I need a little Mozart

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Thoughts on something a little light and melodic but not level 3 and not level 10 either. I'm doing Fantasia K397, at the key change it gets interesting and light, lively. I'd like a whole Mozart piece kind of in this vein but unmistakably Mozart. If it has heavy parts it's ok, just overall a bit lighter. I have an admirer of mine/ my piano and of Mozart ( daughter in law who likes all kinds of music including pop to Mozart, never heard me play till a couple weeks ago and that was Sound of Silence). Interesting, I never played a lot of Mozart in the past, I escaped that with my teacher somehow !

I'm putting together a little Christmas recital for Christmas Eve. A few classical pieces and some refreshing twists on carols, maybe a couple pop pieces as well.. We always have about 25 people at the house on Christmas Eve but some others too have never heard me play, since I was away from piano for several years. My adult kids and wife are delighted that I'm back at my piano again ( so am I, liberating).
David

[drkilroy]

What about some variations? I currently learn 8 Variations on "Dieu d'amour" (by Gretry), KV 352. Here is the score, if you would like to play it.

Other variations could be approachable, too, you should choose the set that you like the most of course.

Best regards, Dr

[49410enrique]

some of the most timless and loved Mozart works weren't even origianlly for our instrument, still the pieces are so lovely and lend themselves well to the piano. this is one of those, i got to page turn for the pianist in a chamber concert last winter and this piece is full of such lovely moments, many of those 'playful, sweet, tender' Mozart moments I think you might be after.  Even people not super familar with Mozart have either heard this or would probably recognize the work as possibly his.

Here very well transcribed by Paul Wagner. Pehaps a selection since as a whole it's a pretty major work?


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[austinarg]

Just out of curiosity, could you tell me your planned music list so far? I've always wondered what I should play for Christmas besides the Nutcracker...

[hfmadopter]

Thanks guys, I have not even finished looking up all the variations. I hit on the 7 variations K25 and like number 5 as a possibility. I will continue my search based loosely from you guys suggestions though.

I think I am going to include David Nevue's Gathering Fields or Winter Walk in my little program:   

 


I have the Shumann/Liszt Transcription of Ave Maria I may include if I have time to get that together. If not I'll play that for Easter ( it may take me that long). I have three Nevue Carols and two Dan Coates arrangements of carols, so I'm all set with carols.
David

[49410enrique]

...? I've always wondered what I should play for Christmas besides the Nutcracker...

if you're looking for some ideas from 'art music'  or the piano repertoire vs. tranditional carols/tune arrangements these can be quite nice:

Romanian Christmas Carols (Three Kings Follow The Star, Sz. 57, Series I, No. 10; Let Us Go To Bethlehem, Sz. 57, Series Ii, No. 10) Composed by Bela Bartok
 Rustic Serenade To The Virgin Mary Composed by Hector Berlioz
A Rose Is Gently Blooming, Op. 122, No. 8 Composed by Johannes Brahms
Noel Composed by Louis-claude Daquin
Swiss Noel Composed by Louis-claude Daquin
Christmas Carol From Anjou Composed by Cesar Auguste Franck
Now Tell Us, Gentle Mary Composed by Cesar Auguste Franck
Old Christmas Carol Composed by Cesar Auguste Franck
Whence Comes This Rush Of Wings? Composed by Cesar Auguste Franck
Let Our Gladness Know No End Composed by Robert Fuhrer
Christmas Chimes, Op. 36, No. 1 Composed by Niels W. Gade
The Christmas Tree, Op. 36, No. 2 Composed by Niels W. Gade
Les Pifferari (The Italian Pipers) Composed by Charles Francois Gounod
The Sussex Mummers' Christmas Carol Composed by Percy Aldridge Grainger
Pifa Composed by George Frideric Handel
Christmas Song (Christ Is Born), S. 502 Composed by Franz Liszt
The Shepherd At The Manger: In Dulci Jubilo, S. 186:3 Composed by Franz Liszt
Happiness At Christmas, Op. 72, No. 1 Composed by Felix Bartholdy Mendelssohn
A Christmas Gift, Op. 7 Composed by John Knowles Paine
Around The Christmas Tree, Op. 216, No. 6 Composed by Joseph Joachim Raff
Children Playing Around The Christmas Tree Composed by Vladimir Rebikov
A Music Box Gift Composed by Vladimir Rebikov  
Christmas Sonatina, Op. 251, No. 3 Composed by Carl Reinecke
Sonata Pastorale, K. 513 Composed by Domenico Scarlatti
Knecht Ruprecht, Op. 68, No. 12 Composed by Robert Schumann


here's one nice example of a fine treatment to a traditional carol if you were thinking something more familiar might be what you're after. super pretty writting. have always loved Reger's textures

[hfmadopter]

if you're looking for some ideas from 'art music'  or the piano repertoire vs. tranditional carols/tune arrangements these can be quite nice:

Romanian Christmas Carols (Three Kings Follow The Star, Sz. 57, Series I, No. 10; Let Us Go To Bethlehem, Sz. 57, Series Ii, No. 10) Composed by Bela Bartok
 Rustic Serenade To The Virgin Mary Composed by Hector Berlioz
A Rose Is Gently Blooming, Op. 122, No. 8 Composed by Johannes Brahms
Noel Composed by Louis-claude Daquin
Swiss Noel Composed by Louis-claude Daquin
Christmas Carol From Anjou Composed by Cesar Auguste Franck
Now Tell Us, Gentle Mary Composed by Cesar Auguste Franck
Old Christmas Carol Composed by Cesar Auguste Franck
Whence Comes This Rush Of Wings? Composed by Cesar Auguste Franck
Let Our Gladness Know No End Composed by Robert Fuhrer
Christmas Chimes, Op. 36, No. 1 Composed by Niels W. Gade
The Christmas Tree, Op. 36, No. 2 Composed by Niels W. Gade
Les Pifferari (The Italian Pipers) Composed by Charles Francois Gounod
The Sussex Mummers' Christmas Carol Composed by Percy Aldridge Grainger
Pifa Composed by George Frideric Handel
Christmas Song (Christ Is Born), S. 502 Composed by Franz Liszt
The Shepherd At The Manger: In Dulci Jubilo, S. 186:3 Composed by Franz Liszt
Happiness At Christmas, Op. 72, No. 1 Composed by Felix Bartholdy Mendelssohn
A Christmas Gift, Op. 7 Composed by John Knowles Paine
Around The Christmas Tree, Op. 216, No. 6 Composed by Joseph Joachim Raff
Children Playing Around The Christmas Tree Composed by Vladimir Rebikov
A Music Box Gift Composed by Vladimir Rebikov  
Christmas Sonatina, Op. 251, No. 3 Composed by Carl Reinecke
Sonata Pastorale, K. 513 Composed by Domenico Scarlatti
Knecht Ruprecht, Op. 68, No. 12 Composed by Robert Schumann

There is a book available that includes several of these classical pieces. I believe it was at Sheetmusicplus.com . My wife sings in a Chorale, they have performed a few of these over the years actually ( shes been with them since they started some 30 years ago now)..

 I'll take that under consideration.

Also I realized this morning that years ago I did Mozart Sonata K545. Maybe I'll brush that up, it has some pretty passages in it and shouldn't be a big deal to brush up on it. Not that it's Christmas related but this isn't all for Christmas anyway.
Thanks much,
David

[scherzo123]

Mozart Piano Sonata No.10 K330
Mozart Piano Sonata No.13 K333
Mozart Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Variations

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Mozart Piano Sonata No.10 K330
Mozart Piano Sonata No.13 K333
Mozart Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Variations

K333 is on my list to do anyway but thanks for reminding me ! I would do that for a later recital, maybe next year. This is a mini entertainment recital for the 25 guests we have on Christmas Eve, done recital style, since I've been away from the piano for years till this summer. Many of these people have never heard me play and others can't understand why I ever stopped playing. Should be interesting, I've spent the summer getting my hands back into the keys !

I am not doing Twinkle at this time. I may never do Twinkle actually, I just can't get passed my mothers version singing this when I was a child ( like myself she couldn't sing to save her life !). I know it works up into a fantastic piece but some things in live we just never get around to I guess.

As it stands now I'm down to this list ( someone asked what my list was):

Mozart: K545

Mozart: Variation #5 from the 7 variations

Schubert: Bryce Inman arrangement of Ave Maria ( I have the Liszt transcription version as well but will do that later). This is a well done arrangement though with a similar feel to it as Liszt's and six times easier to learn ..

Pachelbel: Canon in D ( I wasn't doing this, then I twisted my bass strings, now I am doing it with my freshened up bass).

Alan Menken:  Arrangement of theme to Beauty and the Beast ( this is my Grand Daughters surprise piece out of the list, also the easiest piece and also benefits from the freshened up bass strings).

David Nevue:

Winter Walk ( very nice, has some rhythm going on in there, very wistful, lonely or longing sound)

Away in a Manger ( arrangement, kind of new ageish if that's a word)

Oh come O Come Emanuel ( arrangement)

Silent Night ( arrangement, very open phrased, pretty)

Dan Coates arrangement: Oh Holy night ( and I'm adding more, you guessed it, Bass).

Handel: Hallelujah

That's the tentative list, if I get the book with the classical Christmas pieces in it I may pick or substitute from there but then again there is always next year..

I have to adjust the let off on my keys action, they are all over the place right now, then I can get into this a little better. I'm kind of waiting for the fall weather change to do that. And I need to re felt the pedals, they clunk a bit, just enough to be irritating..


Thanks for your attention,
David