Play a concerto with one piano only?

[jimf]

Hi there! I was wondering, whether you could propose any ideas: I want to learn some piano concertos (easy, not rachmaninoffian ones  ). However I have only one piano available, so what could I do? I have thought about adding the orchestra part on my (i)phone and play together, but I don't know of an app to do it... What could I do? I am open to ideas!
Thanks,
Jim

[p2u_]

Hi there! I was wondering, whether you could propose any ideas: I want to learn some piano concertos (easy, not rachmaninoffian ones  ). However I have only one piano available, so what could I do? I have thought about adding the orchestra part on my (i)phone and play together, but I don't know of an app to do it... What could I do? I am open to ideas!

Alkan's transcription of Beethoven's 3d piano concerto is a winner in this respect. You can find it on YouTube, most probably if you search for Beethoven/Alkan.
Alkan also transcribed Mozart's famous d minor concerto (no. 20) for piano solo. I think that is also available on YouTube.
I also remember that the first season's finale of the 1980s series "Beauty and the Beast" ("A Happy Life") used a version of Grieg's concerto for piano solo. You could consider re-arranging it a bit.

Paul

[nocturnetr]

Music minus one will help you, but I don't know if you can play them. I like their Cds, but I only have the racmaninoffian ones, (I can play only ONE Rachmaninoff piece btw, I won't be playing Rach 3 in the next 15 years) so I don't know if you can play them.

[jimf]

Alkan's transcription of Beethoven's 3d piano concerto is a winner in this respect. You can find it on YouTube, most probably if you search for Beethoven/Alkan.
Alkan also transcribed Mozart's famous d minor concerto (no. 20) for piano solo. I think that is also available on YouTube.
I also remember that the first season's finale of the 1980s series "Beauty and the Beast" ("A Happy Life") used a version of Grieg's concerto for piano solo. You could consider re-arranging it a bit.

Paul

Thanks p2u_! Grainger has transcribed much of the Grieg's piano concerto for 1 piano.

[jimf]

Music minus one will help you, but I don't know if you can play them. I like their Cds, but I only have the racmaninoffian ones, (I can play only ONE Rachmaninoff piece btw, I won't be playing Rach 3 in the next 15 years) so I don't know if you can play them.

Thank you also nocturnetr! I have thought about that, but I'm not sure if I can afford them (I'm a pretty difficult case, am I not?  )

[mousekowski]

What about asking some string players to accompany you? There are some excellent arrangements on IMSLP for piano plus string quartet. I've tried Mozart's K459 with some string players and I had the most fun! It was a very good arrangement:
https://imslp.org/wiki/Piano_Concerto_No.19_in_F_major,_K.459_(Mozart,_Wolfgang_Amadeus)

[thalbergmad]

Many concertos were scored for solo piano with orchestral cues and can be played effectively in this fashion.

I do it often myself. No need for an orchestra.

Thal

[jimf]

What about asking some string players to accompany you? There are some excellent arrangements on IMSLP for piano plus string quartet. I've tried Mozart's K459 with some string players and I had the most fun! It was a very good arrangement:
https://imslp.org/wiki/Piano_Concerto_No.19_in_F_major,_K.459_(Mozart,_Wolfgang_Amadeus)

Lovely idea, thanks mousekowski!  

[jimf]

Many concertos were scored for solo piano with orchestral cues and can be played effectively in this fashion.

I do it often myself. No need for an orchestra.

Thal

Thanks thalbergmad, I have been doing it for all the concertos you have sent me!