Which Contemporary Piece?

[lisztstr]

I don't know which Contemporary piece to choose for my repertoire.

So far for this year's program, I have:

Bach Prelude&Fugue in F Major
Beethoven Op. 57 Sonata (Appassionata) - Complete
Scriabin Sonata Op. 19 No. 2 - Complete
Chopin Etude Op. 25 No. 12

I am stuck on which Contemporary piece I should choose.
I prefer a more LYRICAL Contemporary piece (I thought Scriabin was contemporary, but for the program I'm applying for, Contemporary = Composers' death after 1950).
I am thinking of Barber's Excursions Op. 20 No. 3 (I don't really like his nocturnes or ballades because I don't think they flow as well for me than the Op. 20 No. 3)

Any suggestions (I don't really like Prokofiev either, I don't really get his sarcasm and I dislike his inference of aggression)?

[49410enrique]

take a look at some of nino rota's preludes , you might work up a set similar to this if you like his 'sound' these are decidedly different than the orchestra works he's most know for. rota i believe passed away in 1979 so he would most certainly qualify as post-1950 modern, at least chronologically

https://www.ninorota.com/ -probably a good place to contact for info on finding scores. library inter lending services might also be a good avenue to explore.

[jayeckz]

It's annoying that contemporary music, as far as your audition piece is concerned, is music composed by someone who died after 1950.  This eliminates virtually all the impressionist composers, Webern, Berg, and even Bartok...

Anyway for a non Prokofiev lyrical piece, I recommend:
-Shostakovich Prelude and Fugue No. 4
-Liebermann Nocturnes and Etudes
-Sibelius Impromptus (no. 5 is my favorite) and Romances

The problem with Sibelius, is that he probably won't be considered a contemporary composer even though he fits your definition.  For bigger contemporary works take a look at Corigliano's Etude Fantasy and Carl Vine Sonatas.

Try to get past your distaste for Prokofiev!  Try Prok's 3rd Sonata - it has a gorgeous lyrical section in the middle.

[49410enrique]

Try to get past your distaste for Prokofiev!  Try Prok's 3rd Sonata - it has a gorgeous lyrical section in the middle.

or at least the prokofiev no 1, it is decidedly 'romantic' in style, definately a work he conjured up before he really took on his characterstic later mature/modern sound.

[thorn]

Contemporary means the modern, the now.

In one of my undergrad recital exams, we had to play something written after the year 2000. THAT is contemporary...

Anyway... post-1950. I really think if they're asking for something like this they're looking for something a little less run of the mill than your Barber, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, etc.

If you want to sneakily get away with playing an older piece, you could go for something like Percy Grainger's (died 1961) arrangement of Faure's Apres un reve or Sciarrino's Anamorfosi which combines Jeux d'eau with Singin' in the Rain.

Thinking "lyrical":
Ernest Bloch: something from Poems of the Sea
Messiaen: lots to choose from
Takemitsu: Litany
Danielpour: something from The Enchanted Garden

Other beautiful (to me) pieces:
Knussen: Prayer Bell Sketch
Crumb: lots to choose from but involves extended techniques
Rautavaara: Sonata II: The Fire Sermon

That's all I can think of for the moment!