Your favorite pieces

[liszt_ani_rach]

Please list your favorite Piano piece of each of the following composers:
Liszt, Chopin, Beethoven, Schubert, Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev, Mozart and Haydn.

These are my favorites:
Liszt- La Campanella
Chopin- Heroique Polonaise and Nocturne op 27 no 2
Beethoven- Pathetique Sonata
Schubert- Impromptu op 90 no 4
Rachmaninoff- Prelude op 3 no 2
Prokofiev- Sonata in A major
Mozart- Rondo for two pianos in d major
Haydn- Sonata in e flat major (no 62)

List out your favorites!

[revanyoda777]

Bach- Goldberg Variations
Haydn- Symphony 94
Mozart- Piano Concerto 20
Chopin- Polonaise-Fantaisie
Liszt- Un Sospiro
Debussy- Images
Ravel- Mirroirs
 
So difficult to pick favorites because there are many masterpieces I cherish, but these came to mind

[richterfan1]

Without orchestral works:

Bach - Chromatic fantasy and fugue, Goldberg variations, Prelude from English suite No.2 in a minor
Mozart - Fantasy in D, Sonata k310
Haydn - Sonata e minor
Beethoven - Appasionata, Moonlight, Pathetique
Chopin - 4th Ballade, andante spianato, Nocturnes op.9, op.27, Scherzo 2 & 3, Prelude No.24, Heroic..
Schumann - Pappilions, Fantasy pieces op.12
Brahms - Sonata f#
Liszt - Un Sospiro, Liberstraum A flat
Tchaikovsky - The Seasons - June
Mendelssohn - song without words no.1 E major, rondo capricioso
Schubert - Impromptu Op.90 No.4 A flat, Sonata D960
Scriabin - Etude d#
Rachmaninoff - Moment musical no.4 e minor, Prelude Bb and g minor
Debussy - Les Pluse Que Lente - Waltz
Prokofiev - dont like him

Concertos: Beethoven - 4, Mozart - 20, Chopin - 1, Tchaikovsky - 1, Rachmaninoff 2 & 3, Schumann's a minor


and many many more, agree with revanyoda777

[asiantraveller101]

Please list your favorite Piano piece of each of the following composers:
Liszt, Chopin, Beethoven, Schubert, Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev, Mozart and Haydn.

I think some of you are deviating from the original post.

[healdie]

mmmm since Prokofiev is the only one of them that I listen to with any frequency, so I'd probably go with the 7th Sonata but he wrote so much good stuff

Liszt - maybe the Bagatelle Sans Tonalite I don't listen to too much Liszt but some of his later works when he got a bit more adventurous harmonically I like but I don't like his really Romantic stuff (Liebestraumes etc)

I don't know enough Rachmaninoff to make an informed choice

Beethoven - probably the Grosse Fugue (I know not a piano piece but I'm not too keen on his piano stuff) 

Chopin I have never found anything by him that I have enjoyed, to me it all sounds like a musical version of the works of Jane Austin essentially a 19th century chick flick, with just endless sickening metaphors and no real substance

[redbaron]

Liszt - La Campanella
Chopin - Raindrop Prelude
Beethoven - Pathetique Sonata 1st mvmt
Schubert - Sonata in B flat D.960, 3rd mvmt
Rachmaninoff - Prelude Op 23, No 5
Prokofiev - Toccata
Mozart - Sonata K.457 1st mvmt (if I'm pushed, not a Mozart fan)
Haydn - Aren't familiar with enough Haydn

[sevencircles]

Mozart-fugue in c minor for 2 piano-duo K 426 "the greatest piece he ever wrote in my opinion"

Ravel-Gaspard De Le Nuit

Beethoven- Sonata no. 17 "tempest"

Beethoven-Sonata no. 14 "Moonlight"

[richterfan1]

Chopin I have never found anything by him that I have enjoyed, to me it all sounds like a musical version of the works of Jane Austin essentially a 19th century chick flick, with just endless sickening metaphors and no real substance

Interesting

[lorditachijr]

Well a list of favorite pieces isn't something I've thought about in a long time, but here goes:

Beethoven - Sonatas Opp. 53, 57*, 101, Grosse Fuge, String Quartet Op. 59 No. 1*, Piano Concerto No. 2
Brahms - Sonata No. 3 in F Minor*
Chopin - Sonatas Nos. 2 & 3, Ballades 1* & 4, Fantasie in F Minor, Concerto No. 2*, Prelude No. 4, Etudes Op. 25 Nos. 9, 11, 12
Debussy - Reverie (holds a lot of sentimental value for me)
Grieg - Piano Sonata, Op. 7*
Handel - Fantasia in C Major (again, sentimentality)
Liszt - TE Nos. 3 & 9, Sonata in B Minor*
Mendelssohn - Piano Concerti Nos. 1 and 2, Rondo Capriccioso*, Sonata Op. 106
Mozart - Sonata in A Minor, K 310
Rachmaninoff - Preludes Op. 32 Nos. 10 and 12, Concerti Nos. 2*, 3, 4, Sonata No. 2 Op. 36*, Etude Op. 39 No. 5
Schubert - Pretty much everything! Sonatas D784*, 958, 959, 960, Wanderer Fantasie, Impromptu Op. 142 No. 2 (love all of the Impromptus, but this is my favorite), and all of the Moments Musicaux (cannot decide on one)
Tchaikovsky - Piano Concerto No. 1

* - My absolute favorites.

[mozartk365]

Liszt: paganini etude no.5 in E major "La Chasse"
Chopin: ballade no.1
Beethoven: sonata in A-flat major Op.110
Schubert: sonata in G major D.894
Rachmaninoff: prelude Op.23 no.1
Prokofiev and Haydn: I rarely listen to their works
Mozart: sonata in F major K.533

[pianoisthebest23]

Rachmaninoff- Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini; Piano Concerto Nos 2 and 3
Liszt- Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2; La Campanella
Chopin- Polonaise in A Flat Major Op. 53
Gershwin- Rhapsody in Blue
Tchaikovsky- Piano Concerto No. 1

I have lots more but those are my absolute favorites 

[forgottenbooks]

Liszt: Transcendental Etude No. 10
Chopin: It's a three-way tie between Scherzo No. 3, Ballade No. 1, and Ballade No. 4
Beethoven: the Moonlight Sonata
Rachmaninoff: Concerto No. 3 for the Piano

[stoudemirestat]

I'm going to interpret the OP as not including piano and orchestra....

Liszt: Piano Sonata in B Minor.
Chopin: Ballade No. 4.
Beethoven: Piano Sonata Op. 57.
Schubert: Piano Sonata D.960.
Rachmaninoff: Etude Tableaux Op. 39 No. 5.
Prokofiev: Piano Sonata No. 7.
Mozart: Piano Sonata K310.
Haydn: Andante and Variations in F Minor.

[zezhyrule]

Liszt: La Campanella, that Piano Sonata...
Chopin: Ballade No. 3, Scherzo No. 1, Prelude Op. 28 No. 15, Polonaise-Fantaisie
Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Op. 13 and Op. 78
Schubert: 'Wanderer' Fantasie D. 760
Rachmaninoff: Don't know much by Rach yet, but I really like Prelude, Op. 23 No. 2
Prokofiev: again not sure, only piece I've really listened to is his Piano Sonata No.9 and it's good
Mozart: Piano Sonata K. 332
Haydn: Andante with Variations

[akthe47]

Rachmaninoff- Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini; Piano Concerto Nos 2 and 3
Liszt- Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2; La Campanella
Chopin- Polonaise in A Flat Major Op. 53
Gershwin- Rhapsody in Blue
Tchaikovsky- Piano Concerto No. 1

I have lots more but those are my absolute favorites 

Hey there pianoisthebest23,
  Every piece you've listed above are amongst the top of the pieces I enjoy (along with Chopin's 4th ballad, Liszt's Un Sospiro, and Rach's Moment Musicaux no. 4).  Due to the eerie similarity in tastes(usually I only find 2 or 3 pieces that I similarly like with others), do you mind letting me know any other favorites you have, even if they are in 2nd place?  I'm still trying to expand my horizons on enjoyable classical piano, but having your lens would help speed up that process to find the ones I would enjoy the most.

[werq34ac]

Hello thread of overplayed pieces...

Anyway...

Liszt: Mephisto Waltz 1 (lol if you're going to go overplayed, DO IT WITH STYLE)
Chopin: Barcarolle
Beethoven: Op.4, Op. 78
Schubert: Wanderer Fantasie (one of the incredibly few Schubert pieces I know and like) (I also like the Arpeggione sonata)
Rachmaninoff: PIANO SONATA 2. Romantic piano sonatas don't get much better than that (maybe besides Chopin 3)
Prokofiev: eh, 6th piano sonata? 7th piano sonata? 3rd? Piano concerto 2? 3? I don't know.
Haydn: I'm not big on Haydn...

And I see nothing wrong with deviating from the original post as long as the original question has been addressed.

Debussy: Poisson D'Or, La Plus Que Lente was a good one, Des Collines D'anacapri
Ravel: yeesh too many to list. Jeux D'eau, Gaspard, Piano concerto (both of them), Tzigane, violin sonata, violin and cello sonata, piano trio, string quartet, la valse, valses sentimentales et nobles, Miroirs, Pavane pour dead princess, Rapsodie espagnol, in no particular order
Scriabin: Sonata no. 4.
Schumann: Fantasie, Humoresque
Brahms: Eh I don't really like a lot of Brahms. Piano concerti i guess
Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet overture, I'm liking him less and less as I get older..


I really don't like Mendelssohn other than his chamber works and maybe his symphonies.
Gershwin is cool. Piano concerto is better than Rhapsodie in Blue in my opinion

[blink83]

Hello thread of overplayed pieces...

I always found that silly. Who cares if everyone and their mom likes it? Are you only "cool" if you like pieces that not many people have heard of? Why do you think the pieces are overplayed to begin with, maybe because they're completely awesome?

[akthe47]

I always found that silly. Who cares if everyone and their mom likes it? Are you only "cool" if you like pieces that not many people have heard of? Why do you think the pieces are overplayed to begin with, maybe because they're completely awesome?

I totally agree, Blink83.

I guess you're only cool if you say something provocative and esoteric like, 'the E flat major scale is so beautiful, you will never understand it's beauty (until you've played as many pieces as I have-- please ask me which ones I've played and what level of pianist I am and how many famous performers I've met in person)'.

There's a reason why some pieces are played a lot and some are not. Yes -- Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder -- but there is a reason why there are popular pieces; more people like them than others.

[akthe47]

Hello thread of overplayed pieces...


...
Haydn: I'm not big on Haydn...

Brahms: Eh I don't really like a lot of Brahms. Piano concerti i guess

I really don't like Mendelssohn other than his chamber works and maybe his symphonies.
Gershwin is cool. Piano concerto is better than Rhapsodie in Blue in my opinion

Why do you even bother listing them?  is it because it suggests you have listened to all of their pieces, something we could only dream to do?

[williampiano]

Liszt- Libestraume Nocturne no. 3
Chopin- Polonaise op. 71 no. 1
Beethoven- Bagatelle op. 119 no. 3
Schubert- Impromptu op. 90 no. 1
Rachmaninoff- Polichinelle op. 3 no. 4
Prokofiev- Allemande op. 12
Mozart- Piano Concerto no. 12
Haydn- Sonata hob xvi 33

I always found that silly. Who cares if everyone and their mom likes it? Are you only "cool" if you like pieces that not many people have heard of? Why do you think the pieces are overplayed to begin with, maybe because they're completely awesome?

Well said! I totally agree   

[perprocrastinate]

Chopin- Etude Op. 10, No. 12, "Revolutionary"
Liszt- Transcendental Etude No. 4, "Mazeppa"
Beethoven- Moonlight Sonata, movement 3 (cliche, but still sounds great to me)
Mozart- KV 545 (nice and simple)
Rachmaninoff- Prelude Op. 23, No. 5

[stoudemirestat]

I always found that silly. Who cares if everyone and their mom likes it? Are you only "cool" if you like pieces that not many people have heard of? Why do you think the pieces are overplayed to begin with, maybe because they're completely awesome?

I agree that overplayed pieces are overplayed for a reason...That being said, I know that the more i've looked into the piano repertoire, the more i've realised that the pieces that aren't overplayed and are often neglected are just as good if not often better. Liszt's output is a prime example of that. I've seen so many in this thread list works like La Campanella, Mazeppa, etc. To each his own, of course, but I think those pieces are not close to the best by Liszt. I  also think that's why Liszt often gets the raw end of the deal. People base their judgement of him on showpieces like those two. No doubt, they are terrific pieces...I do think that the more one explores his - and others - outputs, the more the overplayed ones won't be listed.

That being said, some composers overplayed works are among my very favourite pieces by them. Debussy is a prime example of that, as is Rachmaninoff. Also, Chopin is an exception because many things by him are 'overplayed.'

[stoudemirestat]

There's a reason why some pieces are played a lot and some are not. Yes -- Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder -- but there is a reason why there are popular pieces; more people like them than others.

Accessibility plays a huge role too. The more immediately accessible - usually minatures that are openly attractive - the more popular it will be. The more i've explored classical music though, the less immediate accessibility factors in.

[werq34ac]

I always found that silly. Who cares if everyone and their mom likes it? Are you only "cool" if you like pieces that not many people have heard of? Why do you think the pieces are overplayed to begin with, maybe because they're completely awesome?

Wow I come back to this thread and see that I'm getting bashed for a light-handed comment.

I have absolutely nothing against liking overplayed pieces. Beethoven's 5th, pretty awesome stuff. Beethoven's 9th is an absolute masterpiece (though that brings up another issue, most people have only heard the Ode to Joy theme and not the rest of 50 minutes of amazing music). The problem is when people decide that Clair de Lune (which hasn't been mentioned in this thread, so I'll use it as an example to avoid offending anyone) is the OMG MOST AMAZING BEAUTIFUL THING EVER DEBUSSY IS AMAZING when they haven't really listened to much else by him.

Just clarifying, I'm not assuming you only listen to the overplayed. You could have listened to other pieces by Debussy (still using the Clair de Lune example) and still decide that Clair de Lune is your favorite. But if Clair de Lune is the ONLY piece you've listened to by Debussy, then it's time to expand your horizons.

And I'm NOT listing pieces no one's ever heard of. And if I did, I don't see how that relates to making myself look cool. It's not trying to be cool or anything. It just is.

I totally agree, Blink83.

I guess you're only cool if you say something provocative and esoteric like, 'the E flat major scale is so beautiful, you will never understand it's beauty (until you've played as many pieces as I have-- please ask me which ones I've played and what level of pianist I am and how many famous performers I've met in person)'.

There's a reason why some pieces are played a lot and some are not. Yes -- Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder -- but there is a reason why there are popular pieces; more people like them than others.

Okay, why do you feel it necessary to be so hostile towards me?
Something provocative and esoteric like "E major scale is so beautiful, you will never understand it's beauty until you've played as many pieces as I have-- please ask me how good I am at the piano and how many famous performers I've met."
Is that supposed to be me? It doesn't take much to hear beautiful music, and to be able to judge what is beautiful. All it takes is an ear. You don't need years and years of experience to listen to music. How the heck am I being esoteric? For your info, I'm not very good at piano and probably can only play about half of the pieces I listed. And I don't believe I've met very many famous performers (I did bump into Joshua Bell once, but that was a coincidence.)


All I said is that a lot of pieces here are overplayed. Not that people who list them should go die or anything..

Why do you even bother listing them?  is it because it suggests you have listened to all of their pieces, something we could only dream to do?

Oh so now you decide to pick apart what I say to attack me?
First of all, I listed Haydn because THE THREAD SPECIFICALLY ASKS FOR HAYDN. I just never really felt particularly interested by Haydn's music.
Brahms, I forget why I listed him. adjkjcv;kbjxv I just realized how much great stuff he's written o.o; I guess I just wasn't big on his solo piano pieces.
Mendelssohn. I just don't like much Mendelssohn. It just doesn't move me as much as other romantic composers.
Gershwin. I SAID HE WAS COOL. WHY YOU BASH ME FOR IT??

It suggests I have listened to all of their pieces? How does it suggest that?(Though I have gone on Chopin and Rachmaninoff marathons where I try to listen to their entire ouvre. I never finished for some reason, but I did discover some nice pieces.) Sure I've listened to several pieces by these composers, but most certainly not ALL.  Not even MOST.

All in all, WHY SO SARCASTIC??

[catherinezng]

Liszt- transcendental etude no.11, mazeppa, Sonata in B minor
Chopin- Concerto no.1, sonatas 2&3, scherzo no.4, Barcarolle, etude op.25 no.5
Beethoven- Appassionata,Waldstein, sonata no.30 op.109,
Schubert- Impromptu op 142 no 3
Rachmaninoff- etude-tableau op.39 no.5, concerto no.2&3
Prokofiev- Sonata no.6, etude op.2 no.1, toccata, concerto 2&3

[revanyoda777]

Hello thread of overplayed pieces...

Anyway...

Liszt: Mephisto Waltz 1 (lol if you're going to go overplayed, DO IT WITH STYLE)
Chopin: Barcarolle
Beethoven: Op.4, Op. 78
Schubert: Wanderer Fantasie (one of the incredibly few Schubert pieces I know and like) (I also like the Arpeggione sonata)
Rachmaninoff: PIANO SONATA 2. Romantic piano sonatas don't get much better than that (maybe besides Chopin 3)
Prokofiev: eh, 6th piano sonata? 7th piano sonata? 3rd? Piano concerto 2? 3? I don't know.
Haydn: I'm not big on Haydn...

And I see nothing wrong with deviating from the original post as long as the original question has been addressed.

Debussy: Poisson D'Or, La Plus Que Lente was a good one, Des Collines D'anacapri
Ravel: yeesh too many to list. Jeux D'eau, Gaspard, Piano concerto (both of them), Tzigane, violin sonata, violin and cello sonata, piano trio, string quartet, la valse, valses sentimentales et nobles, Miroirs, Pavane pour dead princess, Rapsodie espagnol, in no particular order
Scriabin: Sonata no. 4.
Schumann: Fantasie, Humoresque
Brahms: Eh I don't really like a lot of Brahms. Piano concerti i guess
Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet overture, I'm liking him less and less as I get older..


I really don't like Mendelssohn other than his chamber works and maybe his symphonies.
Gershwin is cool. Piano concerto is better than Rhapsodie in Blue in my opinion

Ive heard pretty much everything you listed (except some of the Prokofiev) and so has much of the forum I'm sure. In fact you've listed some of the mainstays of the piano literature (along with other non piano works), so I don't think your trying to be a 'hipster' . The Ravel you listed is AMAZING and everyone should listen to it. And I'm like you in that I don't care for Brahms much except his piano concerti. I used to love Tchaikovsky right next to Mozart, but am beginning to get tired of it like you said. All in all you listed some great pieces, and I do hope if people only listen to the 'popular' works that they broaden their horizons to the other equally (maybe better) music out there)

[revanyoda777]

Please list your favorite Piano piece of each of the following composers:
Liszt, Chopin, Beethoven, Schubert, Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev, Mozart and Haydn.

These are my favorites:
Liszt- La Campanella
Chopin- Heroique Polonaise and Nocturne op 27 no 2
Beethoven- Pathetique Sonata
Schubert- Impromptu op 90 no 4
Rachmaninoff- Prelude op 3 no 2
Prokofiev- Sonata in A major
Mozart- Rondo for two pianos in d major
Haydn- Sonata in e flat major (no 62)

List out your favorites!

My list has changed a bit from before!

Liszt- Jeux d'eaux a la Ville d'Este, Ballade No. 2 in B Minor, Un Sospiro, Waldesrauschen

Chopin- Piano Concerto in E Minor, Ballade No.1, Polonaise-Fantaisie, Impromptu No.2 Op.36

Beethoven- Piano Sonata No. 30, 32 Variations in C Minor, Piano Sonata Op.2 No.3

Schubert-Wanderer Fantasie, Impromptu Op.90 No.1, Fantasie in F Minor

Rachmaninoff- Piano Concerto No.2, Etudes Tableaux Op. 39, Prelude Op.3 No.2

Prokofiev- Piano Concerto No.3, Piano Concerto No.5 (Need to listen to to the solo pieces)

Mozart-Piano Concerto No.20 (still), Sonata for two pianos K448, Piano Sonata K310, Piano Sonata K331

Haydn-Piano Sonata in C Major (Not familiar with much much of his piano output)

and if Bach was on the list I would just say everything

[music_doctor]

liszt: La Campanella
Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody
Beethoven: Moonlight sonata 3rd movement
Mozart: Sonata in C-major K545 1st movement
Brahms: hungarian dance 
Chopin: Heroic Polonaise in a major piano solo
Rachmaninoff: Prelude in C-minor
Prokofiev: sonata in A-major
I have to ask-why do we have a limited amount of composers to list our favourite pieces?

[tchaikovsky_lover]

Liszt- La Campanella
Chopin- Heroique Polonaise and Nocturne op 27 no 2
Beethoven- Fur Elise
Schubert- Impromptu op 90 no 4
Rachmaninoff- flight of the bumblebee
Prokofiev- Juliet as a young girl
Mozart- Requiem
Haydn- Not sure

[austinarg]

Piano:

Liszt - Transcendental Etude No. 12 "Chasse-neige"
Chopin - Ballade No. 4
Beethoven - Sonata "Hammerklavier"
Schubert - Wanderer Fantasy
Rachmaninoff - Six Moments Musicaux
Prokofiev - Sonata No. 7
Mozart - Sonata No. 11
Haydn - Sonata No. 59

Orchestral:

Liszt - Totentanz
Chopin - 2nd piano concerto
Beethoven - 9th symphony
Schubert - "Trout" quintet
Rachmaninov - 2nd piano concerto
Prokofiev - 2nd piano concerto
Mozart - 18th piano concerto
Haydn - 94th symphony

[patrickd]

Liszt: B minor sonata
Chopin: Ballade #3 and #4
Beethoven: Piano concertos 3 and 5
Schubert: Sonata in G major
Rachmaninoff: Sonata #1 in d minor
Prokofiev: Piano concerto #3
Mozart: Sonata k332
Haydn: I need to listen to more Haydn