Piece Selection - Long Term Goals.

[ajspiano]

I want to put together a CD for an adult student containing what will likely be mostly romantic period solo piano music - the aim being to give a sense of direction to his study and expose him to solo piano music that he will enjoy and aspire to. He is currently under exposed to solo piano music in general despite having a reasonable interest. I have broad selection CD's such as this already (covers baroque to contemporary is a big rush) but I want to target his specific stylistic tastes.

His taste could perhaps be described as "powerful and resonant / mostly minor keys / likes rubato"

Difficulty level is not of concern, some easy, some intermediate, some hard, whatever.. this is a listening exercise. I will source preperatory pieces for anything he takes a particular fancy to.

So 10-15 pieces, duration under 70 mins total (fits on a CD)..

Hit me.

[j_menz]

Alkan: La Vent from Trois Morceaux dans le genre pathetique
Chopin:10/'3 + Op Post Nocturne + Ballade 1
Brahms: One of the Intermezi?
Liszt: TE11, La Campanella, Nuages Gris
Schubert: Impromptu 90/3
Schumann: some of Kinderscenen
Ravel: Scarbo
Debussy: 1st arabesque?
There really should be some Beethoven, but none are short enough!

[ajspiano]

There really should be some Beethoven, but none are short enough!

Could probably restrict it to a single movement from a sonata..?  or from one of the Liszt transcriptions..

[j_menz]

Could probably restrict it to a single movement from a sonata..?  or from one of the Liszt transcriptions..

Never been a fan of single movements myself.  The Liszt Beethoven transcriptions are also probably way too long for your needs.

[ajspiano]

Never been a fan of single movements myself.  The Liszt Beethoven transcriptions are also probably way too long for your needs.

Neither have I - however for my purposes here it may open a door to the sonatas in general as an entire collection.

Liszt may be too long, but if it is of a symphony that the student recognises that may be a catalyst to take a greater interest in the work..?

We'll see..   Thanks for the rest of your suggestions, looks good.

[j_menz]

That being the case, 2nd movement of the Pathetique or the Liszt transcription of the final movement of the 9th would be my suggestions. The Liszt one is still pretty long in this context.

Incidentally, did you know that the CD is the size it is because of Beethoven?

[ajspiano]

That being the case, 2nd movement of the Pathetique or the Liszt transcription of the final movement of the 9th would be my suggestions. The Liszt one is still pretty long in this context.

Clearly we think alike

Incidentally, did you know that the CD is the size it is because of Beethoven?

Can't say I did, - You are quite the encyclopedia.

[j_menz]

Can't say I did, - You are quite the encyclopedia.

LOL, maybe thast's why I can't remember notes: no room.

[ajspiano]

LOL, maybe thast's why I can't remember notes: no room.

I guess you should start perfecting this skill rather than focusing on all the music..

[chopin2015]

Liszt 4th etude
Chopin Etude Op. 25 no 5 is a good one, makes me think of Richter
Rachmaninoff and Scriabin, whatever you have, I am new to these so I like them all right now.
Ravel Valse Nobles
Debussy Clair de Lune
Look for stuff Richter played, he was a true great.

[j_menz]

I guess you should start perfecting this skill rather than focusing on all the music..

Since I'd have to stick my head in a bowl of water to get them back, it could get very messy.

Maybe I could dry them out, iron them flat and collect them in folders by category. 

Oh, wait......

[danielekstrom]

...

[ajspiano]

Since I'd have to stick my head in a bowl of water to get them back, it could get very messy.

Maybe I could dry them out, iron them flat and collect them in folders by category. 

Oh, wait......

lol - whats that? like a photo album...?

..I found it a little weird that a powerful wizard didnt have a more practical system..

.......

Thanks chopin2015 for your suggestions, I think some rach would be a good idea.

[williampiano]

There really should be some Beethoven, but none are short enough!

You could try some of his Bagatelles I suppose.

Anyways, here are my suggestions:
Chopin- Polonaise op. 26 no. 1
Nocturne op. 55 no. 1
Nocturne op. 9 no. 1
Schumann- Aufschwung (Fantasiestucke)
Tchaikovsky- Romance op. 5
Faure- Nocturne op. 33 no. 2
Brahms- Intermezzo op. 119 no. 3
Intermezzo op. 116 no. 6
Liszt- Sonetto 104 del Petrarca
Debussy- Reverie
Schubert- Impromptu op. 90 no. 2
Rachmaninoff- Prelude op. 23 no. 7
Scriabin- Etude op. 8 no. 12

[j_menz]

You could try some of his Bagatelles I suppose.

Fuer Elise is probably a must.  Though isn't there a Busoni/Godowski/Cziffra fantasy transcription. I've never heard one, but surely someone was tempted at some stage?

Faure- Nocturne op. 33 no. 2

Excellent suggestion. How could I have forgotten Faure 

Brahms- Intermezzo op. 119 no. 3
Intermezzo op. 116 no. 6

Yep, either or both!

[j_menz]

lol - whats that? like a photo album...?

Haha, your tea is showing again!

..I found it a little weird that a powerful wizard didnt have a more practical system..

I suspect what is a practical system for a powerful wizard may be a rather different thing to what is practical for us mere muggles.

[49410enrique]

what about a 'romantic take' on a work we typically associate with the baroque?
the mendelssohn prelude and fugue in e minor op 35 no1 is a beautiful and very dramatic work and fits your preference for something minor, dramatic, and can use some 'rubato' effectively.

i know it's kinda long though with almost 10 min for both. if you're pressed for space and want to try something off the beaten path,
same key, but way shorter since he only did the fugue (part of a composing assignment from Arensky in 1891), Scriabin fugue in e minor
not the most successful but some would argue is more effective than the similar strange animal (the chopin fugue for solo piano).

in case you're curious
Chopin Fugue in A minor, Op.posth.P3 No.2

i think both are nice. not their best work. but not so bad as to dismiss them. makes for interesting background into how they handle this type of writing.

[redbaron]

Brahms - Ballade Op 10, No 1
Brahms - Intermezzo Op 117, No 3
Chopin - Prelude in C minor
Chopin - Funeral March
Rachmaninov - Prelude in C sharp minor, Op 3, No 2
Ravel - Le Gibet
Ravel - la Vallee des Cloches
Scriabin Etude Op 2, No 1
Sibelius - The Bells of Kallio Church
Stravinsky - Danse Infernale from The Firebird