Imaginary concert program

[pianoman53]

I was a bit bored the other day, so I tried to make a concert program for my Third year recital, in may... 1214.
The difficult part is that it's only 30 minutes, so it's really difficult to really make something out of it.

So far I've thought of following:

Bach/Busoni: Nun komm der Heiden Heiland
Chopin: Ballade no 4
...
I've though of putting some Chopin studies there too, and the a minor rondo by Mozart. Even Jeau D'eaux or L'isle joyeuse.. But it doesn't seem to work.
After some thinking, I was pretty sure I want something less melodic, à la last movement from the Chopin sonata in B flat minor, to make a nice contrast.

I'm a rather introvert pianist, and both of the pieces are rather introvert, in a way. So I don't want the next piece(s) to be too outgoing, since I feel that the contrast would be too big, and wouldn't show my strongest points. Also, pieces by, say, Rachmaninov have a tendency to not sound well with Chopin.

Any suggestions?

[p2u_]

Bach/Busoni: Nun komm der Heiden Heiland
Chopin: Ballade no 4
...
I'm a rather introvert pianist, and both of the pieces are rather introvert, in a way. So I don't want the next piece(s) to be too outgoing, since I feel that the contrast would be too big, and wouldn't show my strongest points. Also, pieces by, say, Rachmaninov have a tendency to not sound well with Chopin.

Any suggestions?

In your case, I would go for some Schumann and/or Brahms. Do you have anything by those composers in your repertoire already? Just asking, because if they're new to you, they take some time getting used to.

Paul

[pianoman53]

I have both Brahms and Schumann, and I was experimenting with both of them. The problem is that if I pick yet another introvert piece, it will be a bit too much. Another problem is that I can't find any Schumann, except the toccata, that will fit in those 10-ish minutes. I also want to finish rather soft - not with big bravura and loads of octaves and stuff... Just isn't my kind of personality...

[p2u_]

I have both Brahms and Schumann, and I was experimenting with both of them. The problem is that if I pick yet another introvert piece, it will be a bit too much. Another problem is that I can't find any Schumann, except the toccata, that will fit in those 10-ish minutes. I also want to finish rather soft - not with big bravura and loads of octaves and stuff... Just isn't my kind of personality...

With Brahms you have lots of choices, for example a selection of the Intermezzi op. 118, the op. 10 ballades, a selection of waltzes, etc.

Schumann: Arabesque, for example, + the Liszt transcription of his "Widmung" are always nice.

Paul

[redbaron]

How about the Sibelius Sonata Op 12?

[the89thkey]

Why not finish with something like Chopin's Variations Brillantes Op. 12? It is a quiet piece with room for a lot of emotion and interpretation, but also finishes satisfactorily for the end of a program.

[j_menz]

Can I suggest La Mort from Alkan's Op15.  It's quite introspective at the start (with a paraphrase of the Dies Irae), then moves on to go quite extrovertedly beserk before blushing, composing itself and finishing with a sombre variation on the original theme.

It sort of reflects an introvert having a moment of extroverted exhuberence before closing back in.

(I have no idea why the split it, it's like 12 minutes total)

[teosoleil]

I was a bit bored the other day, so I tried to make a concert program for my Third year recital, in may... 1214.
The difficult part is that it's only 30 minutes, so it's really difficult to really make something out of it.

So far I've thought of following:

Bach/Busoni: Nun komm der Heiden Heiland
Chopin: Ballade no 4
...
I've though of putting some Chopin studies there too, and the a minor rondo by Mozart. Even Jeau D'eaux or L'isle joyeuse.. But it doesn't seem to work.
After some thinking, I was pretty sure I want something less melodic, à la last movement from the Chopin sonata in B flat minor, to make a nice contrast.

I'm a rather introvert pianist, and both of the pieces are rather introvert, in a way. So I don't want the next piece(s) to be too outgoing, since I feel that the contrast would be too big, and wouldn't show my strongest points. Also, pieces by, say, Rachmaninov have a tendency to not sound well with Chopin.
Any suggestions?

IMO, I don't think your entire program should compose *only* of introverted pieces. I mean, everything needs contrast to make the good of each stand out, sort of like how the hero has a foil in novels, or how comedic relief is implemented into cinema.

If your strongest points only revolve around non-outgoing pieces, I would suggest you busy yourself working on playing at least some outgoing pieces well. I mean, if you're doing four years as an undergraduate (I assume), and if your recital is in a year (May 2014, I assume), that time should be spent on focusing on strengthening your weaknesses and perfecting your strengths. Heck, the whole of your conservatory years should be spent that way. You should show your strengths, but also work on your weaknesses, and with a large goal like a recital coming up in a year or so away, that should be one of your big projects; strengthening your weaknesses.

I'm sorry if I sound like I'm rambling. The point is, contrast is good. Big contrast is good sometimes and has often been implemented successfully (a surreal Nocturne before a firey Toccata, for "BANG!" effect, for example). I think you should work on your weaknesses and show some of the things you've improved in this recital of yours, if that makes sense.

~

Anyway, it seems like you're trying to fill your program with larger and concert-level pieces. That's not bad, in a sense, but to me it seems your focus on filling up the program with large-scale works seems to take out time to showcase other talents.

How about some small pieces? A Chopin Nocturne or two should do the trick. Heck, even Liszt's Transcription of Schubert's Ave Maria is a very nice, impressive, showpiece that's centered around an introspective and Romantic melody.

For some slight contrast, maybe you can go with something from a classical or Baroque composer. You could pick out some movements from Back Suites or Partitas if that's fine. The Sinfonia of Partita 2 in C Minor and the Toccata (misleading name) of Partita 6 in E Minor should work, maybe with the Sinfonia at the end.

In any case, I wish you luck on your recital program. It's never too bad to prepare early, as long as you don't stress and worry yourself out.

Good luck!

[pianoman53]

Thanks for all suggestions, and sorry for being not so good in replying.

Teosoleil: Sorry for not being so clear. I didn't mean to only have very introvert pieces, cause the audience would die a little bit. I just meant that pieces that are too extrovert wont fit, and that Rachmaninov in general sounds weird with Chopin.

And everything you say makes sense, because I have the same idea.

[catherinezng]

I hope this isn't too late.

Have you considered Scriabin Etude op.2 no.1?

Beethoven sonata op.101 (4th movement would be contrasting yet not too extroverted),
as well the one I am playing, op.109 (I'd highly recommend the 3rd movement)