Easier dark and moody pieces?

[the_fervid_pig]

I took up the piano a few months back, and so far I've learnt a few Satie pieces and Mendelssohn's Op.30 No 6 that I can play from memory, not perfectly, but it's coming! I'm currently working my way through Sabre Dance, Mendelssohn's Op. 19 No 6 and the Rach Prelude in C sharp minor, (I know), for now I'm just working through the Agitato section as I feel I may be able to get this, albeit slowly, and I'm really enjoying it. I've had a go at Katcheturian's Masquerade waltz, but I'm getting bogged down by the length of it, and also the way it's written is confusing me, so I think I'll come back to that one. Can anyone suggest some maybe easier, shorter pieces with a dark and moody feel, that I'll be able to add to my as yet rather diminutive repertoire? I'm thinking along the lines of Mendelssohn, Chopin, Rach, (I know, I'll be lucky) but I'm open to suggestion for the right piece. Thanks.

[redbaron]

The one that instantly springs to mind is The Old Castle from Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. So long as you can cope with a few big stretches and aren't put off by the key signature, it should be quite manageable. If you fancy something more contemporary then there are any number of Ludovico Einaudo pieces that will suffice. If you want something a little off the beaten path then perhaps Sibelius' rather mournful Impromptu Op 5, No 1?

[the_fervid_pig]

Thanks for that, I've made a note of them and will have a look and see if I have the score for them, I don't think I've any Einaudo but I suspect I may have some Mussorgsky and possibly some Sibelius somewhere.

After a little Googling I think the Mussorsky, beautiful though it is, is beyond me atm, but the Sibelius might be doable with a little work.

[dmauney]

Some dark and moody ideas:

Moonlight Sonata (1st Movement)
Chopin Prelude 4
Gymnopédie No. 1 by Erik Satie
Gnossienne No. 1 by Erik Satie
Jules MASSENET: Op. 10, No. 5, Mélodie (Élégie)
Into the Dark by Sebastian Larsson

[the_fervid_pig]

Thank you, the Moonlight is one I have the music for, but I was sort of putting it off until I was up to the rest of it, probably never happen though so I might give it a go. I have learnt the Gnossiennes 1-3 and can get through the Gymnopedie 1 but the big chords in the middle are something I need to practice, it's not so much the reach as the accuracy and landing on them right. I'm not familiar with the last couple but I'll Youtube them later. I've considered most Chopin beyond me but I'll have a look at the No 4 and see if it's a possibility!

[outin]

I've considered most Chopin beyond me but I'll have a look at the No 4 and see if it's a possibility!

It is probably one of the most easily accessed piece by Chopin, but I've never thought about it as dark and moody?

[the_fervid_pig]

Is that the Opus 28 No 4 in E minor? I did have a look at it a couple of months back but couldn't seem to get the LH chords to sound clear to me so put it to one side. I might revisit it as I was quite enjoying it and it's exactly the sort of piece I like.

I realise I maybe should have put this in the student's forum, and if anyone wants to move it I'll understand.

[outin]

Is that the Opus 28 No 4 in E minor? I did have a look at it a couple of months back but couldn't seem to get the LH chords to sound clear to me so put it to one side. I might revisit it as I was quite enjoying it and it's exactly the sort of piece I like.

That is a piece that seems to get better with time. I have studied it 3 times, first time I was pretty much just starting to play after 30 years without touching the piano. I still have a recording, horrible 

The second time was last spring, was better but couldn't get the touch right and still sounded bad on my piano.

Worked on it again just recently and this time I actually think I got it to be quite close to what I wanted and it is one of the pieces I like to play for pleasure between the hard stuff...

[the_fervid_pig]

I've just dug it out, and it does sound better than the last time I tried it but it still has a plodding feel. I'll keep on with it if you think there's hope! I found something similar with the Gnossienne No 1, I loved it until I started to learn it, and couldn't get it to sound like anything other than a technical exercise, but now it's in memory I'm really enjoying it again.

[dmauney]

This is the Chopin 4 I meant:

Prelude in E-Minor (op.28 no. 4)

I find it moderately dark and moody, and I understand Chopin had it played at his funeral...so...I guess it is somewhat dark or somewhat moody at the least.

I love it.  Hard to get the LH right for sure.  And I never got past the dreaded turn measure before moving on to other obessions (namely Moonlight 1st mvt and Truman Sleeps, which is also somewhat dark and moody I think)...I will come back again and again though until I can do it SOME justice.

I have a lot of links on this page for the Chopin Prelude and Moonlight:

https://dmauney.blogspot.com/search?q=piano

These are mainly just notes to myself.  But you might find something useful in the links.

Enjoy!

dave

[outin]

Prelude in E-Minor (op.28 no. 4)


I find it moderately dark and moody, and I understand Chopin had it played at his funeral...so...I guess it is somewhat dark or somewhat moody at the least.

Probably it is...I just tend to feel things differently that most people. Much of my favorite music I find not dark at all while my friends think it's more suitable as "funeral music". Pieces that other people find happy and uplifting I find only annoying. I think something in my head must be upside down

[the_fervid_pig]

Glad it's not just me who struggles with the left hand then! And last time I tried it I abandoned it at the turn too. But I'll persevere this time. Agree what you mean about "Happy music", I don't think I've learnt anything yet in a major key, apart from having a go at the Sabre Dance. Someone heard me practising Gnossienne No 1 and remarked how mournful it sounded, whereas to me it's always been a very beautiful piece, more moving than mournful, and one of the reasons I took up the piano.

[stefaanbelgium]

I'm amazed at the progress you've made in a couple of months! I started out end of oktober and although I thought I progressed quite fast, you seem to be in another league . I tried that Gondola song from Mendelssohn, but it's still too difficult for me. I can't manage the pedalling without sounding abrupt or muddy ... Will pick it up later again because it's such a beatifull song.
One piece you might like is Scarlatti K32 L423 . It's short but moody in my opinion. Check that one out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqtjPnu4Ngk

[unholeee]

prokofiev regrets
burgmuller lorage

[the_fervid_pig]

Thanks for the Scarlatti suggestion, it's a lovely piece, just the sort of thing I was looking for, I'll see if I've got the music for it later. I spend hours on the piano atm, I've given up TV    Struggling with the Mendelssohn 19/6, can't seem to get both hands going, the 30/6 seemed to sink in better, pardon the pun, but I'll keep on with it though because its beautiful. Still on with the Chopin 28/4 but can't get the turn smoothly so last night started working through Satie's Je Te Veux, the length of it puts me off a little but I love Satie.

YouTubed the Burgmuller, I like that! Does seem very fast though and perhaps a little difficult to bring the melody out, but if I can find the music I'll give it a go. Thanks for the suggestions.

I found the music for the Scarlatti, it's in More Classics to Moderns 3 by Dennis Agay. I'm going to have a go at it this afternoon, this was the sort of piece I was looking for, something I could learn that wasn't going to bog me down too much, thank you!

[chopianologue]

Chopin's prelude no.4 is a masterpiece, can bring tears...

You should try Scubert - Gute Nacht(from Winterreise) It's a really dark and melancholic piece...

[pianoplunker]

I took up the piano a few months back, and so far I've learnt a few Satie pieces and Mendelssohn's Op.30 No 6 that I can play from memory, not perfectly, but it's coming! I'm currently working my way through Sabre Dance, Mendelssohn's Op. 19 No 6 and the Rach Prelude in C sharp minor, (I know), for now I'm just working through the Agitato section as I feel I may be able to get this, albeit slowly, and I'm really enjoying it. I've had a go at Katcheturian's Masquerade waltz, but I'm getting bogged down by the length of it, and also the way it's written is confusing me, so I think I'll come back to that one. Can anyone suggest some maybe easier, shorter pieces with a dark and moody feel, that I'll be able to add to my as yet rather diminutive repertoire? I'm thinking along the lines of Mendelssohn, Chopin, Rach, (I know, I'll be lucky) but I'm open to suggestion for the right piece. Thanks.

Chopin - Prelude C minor opus 28 no.20
Bach - Invention No. 13
Massanet - Elegie op 10
Mendelssohn - Opus 19 no 5 ( Restlessness )
Mozart - Fantasy in D minor K397 - might be a little long but talk about dark and moody

[the_fervid_pig]

Thanks for the replies, that's quite a list! I'm still on with the Chopin, I can get most of it but there's a couple of bars with a few big chord changes I'm struggling with, but I'll keep on with it. Particularly taken with the Schubert, the Massenet, the Chopin and the Mendelssohn. The Mozart I like but as mentioned it may be a little long for me to get through at the moment. I seem to have the score for most of them except for the Schubert and the Bach. I've recently also discovered a Poulenc piece, Nocturne Bal Fantome which I'm quite liking, not dark as such but has a nice Parisian back street late night solitary feel about it which I find quite appealing.

[okanaganmusician]

This might not be quite as easy a piece you were hoping for, but what about Rachmaninoff's famous C-sharp prelude?

Technically it's not that difficult a song to play, just a lot of chords and parallel motions between the hands.

You also have the advantage of it's slow tempo.

[the_fervid_pig]

Hi, yes I've been working my way through the Rach, I love it, so far I'm mainly concentrating on the Agitato section but I have learnt the first few opening bars too. It's wonderful but I think it's going to be a long time until I get it down!

[the_fervid_pig]

I've found an arrangement of Schubert's Goodnight by Ernest Haywood, it's in D minor, does that sound right? I've been trying to find out a little about it, but I don't really want to start learning it only to find out there's a better arrangement, or that the original was in another key, etc.

[brendan765]

Ravel - Pavane for dead princess


Chopin- Funeral March


Liszt- Liebestraume (love dream)

[ptc22030]

This is my first post here ... and I've been enjoying reading the thread so far.  The idea of "dark and moody' pieces is always appealing to me somehow for piano repetoire, and though I'm usually working on Chopin Preludes, I stumbled upon the music for "Nature Boy" by edem ahbez, which is an E Minor piece that makes a nice break and definitely allows you to play with your dark and moody side!

[the_fervid_pig]

Found another arrangement of the Schubert by Liszt, thought it might be worth a look

Regarding the Liebestraume, I do have a copy of it, but I've considered Liszt to be beyond me at the moment, but maybe there's parts of it I can have a go at. I'll bear the Ravel in mind though, might be one I can manage but I'd need to see the score first.

Nature Boy's a wonderful tune, I play sax in a jazz band and we do that one, the trumpet takes the solo. If I ever come across the music I'll certainly try it.

[kakeithewolf]

I'm not sure if I'm the only one who thinks so, but I find Ravel's Le Gibet to be quite a moody piece. It's much slower in pace than Scarbo and Ondine, and resonates (for me, at least) with a fairly chilling tone.

[brendan765]

I'm not sure if I'm the only one who thinks so, but I find Ravel's Le Gibet to be quite a moody piece. It's much slower in pace than Scarbo and Ondine, and resonates (for me, at least) with a fairly chilling tone.

Scarbo and Ondine are probaly Ravels hardest pieces. Scarbo could be regarded as some of the hardest music outthere.

[kakeithewolf]

Scarbo and Ondine are probaly Ravels hardest pieces. Scarbo could be regarded as some of the hardest music outthere.

Yes, but I was mainly focusing on Le Gibet in that post.

[ajspiano]

I'm currently working my way through the Rach Prelude in C sharp minor

....

This might not be quite as easy a piece you were hoping for, but what about Rachmaninoff's famous C-sharp prelude?

 

..........

Tchaikovsky, Op. 39 No. 16 - Old french melody.

[j_menz]

Some of Greig's Peir Gynt suite?  Ase's Death and Solveig's Song should be managable, and Hall of the Mountain King might be a nice challenge.

[worov]

Grieg : Arietta from the Lyric Pieces, opus 12 no 1 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TbQftYOKms

Grieg : Watchman's song, opus 12 no 3 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2A9FQjUsc4

Granados : Dedicatoria from Cuentos de la Juventud, opus 1 no 1 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6piKaiCYoM

Scarlatti Sonata K213 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtYxpE4Ig04

Schumann : Bunte Blätter, opus 99 no 1 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk7XYYQORz0

Schumann : Bunte blätter, opus 99 no 2 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9Qga4CrXOI

Schumann : Bunte blätter, opus 99 no 6 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYHSEPcRK2Y

Schumann : Schlummerlied, from Albumblätter, opus 124 no 16 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxS-3dp0BNY

Schumann : Lied ohne End, opus 124 no 8 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cxbCZ8NS4E


There are a million more.

[the_fervid_pig]

Thank you, I'm liking the Watchman's song and the Scarlatti, will add them to the list! The Granados, although very beautiful doesn't seem all that dark to me, it's a piece I'd like to learn at some point though, so thanks for suggesting it. Schumann's 99/2 is more the sort of thing, but sounds a little presto for me atm!

Have also been revisiting the Khachaturian.

[drexo]

Maybe a bit 'out of the box', but Liszt's Nuages Gris maybe?

or Scriabin Prelude Op.74 No.2

[jollisg]

I would say that scriabin sonata no 1 mvt 4 (funebre) is pretty easy. I could play it well and had memorized it after playing it through 3 times. I'm on a higher level than you, but i don't see that it should be super hard for you to learn it. Good luck with the piece you choose

[the_fervid_pig]

Thank you for the Scriabin, I've been working my way through Prelude Op. 11/10 but if I can find the music I'll have a go at the above suggestions.

[dmauney]

How are you doing with the Chopin Prelude 4?  I finally got around the dreaded turn, so if I can do it then literally anyone almost can.  I love when the "wall" in a piece becomes my absolute favorite part.  I didn't especially enjoy listening to the turn/ff part in the past and looked at it as a technical challenge and an obstacle to officially "completing" the piece (not that I will ever "complete" it with the justice it deserves, of course!).  However, now I find it a joy to play and to listen to and it has given me a much better understanding and appreciation for the piece.  This has happened for me on so many pieces that I now consider it a standard part of my learning  process and a milestone to look forward to and celebrate when it finally happens!

Also, how is Je Te Veux?  I looked at that one a bit but have not tackled it yet...

[the_fervid_pig]

I've been working on the turn, hands separately no problem, it's just putting them together, the turn with the chord changes underneath that's painful! I won't give up though, I'm starting to feel the rest of the piece now rather than just working through it. Can't get it to memory yet though, which is when I feel the most progress is made and I can concentrate on the music and not just the score.

Still on with Je te Veux but concentrating more on the Rach, Mendelssohn and Chopin of late. The octaves are very enjoyable though, and there doesn't seem to be too many technical difficulties in it, it's just the length of it, though there does seem to be some repetition.

I know what you mean about the wall, I think it's overcoming the part you found most challenging that makes it all the more enjoyable to play when it finally does click!