Looking for new piece

[kc333]

Hello!
I'm looking to learn a new piece: Romantic period, dark, depressing, slow, lyrical, not too technically challenging, but emotionally difficult... something that makes you want to cry.
One of the other pieces that I am working on now is Beethoven's Les Adieux Sonata Op. 81a, and I want something that completely contrasts the almost jubilant 1st and 3rd movements, not unlike the 2nd movement.
Any suggestions?
Thanks!

[redbaron]

How about the Scriabin etude, Op 2, No 1? Rachmaninov's Moment Musical in B minor? I'm sure there are plenty of Chopin pieces that fulfil you're requirements.

[williampiano]

Rachmaninoff Prelude op. 32 no. 10
Chopin Funeral March from Piano Sonata op. 35
Tchaikovsky Romance op. 5
Faure Nocturne no. 1

[adari]

Alkan - Grande Sonate, Mvt. 4, Op.33: Prométhée enchaîné
Alkan - Symphony for solo piano, Mvt. 2, Op.39 No. 5: Marche Funèbre
Chopin - Nocturne in F minor, Op.55 No.1
Liszt - Sonetto 47 del Petrarca, from Années de Pèlerinage, S.161

[drexo]

Scriabin Etude Op.2 No. 1
Scriabin Etude Op.8 No. 11
Scriabin Prelude Op.11 No.4
Chopin Nocturne Op.72 No.1

[j_menz]

Hello!
I'm looking to learn a new piece: Romantic period, dark, depressing, slow, lyrical, not too technically challenging, but emotionally difficult... something that makes you want to cry.
One of the other pieces that I am working on now is Beethoven's Les Adieux Sonata Op. 81a, and I want something that completely contrasts the almost jubilant 1st and 3rd movements, not unlike the 2nd movement.
Any suggestions?
Thanks!

The actual second movement itself? Beethoven appears to have thought it worked well enough with the other 2.

[werq34ac]

Rachmaninoff Elegie? Les Adieux is probably more technically difficult. And for sure Les Adieux is musically much more challenging than the Elegie. As my friend puts it, "I have no idea what to do with it" (refering to Les Adieux).

The Scriabin mentioned were pretty good.

Any Chopin nocturne will do. You might find 48/1 technically challenging however.

Brahms 118? possibly

How about trying your hand at Liszt? Any of the Consolations or Liebestraumes should be fine

[49410enrique]

how about some Chabrier?
Feuillet d'album

prolly not 'dark' to most folks but to me the 'major' moments are bittersweet, it's almost looking back at a happier time in some moments but the feel of the piece sad overall to me.

[kc333]

The actual second movement itself? Beethoven appears to have thought it worked well enough with the other 2.

Oh, I love all three movements together! I meant that the piece I'm looking for is similar mood-wise to the 2nd, and the opposite of the 1st and 3rd. Sorry about that confusion.

And thanks so much for the suggestions everyone! I'll listen to them now...

[j_menz]

For even darker, and musically very difficult, it's hard to go past pretty much any late Liszt.

[49410enrique]

at first glance and 'hearing' it sounds much more formidable (technically) than it actually is (for Liszt, at least. pretty benign considering his other output from about this time).
not sure what you meant by 'not difficult' since it is so subjective and relative. to me it doesn't scare me (though I would find it difficult in many ways but that's just me. other pianists would have little trouble knocking this thing out). the tempo and relative 'shortness' of it(i.e. it's not one of his 12 minute+ behemoths) might make it a contender. super emotionally charged (i.e you requested 'makes you want to cry")
Isoldens Liebestod: Schlußszene aus Tristan und Isolde, S.447

interesting tidbit related to this work, this opera may have had a greater hold on the elderly composer than even he realized: On his deathbed, in 1886, Liszt reportedly uttered "Tristan," then died...

[gearmenta]

Rachmaninoff has plenty of dark music like his prelude in c sharp minor, his elegie... But I would like to suggest Ravel, though he's impressionistic, he wrote great music, the gaspard de la nuit is plenty dark and depressing.

[stiefel]

I suggest some late Brahms.  Opuses 116-119 are all contenders I think. My personal favorites that are "darker" would be op 118 no 6, op 119 no 1, and op 117 no 2.  Op 116 no 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 are all nice too. 

[adari]

Rachmaninoff has plenty of dark music like his prelude in c sharp minor, his elegie... But I would like to suggest Ravel, though he's impressionistic, he wrote great music, the gaspard de la nuit is plenty dark and depressing.

The OP asked for pieces which aren't very technically challenging. Gaspard is a nightmare to play.

[michaeljames]

Rachmaninoff Elegie wins hands down.  Technically not terribly challenging at all.  But absolutely hauntingly beautiful.

I think his Prelude, Opus 23, no. 1 in F# minor is also beautiful.  Also pretty easy. Opus 23, no. 4 in D major is beautiful. 10 is a beautiful prelude, too.

Of his Opus 32 preludes, #2 has a haunting sound.  #5 is one of the most beautiful lyrical lines I've ever heard, #10 is GORGEOUS.

[asuhayda]

Rachmaninoff Prelude Op.23 No.4 in D major (I know it's major, but Rachmaninoff is a genius at taking a piece that's major and making it sound sad)  This piece is not that technically difficult either.. In my opinion it's easier than Rach Op.3 No.2  (but easy is a relative term).

Op. 23 No.7 in C minor is also very beautiful.. it's a bit more challenging that the D major prelude, but it's wonderful to play.  Very mournful.

I think any of the other ones are going to be outside of your requirements as most of Rachmaninoff's preludes are very technically challenging.

OH! Another one that you might consider is Chopin's Bercuese.. again it's in Db major but, it's absolutely beautiful and I don't hear people play it very often, which is too bad.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

This isn't very romantic because this is on the later side of Scriabin.  But you could probably learn this in a shorter amount of time than it actually takes to play it.

Scriabin prelude op 67 no 1

[scherzo123]

I'd suggest maybe Etude Op. 10 No. 3? It's pretty dark in the middle...

[gearmenta]

The OP asked for pieces which aren't very technically challenging. Gaspard is a nightmare to play.

Yes it's nightmare but it's so fun!:)