What do I play for my piano/violin senior recital?

[pebbli94]

Hi guys,

I am going to have a largely piano (small violin portion) recital next year, and I'd like some tips on what pieces to play! The recital is one hour long.

I am currently at Licentiate level and will be taking my LRSM exam playing:
1. Bach's Prelude and Fugue in Eb minor, BWV853, WTC I
2. Tempest sonata op 31/2, Beethoven
3. Colourful Clouds Chasing the Moon, Ren Guang arr. Wang Jianzhong (own choice)

I've learnt Mozart's 14th piano sonata K457, about four Chopin nocturnes, Chopin's 1st ballade, Chopin's Fantasy Impromptu and Liszt's liebestraume.

Could anyone suggest pieces for me to play and comment on my choice of potential pieces?
Ideally, I would like to play:
1. Bach P & F in Eb Minor, BWV 853, WTC I or Bach-Busoni chaconne
2. Beethoven op 81a sonata
3. Scriabin etude op 8 no 12
4. Chopin sonata no 3
5. Colourful clouds chasing the moon, Ren Guang arr. Wang Jianzhong
6. Brahms rhapsody op 79/2
7. A prokofiev sonata/suggestion diabolique

Thanks!
-Pebbli:)

[asiantraveller101]

Hello Pebbli,
I think your selected choices would be running close or over 1 hour long; since you wanted to save some time for the violin part as well. The current selection has 3 possible sonatas in it! May I know why you change the Beethoven sonata? Is Op.81a entire new, or you have learned it before? I would suggest to keep Tempest than learning an entire new sonata, since you are already adding more pieces to your current repertoire for the recital. In addition, what about the Chopin sonata. Have you learned that before? That one is extremely difficult to play and pull together. With exception, of course, assuming you are a quick learner and would be able to master the new program in a year's time. I personally think you should be adding pieces to what you are learning/or already know, to form the recital, then attempting to do all new pieces. Some pieces need time for "it to mature", for example the Chopin sonata.
The Rhapsody may not be necessary if you are doing Chopin sonata.
Let us know what you decide.
Best wishes!   

[healdie]

for the Piano/Violin part you could go with the Schoenberg Fantasy as it is pretty stunning

[werq34ac]

Personal favorites from that list are the Chopin sonata, scriabin etude, prokofiev, and the beethoven.

Answering the question now..
1. Bach is always good to have, but unless you are absolutely solid with the chaconne, i would advise against it. So go with the P&F if chaconne isn't solid
2. A sonata, I would advise against having more than one sonata. Since it's your senior recital, it'll be mostly friends rather than classical enthusiasts. Sonatas can be quite long, since there's more than one movement. Personally, I love the 3rd Chopin sonata, but go with the one you are most solid with.
3. I don't like the Brahms, but you can include it if you want. I would do both the Scriabin etude and the Prokofiev Suggestion Diabolique plus the Colourful clouds piece you mentioned.


And then have a violin piece somewhere in the middle. I would put either the prokofiev suggestion or scriabin etude at the very end. Whichever you feel is more impressive.

[pebbli94]

Hi all,

Just to clarify again, the list I put up of the pieces - I'm definitely not going to play all of them.

I'm planning to have:
1. A Baroque work
2. A Classical/Romantic sonata
3. 1 Romantic piece
4. 1 20th Century work- I like prokofiev
5. The Chinese piece which I mentioned


Would it be possible to learn up the Bach Chaconne, either the Les Adieux/Chopin sonata no. 3 and scriabin etude in a year? I'm not too sure about the Prokofiev- as I actually like his piano concertos better than his solo works:)

Cheers,
Pebbli

[kelly_kelly]

Hi all,

Just to clarify again, the list I put up of the pieces - I'm definitely not going to play all of them.

I'm planning to have:
1. A Baroque work
2. A Classical/Romantic sonata
3. 1 Romantic piece
4. 1 20th Century work- I like prokofiev
5. The Chinese piece which I mentioned


Would it be possible to learn up the Bach Chaconne, either the Les Adieux/Chopin sonata no. 3 and scriabin etude in a year? I'm not too sure about the Prokofiev- as I actually like his piano concertos better than his solo works:)

Cheers,
Pebbli

It might be possible, but really difficult for most people who aren't primarily music students (which I take it you aren't since you haven't mentioned audition repertoire). Senior year is really stressful for most people what with college applications, a more demanding courseload than previous years (this was probably more the case for me than most others, but still), so probably not the best year to learn a whole recital of really difficult repertoire. I do know some people who are talented enough to pull it off, but in general I wouldn't advise it.