Repertoire for Competition

[dlu]

I am entering a competition and I need 30 minutes of music. I am thinking about maybe playing Beethoven's Sonata no. 26 (first movement, Les Adieux). I was thinking about Berg's first piano sonata but am not so sure now. And maybe something by Schumann. For the finals I also have to play one movement from a piece for piano and orchestra. For this I was thinking the slow movement from Tchaikovsky's piano concerto no. 1 (the middle part is actually fast). Any suggestions?

[liszmaninopin]

What are the exact repertoire requirements for the solo part?  It seems like you must play a Sonata.

Just an idea, but instead of playing one movement from a sonata, maybe you could play a one movement sonata (or a shorter one).  If you want to do Beethoven, Les Adieux is a good choice, but I would suggest something else-perhaps the first mvt. of op. 106, 111, or 101.  Or, you could do the final mvt. of the Waldstein.  Really, though, with Beethoven, play what you can perform the most convincingly.  As for one mvt. sonatas, if you don't want to do the Berg, you could try late Scriabin.  

About the concerto-I would say that just about any fairly difficult movement from a major concerto would suffice, if played well (which is the critical factor).  What kind of stuff will you be up against?  By this I mean-are you at an international comp. where you will be facing stuff like the Rach 3 or the Bartok 2 played well?  If that is the case, you will probably have to pick an especially difficult movement and play it well to compete.

[dlu]

This competitions is for pianists 15-18. I am currently 14 and am planning on entering a year from now (the 2005-2006 competition). For the solo part all you have to do is play anything (yes, it must be in varying styles and from different time periods) for 25 minuted. So, I don't think I will be facing any Rach 3. Do you think Scriabin's 10th sonata would be good? What concerto movements (only one) would you reccomend? As, I already said, I am considering the middle (it is slow and then really fast and then slow, listen to it) movement of the Tchaikovsky 1st. Is that too easy? Do you think any 15-18 year olds could play rach 3? Didn't a 12 year old play it once?
Here is the website to my particular competition (remember I will be entering the 2005-2006 comp.):
https://www.mtna.org/seniorpc.htm

Thanks for suggestions,
DLu

[liszmaninopin]

First of all, good luck with your competition!

As for solo repertoire, there's really so much to choose from.  If you can pull off Scriabin's tenth sonata really well-that would be an outstanding piece to perform.  It's quite difficult, very mystical, and you would have the benefit of playing something just a tad out of the ordinary.  To complement it, you should probably pick something that is much more tightly and forcefully structured-a Beethoven movement would be ideal in this regard.  Or, if you wanted to, you could play a Scarlatti Sonata.  The difficult ones are fairly short, virtuosic, fun, and would be a nice contrast with the Scriabin.

Here is a useful thread on this forum with regards to Scarlatti.  Scroll down a bit, Bernhard wrote a post covering some good selections.

https://www.pianoforum.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=repo;action=display;num=1077145772

As for the concerto-I would say that any movement of a major Romantic or Classical concerto would do the trick.  Your Tchaikovsky would work.  However, I would suggest maybe a movement from a Prokofiev Concerto.  the first mvt. of the first concerto, the first and fourth mvts. of the second concerto, and the first mvt. of the third would be my suggestion.

Are you familiar with Ravel's concerto for the left hand?  It's an amazing piece-I think the judges would look favorably upon it.

[Nightscape]

I am also entering that competion, though the 2004-2005 competition (coming this novemeber).  I have researched this competition, and the previous winners have always seemed to play a similar selection of pieces.  Following what they played (and succeeded with), here is a basic guideline I am following in selecting my repetoire:

1.  An easier, lyrical, prelude-like piece to start off with.
(I am playing Rachmaninov prelude in D op23 no4)

2.  Some sort of sonata, either a Scarlatti, Beethoven or Mozart (Note: usually only one movement in played at the senior level). (I am playing  Scarlatti K517 in D minor)

3.  A Chopin, Liszt, Scriabin, or Rachmaninov prelude (basically a romantic etude, not necessarily these composers).  (Playing 'la campenella' by Liszt)

4.  A difficult, early twentieth century piece. (I'm playing Ravel's Ondine)

5.  Something else not played too often, but played enough to be recongizable to the judges.  (I'm playing Debussy's L'ilse Joyeuse).

Note that one the of the above needs to have some sort of bravura ending (for me the L'isle Joyeuse) to close the solo repetoire.  That may seem shallow, but it has worked.

6.  For the concerto movement,  you can be a bit more liberal here.  Previous winners have played a diverse range, but the concertos are usually either Romantic (Liszt, Chopin, Rachmaninoff - and the 3rd has been played before here) or twentieth century (even newer works like Liebermann's 2nd concerto).  So yes, a Prokofiev or Ravel concerto might do the trick.  For me, I'm playing it safe and going with movmt. 3 of the Rach 2.

I would strongly advise against playing the Scriabin 10th sonata at this level.  That is something more likely to be seen at the young artist level.  It is a longer piece, and uses up valuable time needed for your romantic and sonata pieces.  It would also not be suitable for the end of your repetoire either.  Since the young artist level has more time alotted, it would be better to play it then.

Also, try and order your pieces so that you can seemlessly transverse from one to another with minimal problems for me.  In my repetoire, for example, the prelude ends in D major, and the sonata begins in D minor. (actually, just on the note D, no chord begins it)  The etude provides a contrast to the style of the sonata, and the Ravel in turn to the etude.  The final piece begins on C# (where Ondine ends in C# major), and the mysterious introduction of the Debussy compliments the mysterious ending of Ondine.  So I have selected a program that provides both contrasts and similarities for the judges.  The program does present problems for me, however.  After La campenella, my right hand is always tired, and the beginning of Ondine is no picnic for the right hand.  However, I am willing to live with this for the sake of continuity.

You should really put some thought into selecting your pieces- the judges will appreciate you for it.  By no means to you have to conform to what I am doing, because it's just my opinion, and I could be completely taking the wrong approach.  This contest certainly does provide inspiration for the competitor- the winner of the Senior level usually goes on to win the Young Artist level, and that curtails a $50,000 stienway model L concert grand 1st prize.  And that's something we all want.

(especially me.)

[Nightscape]

Wow, I made a lot of spelling and grammatical mistakes.  On number three I meant to say etude, not prelude.

[dlu]

I am also entering that competion, though the 2004-2005 competition (coming this novemeber).  I have researched this competition, and the previous winners have always seemed to play a similar selection of pieces.  Following what they played (and succeeded with), here is a basic guideline I am following in selecting my repetoire:

1.  An easier, lyrical, prelude-like piece to start off with.
(I am playing Rachmaninov prelude in D op23 no4)

2.  Some sort of sonata, either a Scarlatti, Beethoven or Mozart (Note: usually only one movement in played at the senior level). (I am playing  Scarlatti K517 in D minor)

3.  A Chopin, Liszt, Scriabin, or Rachmaninov prelude (basically a romantic etude, not necessarily these composers).  (Playing 'la campenella' by Liszt)

4.  A difficult, early twentieth century piece. (I'm playing Ravel's Ondine)

5.  Something else not played too often, but played enough to be recongizable to the judges.  (I'm playing Debussy's L'ilse Joyeuse).

Note that one the of the above needs to have some sort of bravura ending (for me the L'isle Joyeuse) to close the solo repetoire.  That may seem shallow, but it has worked.

6.  For the concerto movement,  you can be a bit more liberal here.  Previous winners have played a diverse range, but the concertos are usually either Romantic (Liszt, Chopin, Rachmaninoff - and the 3rd has been played before here) or twentieth century (even newer works like Liebermann's 2nd concerto).  So yes, a Prokofiev or Ravel concerto might do the trick.  For me, I'm playing it safe and going with movmt. 3 of the Rach 2.

I would strongly advise against playing the Scriabin 10th sonata at this level.  That is something more likely to be seen at the young artist level.  It is a longer piece, and uses up valuable time needed for your romantic and sonata pieces.  It would also not be suitable for the end of your repetoire either.  Since the young artist level has more time alotted, it would be better to play it then.

Also, try and order your pieces so that you can seemlessly transverse from one to another with minimal problems for me.  In my repetoire, for example, the prelude ends in D major, and the sonata begins in D minor. (actually, just on the note D, no chord begins it)  The etude provides a contrast to the style of the sonata, and the Ravel in turn to the etude.  The final piece begins on C# (where Ondine ends in C# major), and the mysterious introduction of the Debussy compliments the mysterious ending of Ondine.  So I have selected a program that provides both contrasts and similarities for the judges.  The program does present problems for me, however.  After La campenella, my right hand is always tired, and the beginning of Ondine is no picnic for the right hand.  However, I am willing to live with this for the sake of continuity.

You should really put some thought into selecting your pieces- the judges will appreciate you for it.  By no means to you have to conform to what I am doing, because it's just my opinion, and I could be completely taking the wrong approach.  This contest certainly does provide inspiration for the competitor- the winner of the Senior level usually goes on to win the Young Artist level, and that curtails a $50,000 stienway model L concert grand 1st prize.  And that's something we all want.

(especially me.)

Wow! I was thinking of L'isle Joyeuse too! If I wanted to play Rhapsody on a theme by Paganini would I have to play the whole thing? And yes I am familiar with ravel's left hand concerto, I just started looking at it, very impressive piece. And I'd really like that Steinway!

[Nightscape]

Yeah, the L'isle Joyeuse is a really great piece.  I played it for my friend who doesn't like Debussy, and now he likes Debussy!

I'm not sure about the cuts.  The Rhapsody would be an easy piece to make cuts in, but I would contact MTNA and ask them.  They would probably know about that kind of thing.  I do know they will let you cut lengthy orchestra-only sections, but I don't think the Rhapsody really has any of those in it.

[dlu]

How about Horowitz's Carmen Variations? I saw them online once but didn't download it. Anyone have it?