Big Piece. . .Small Hands

[romantic]

Hello Everyone:

I am in a bit of a dilema.  I am performing in the "miss Utah Pageant" in June 2005, but I cannot deciede on a song to play.  Actually I have decieded on a few piece I would like to perform, but my hands are too small.  I played Prelude in C# Minor, Rachmaninoff, for my local pageant, but I want to do something different, something challenging, something powerful, preferably in a minor key somewhere (I love those minors).  My favorite composers are Rachmaninoff, lizt, chopin, etc.  I can reach an octave, but I can't play them in succession really fast (which is a shame, because I love it when they do that).  

Anyway, can you please suggest a piece (not overplayed) that someone like me can play which will captivate the audience.  It must be editted down to two minutes, which means I can edit out some parts that are too sloppy on my part.

Thanks!

[Motrax]

Rachmaninoff Prelude Op. 32 No. 12 would probably be perfect. It has a few pretty big stretches, but those can be rolled or simply have notes omitted from them altogether. The piece is about 2.5-3 minutes long.

Two other pieces from Op. 32 which might be good are preludes 5, 6, and 8. 5 is a beautiful piece, despite it's being in G major.  It still carries that Rachmaninoff flavor which is so delicious to our ears...  

6 and 8 are both more difficult than the other preludes I mentioned. I love number 8, but it's a good deal more work than 5 or 12.

If you want to give these pieces a listen (which you probably should), I recommend Ashkenazy's recording of the Op. 32 preludes.

Good luck!

[liszmaninopin]

Is this a piano competition, or what else might it be?  I ask because if it's, say, a beauty pageant (which it sounds like it might be), I could imagine that you'd do well playing something very familiar.

Under 2 minutes?  It will be rather tricky finding many works under 2 minutes.  If you really want a challenge, try Rach's prelude op. 23 #9, or one of Ligeti's etudes, Der Zauberlehrling or Coloana Infinita.  All three pieces are extremely difficult, and will fit within two minutes.  However, in general, I might suggest you play something more common, or something nonclassical.  Perhaps an arrangement of the star spangled banner or something.

[chopiabin]

 Perhaps an arrangement of the star spangled banner or something.

Hahaha

[romantic]

Let me clarify about the compition.  It is not specifically a piano compition and I guess it would be considered a "beauty pageant" although I prefer to call it a "scholarship program."  I know pageants don't have the best reputations, but it's more than what meets the eye.  The talent portion is worth 30%, interview is 50%, and then there is the other stuff.  But anyway, they are looking for someone who shows mastery in their talent and many of the judges are experienced musicians.  Perhaps the audience would settle for something familiar, but I want to push myself and play something that I love.  The current "Miss Utah" played, I believe, Etude in C# minor by Chopin and it was amazing.  As for the two minute limit, I can "edit" the piece to fit the restriction, so it is not nessisary that the song is that short.  Hope that clears everything up.

And thanks for your suggestions, I'm going to check those out as soon as possible!

[shasta]

I would stick to the 2-minute time limit as opposed to "editing" a piece.  You've played Rach's Op.3 No.2...  hmmm... the first pieces that come to my mind which would be at your level and are fun to play and listen to (AND AREN'T BY RACH, CHOPIN, OR LISZT!!) are:

1. Any rag by Scott Joplin --- underestimated technically, a blast to play, gets peoples feet tapping, and always refreshing

2. Bartok - Romanian Folk Dances (I'm thinking the last one) or one of his Mikrocosmos

3. Scriabin - Op. 11 Etudes (there's an octave one in there, maybe #6'ish, which is more leaping than fast octaves that you might enjoy)

4. Granados - maybe look at his Goyescas. There are several jewels in there.

5. Bach - Prelude in C minor from WTC1 (more like an exercise to you, but is fun but sounds impressive to non-pianists)

6. Muczynski - something from his Op. 6 Preludes

7. Ginastera - has some shorter works in either his Danzas Argentinas or his 12 Preludios Americanos

8. Gottschalk - has some great pieces, although not sure if any clock in at <2min.

9. Schumann - check out his Scenes from Childhood

10. Mendelssohn - check out his Songs Without Words

[chopiabin]

Scriabin doesn't have any etudes in his op.11. However, if you are talking about op.8, then yeah there are some reall great ones - no.10, no.12, but most of these are very difficult (you should check them out though). What about Chopin's etudes op.10#'s 4 or 8, or op.25#1? These are all great and generally pretty short. Maybe you could do a Liszt etude - Un Suspiro or La Campanella (this has some octaves and a lot of leaping). What about a Schubert impromptu? There are eight of them and they are all beautiful (and generally underplayed).

[chromatickler]

The current "Miss Utah" played, I believe, Etude in C# minor by Chopin and it was amazing.

The question is, was it under 2 mintues?  

[chromatickler]

However, if you are talking about op.8, then yeah there are some reall great ones - no.12.

I know of no performance of this piece that is under 2 minutes, and likewise the two liszt etudes mentioned.

[romantic]

The question is, was it under 2 mintues?  

Miss Utah's performance was under two minutes.  I know "editting" a piece is a big no no, but in situations like this it is common and acceptable.  It is more of a two minute exerpt to give the judges a feel for your skill, and performance ability.  I would prefer to play a piece that is under two minutes, but if it comes down to it I would choose a longer one that I love over a short one that I like.

Thanks for all your suggestions!

[liszmaninopin]

Well, again, if you want a real virtuoso challenge try Rach's op. 23 #9 or Ligeti's Colomna Infinita.  Perhaps you could try some of Prokofiev's Visions Fugitives.  Really, though, you're greatly handicapped (in the classical repertorie) by a 2 minute time limit.

[chromatickler]

Miss Utah's performance was under two minutes.

Nice! But now the question is: Was it under 1 minute & 31 seconds?  

[shasta]

Scriabin doesn't have any etudes in his op.11.

Yes, thanks Chopiabin.  Sorry, I meant to say Preludes.