Thoughts on my recital program

[jlh]

Hey all.  I'm working on putting together my senior recital for my B.M. in piano performance and was wondering what you thought of this program. 




Bach Prelude and Fugue IX in E Major (WTC Book I)

Beethoven Sonata Op. 10, No. 3

--- intermission ---


Rachmaninoff Prelude Op. 32, No. 6 in F minor
                      Prelude Op. 32, No. 12 in G# minor
                      Etude-Tableaux Op. 33, No. 6 in E-flat Major

Chopin 2nd Ballade

Prokofieff Toccata

[donjuan]

nice!
That's a great idea - ending with the Prokofiev toccata.  I hope you wont be too tired!!

If those are the pieces you plan to play and nothing else, the only other logical arrangment of the program would be to switch the times you play Rachmaninoff and Chopin.  This way, you are going through time - playing the composers in the order of their existence.  It's kind of interesting this way- seeing the composer's life spans on the program. 

But the arrangement you have is really, very good. (although, it would benefit from some Liszt or Balakirev!!!!!!!)
donjuan

[jlh]

Yeah, chronological order might be a great idea. 

I've thought about learning Balakirev's Islamey, but haven't gotten around to it yet -- but it sure would be a fun piece to have in my repertoire! 

I could perhaps add some Liszt -- I agree, that would be very beneficial. Then maybe a Scarlatti sonata or something for an encore.  Thanks!

[Troldhaugen]

Your program looks good....although it could be physically taxing...hopefully you'll endure.. Yeah....you should definitely learn Islamey! I'm working on it myself now....and it's been so much fun playing it (it's a dance music after all). It's not as hard as it's claimed to be....just lots of double notes and octaves. I personally like Russian folk music, and I just fell in love with it the moment I first heard it. It'll add some spice to your repertoire for sure.

[donjuan]

Maybe you could learn a fun Liszt piece instead like Grand Galop Chromatique or Gnomenreigen.  With the Chopin Ballade and Beethoven sonata, you probably dont need any long Liszt pieces.  if you didnt have the sonata, I would suggest the solo piano version of Les Preludes, or one of the longer opera trancriptions.
donjuan

[johnjwong]

yay! Add a liszt!!! good luck on your recital program!

[johnjwong]

for encore scarlatti sonata, try 427 !!!!

[stefano]

You know thats a good program, but you should take a look at liszt's second ballade, its fantastic and not that popular.  Prokofiev is a good ending piece.  The Rach etude isnt the best. You would benefit much more with Op.39 no 5,1,or 9.  Although, i must warn you they are horribly difficuly.  Ive played op.33 no.3,9, op.39 no.5 and 6. Opus 39 number 6 is the most difficult of all the etudes tableaux.  As an encore you should consider a small scriabin prelude or something along those lines.  Scriabin compliments Rachmaninov like peanut butter and jelly.  Good luck and practice hard.

Sincerely
-Stefano

[jlh]

Well, I just performed my senior recital on April 7th, and it was a success!  There were a few hairy moments, but overall I was happy with my performance.  When I get the recording back, I'll post some clips!  Here's the final program order I decided on:

Bach:
Prelude and Fugue in E major, BWV 854

Beethoven:
Sonata in D Major, Op. 10, No. 3

Prokofiev:
Toccata, Op. 11

--- Intermission ---

Liszt:
Trois Études de Concert, S144         
          III: Un Sospiro

Chopin:
Ballade in F Major, Op. 38       

Rachmaninoff:
Etude-Tableaux Op. 33, No. 6 in E flat Major
Prelude Op. 32, No. 12 in G sharp minor
Etude-Tableaux Op. 39, No. 9 in D Major

[lostinidlewonder]

That would have been a nice program to listen to. Well done on your success !

[Glissando]

I was lucky enough to get to go to jlh's recital- he was fantastic. Still in awe over his toccata, and his Liszt was soo gorgeous.
It was a very enjoyable hour.
thumbs up! 

[jlh]

Well, I finally got the recording back from this recital!  So here's the recordings.  Let me know what you think.  There was a bit of a nervous memory slip on the Rach Prelude near the end (first time that happened with that piece), but overall nothing catestrophic happened.

Bach:
Prelude and Fugue in E major, BWV 854
https://www.arcticvisionentertainment.com/josh/seniorrecital/bach.mp3

Beethoven:
Sonata in D Major, Op. 10, No. 3
https://www.arcticvisionentertainment.com/josh/seniorrecital/beethoven.mp3

Prokofiev:
Toccata, Op. 11
https://www.arcticvisionentertainment.com/josh/seniorrecital/prokofiev.mp3

Liszt:
Trois Études de Concert, S144 "Un Sospiro"
https://www.arcticvisionentertainment.com/josh/seniorrecital/liszt.mp3

Chopin:
Ballade in F Major, Op. 38 
https://www.arcticvisionentertainment.com/josh/seniorrecital/chopin.mp3
     

Rachmaninoff:
Etude-Tableaux Op. 33, No. 6 in E flat Major
https://www.arcticvisionentertainment.com/josh/seniorrecital/rachetudeeb.mp3

Prelude Op. 32, No. 12 in G sharp minor
https://www.arcticvisionentertainment.com/josh/seniorrecital/rachprelude.mp3

Etude-Tableaux Op. 39, No. 9 in D Major
https://www.arcticvisionentertainment.com/josh/seniorrecital/rachetuded.mp3

[pianomann1984]

This is very fine playing!    Congratulations!  Where are you studying?

[possom46]

Fantastic!!! Love the Chopin Ballade, one of my favourites 

[musicsdarkangel]

You have a wonderful feel for Beethoven, you would be great at Mozart i'd imagine.

[donjuan]

Wow, that must have been an exhausting night for you!  I didn't like your un sospiro for some reason.. I think it seemed too loud in the sweeping arpeggios.  I have played that one-I know it's hard.. but your cadenzas were very well controlled, and in performance, those can really botch up easily under shaky hands. --good for you!  Pretty much everything else - bravo!! My hat is off and I am green with envy!  I especially enjoyed how you ended the rach prelude with the ritardando and diminuendo, just like Horowitz did when he played.
donjuan

[jlh]

This is very fine playing!    Congratulations!  Where are you studying?

Thank you!  I'm currently finishing my undergrad this semester at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS.  Next year I'm going to grad school at Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ.

[jlh]

You have a wonderful feel for Beethoven, you would be great at Mozart i'd imagine.

Have you seen this yet...
https://www.pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,6979.msg69330.html#msg69330

Thanks for the compliment!

[Hmoll]

Thanks for posting this. Only had a chance to listen to the Beethoven.  Very nice performance. Do you know BK, new DMA student and your school?

[pianonut]

wow!  that is good playing.  i am working on the beethoven for my graduate recital.  i didn't realize that it was so hard, at first, but it is really all over the place.  usually one thinks of the last two or three sonatas of beethoven as being difficult, but this one is really wild.  i asked my teacher two or three times if it was too easy for a grad recital.  he said 'oh, no, not at all.'  so, being that he's the teacher, i think i agree now!

beethoven's depression about his deafness being uncurable is really heard in that second mov't.  so sad and very dramatic.  a very big contrast to the first mvt.

[jlh]

Thanks for posting this. Only had a chance to listen to the Beethoven.  Very nice performance. Do you know BK, new DMA student and your school?

BK?  Doesn't ring a bell.  Are those initials?