. Beethoven: Piano Sonata #8 In C Minor, Op. 13, "Pathétique"
3. Liszt: 3 Etudes De Concert - Un Sospiro in D flat major

4. Ideas I have had so far have been:
-Chopin: Nocturne #13 in C Minor Op. 48/1 (Leaning towards this, however the Beethoven is also in C minor, which may pose a problem...)
-Chopin: Nocturne #8 In D Flat, Op. 27/2 (Used to play this)
-Chopin: Polonaise No. 6 in A flat major, Op. 53, "Heroic" (I had learnt this piece to a good standard about 3 years ago)
-Schubert: Impromptu Op. 90 No. 2 in E Flat major
I would love any other suggestions too! These are just some pieces I've thought of which may fit...
I know many of these pieces are above ATCL level, but with no teacher, and my just returning to practising, I thought attempting the level where they would mark easier would be a better idea. And I always wanted to play that Beethoven sonata. Sorry for the lengthy post!!

[sharon_f]

What about something more contemporary? A Shostakovich Prelude & Fugue, some Bartok or Prokofiev.York Bowen's Toccata is very exciting and good closer. (You need fast fingers.)

[andante_con_moto]

Hey! Thanks for the reply Sharon. To be honest, I am not the greatest fan of most contemporary music (probably only 20 or so pieces I truly enjoy, and most of them are Licentiate level or well above) and I did check out those pieces you listed (at least those on the syllabus), and could not see myself enjoying practising them. I tend to play romantic era music the best, hence I was hoping I already had enough diversity in my program to justify a second romantic piece (although I was looking for something different in character/style to Un Sospiro). The piece needs to be longer than 3 minutes, but less than 8 minutes according to the time limits given.
If you have any other suggestions or anyone else could help too that would be great!! 

[scott13]

The Heroic is an examination is always a bad idea. Many judges have a preconceived idea of how this piece should be played and if you don't follow their idea you get penalized for it. Also Chopin and Liszt are really to similar anyway to give the contrast you need. 

Perhaps one of the Chopin Ballades? Number 3 in Ab is beautiful and not played very much either. Perhaps the C# minor Scherzo? How about something by Rachmaninoff? He is late enough to be post-romantic and would contrast with Liszt quite nicely, and besides he wrote a large collection of preludes that I'm sure you could find one you would like to practice.

Prokofiev sonatas could also be something to look into.

Hope this helps

[nanabush]

The judges will always have a 'preconcieved' idea of the piece... but that shouldn't stop you from playing it for them!

I'd suggest a Rachmaninoff piece... it's a bit later than what you have, so you won't have two pieces from the exact same time period.  His preludes in D major, G# minor and C# minor are good choices, and are quite different than the other 3 pieces you've chosen already.  One of my friends played the D major at a recital last Friday, and I forgot how much of an impact that piece can have!

Or Debussy: any of the preludes, images or estampes (one from any of these sets could work as a standalone piece)... la Cathedrale Engloutie is awesome, and would be a massive contrast to your other pieces (all quite fast aside from Beethoven mvmt 2!).  'Soiree en Granade' has really neat harmonies, and again would show a different side to your playing. 

What about the Gershwin 3 Preludes?  A bit more jazzy...

Don't shy away from 20th Century... even early 20th would add another side to your program

I wouldn't avoid playing 'overplayed' works, but it would be nice to see that Liszt isn't the most 'contemporary' of your pieces on the exam.

[andante_con_moto]

Hey thanks guys, I really liked your suggestions!

I am trying to decide between Chopin's 3rd Scherzo, and Rachmaninov's Prelude in D Major (Op.23 No. 4-which is amazing thanks for the tip!! ) at the moment. The chorale section of the 3rd Scherzo has to be one of the most powerful things he ever wrote! Which do you think would be more suitable for creating an interesting program? (Especially because the Rachmaninov is almost Chopin nocturne-like anyway). Do you have any recommendations for an order?

[asiantraveller101]

Please double check and see if you can play Liszt and Chopin as well, since both are considered music from the same time period. Like other comments in this thread, I would choose an Impressionist, or a contemporary composer.
Best of luck!
 

[precipitato]

hi there!
1 question for you, are you sure un sospiro is in ATCL? because i took my LTCL last year (2010) and un sospiro is in LTCL! haha go and check it out. chopin's scherzo all are in LTCL too, right? haha
your repertoire seems not very bad! i remembered taking my ATCL 2 years ago when i was 12, and i took bach prelude fugure 862, mozart K.331, chopin nocturne op.9 no.1 and poulenc 3 novelettes (only the 1st and 2nd.) the poulenc is rather joyful to play, my repertoire was small i was only 12 then!
you can try copland's the Cat and the Mouse? and yes rachmaninoff, if you played perfectly, will definitely be good in an exam. also i prefer liszt to chopin during an exam. it's a rather fun work to try about. but your posts seem to have smudged in LTCL repertoire, is LTCL pieces is allowed...?