LTCL Programme: Is my programme okay?

[vsrinivasa]

Hello Piano Street users,
I'm planning to take LTCL exam sometime next summer. I would like some advice on my suggested programme. Here it is:

Scarlatti: Sonatas K. 426 and 427 (about 6 minutes)
Mozart: Sonata K. 310 (about 20 minutes)
Ravel: Une Barque Sur L'Ocean (about 8 minutes)
Takemitsu: Rain Tree Sketch II (about 6 minutes)

This sums to about 40 minutes, which is within the time range suggested. I just want some advice to see if I want to change anything on the list, because I'm missing a Romantic composer.

[symphonicdance]

I am neither a teacher nor a professional, but please allow me to give my humble opinions.

If your K310 is c.20 minutes, that means you are going to play repeats.  I wouldn't suggest so.  If you cut all the repeats, then you will have spare time for you to put up a romantic piece of 6-7 minutes.

BTW, you don't need to play in the order of periods.  Some people suggest a candidate should play the one he/she is most confident first, while the last piece should have a grand ending.  I passed my LTCL exam last year (100% by self-learning), and my order was Mozart -> Prokofiev -> Bach -> Ravel (4 pieces only, each last about 10 minutes).

Good luck.

[imme_dec31]

Hi,

I played the Mozart a minor and it was around 14-15 mins without repeat.

[vsrinivasa]

Thanks for your suggestions. OK, now I have:

Scarlatti: Sonatas K. 426 and 427 (about 6 minutes)
Takemitsu: Rain Tree Sketch II (about 6 minutes)
Mozart: Sonata K. 310 (about 15 minutes)
Schumann: Novelette No. 2 (about 7 minutes)
Ravel: Une Barque Sur L'Ocean (still about 8 minutes)

That is about 42 minutes, which is a bit long.

[vsrinivasa]

Thanks for your suggestions. OK, now I have:

Scarlatti: Sonatas K. 426 and 427 (about 6 minutes)
Takemitsu: Rain Tree Sketch II (about 6 minutes)
Mozart: Sonata K. 310 (about 15 minutes)
Schumann: Novelette No. 2 (about 7 minutes)
Ravel: Une Barque Sur L'Ocean (still about 8 minutes)

That is about 42 minutes, which is a bit long.

I plan on doing these in this order: Mozart, Ravel, Scarlatti, Takemitsu, Schumann. I think that's probably best.

[symphonicdance]

Schumann's Novelette No 2 is not a bad choice.

Forgot to ask whether there're repeats in your Scarlatti sonatas.  If so, I would suggest you to skip these repeats, too.  Then, you won't get too close to the max. time limit of 42 minutes.

[vsrinivasa]

Schumann's Novelette No 2 is not a bad choice.

Forgot to ask whether there're repeats in your Scarlatti sonatas.  If so, I would suggest you to skip these repeats, too.  Then, you won't get too close to the max. time limit of 42 minutes.

I really like Novelette No. 2. I think it's my favourite Romantic piece, and my favourite exam piece after Une Barque Sur L'Ocean.

I don't repeat in K. 426 (if I did, it would take about 6 minutes), but I do in K. 427 (even with the repeats, it only takes me about 3 minutes). If I cut the repeats in K. 427, I could do my program in about 40.5 minutes, plus breaks of about 1 minute.

[vsrinivasa]

I really like Novelette No. 2. I think it's my favourite Romantic piece, and my favourite exam piece after Une Barque Sur L'Ocean.

I don't repeat in K. 426 (if I did, it would take about 6 minutes), but I do in K. 427 (even with the repeats, it only takes me about 3 minutes). If I cut the repeats in K. 427, I could do my program in about 40.5 minutes, plus breaks of about 1 minute.

Latest update: I can now consistently play the Mozart in 13 minutes (by slightly speeding up the Presto, which I was playing a bit slowly), shaving my time down to about 38.5 minutes. I went through my suggested programme in an auditorium with my friend (he has vast knowledge of music and passed his LTCL two years ago) acting as audience. Including breaks between pieces, the recital took about 40 minutes.

[symphonicdance]

Sounds brilliant.  Good luck!

I supposed you are very confident in playing Mozart.  It's not easy to get high marks from Mozart, as some one needs to play Mozart in a very Mozart manner.  May be candidates of this part of Asia only.  If I should re-select my LT exam pieces, I probably will drop Mozart and pick Haydn or Schubert.

[akpl16]

Sounds brilliant.  Good luck!

I supposed you are very confident in playing Mozart.  It's not easy to get high marks from Mozart, as some one needs to play Mozart in a very Mozart manner.  May be candidates of this part of Asia only.  If I should re-select my LT exam pieces, I probably will drop Mozart and pick Haydn or Schubert.

Have to agree, Mozart is generally harder to score high marks on, but don't let that discourage you from playing it if you truly love the piece! I'm also designing an LTCL programme right now, and if there's one thing I think is key in programme planning, it's probably to just keep a good flow between the pieces you're doing and to never let one element of your style (e.g. high passion, elegance, virtuosic flair) dominate over the course of the performance. Balance is key, and I think you've really got a good mix there!

[the89thkey]

Yes, Mozart would not be as good as Haydn for high marks. Whichever it is, I expect you to pass easily if you play those works well (well being the keyword ).