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Topic: Repertoire recommendations?  (Read 2685 times)

Offline divided_loyalties

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Repertoire recommendations?
on: May 15, 2013, 04:57:02 PM
Today I played my Final (Grade 8 ) UNISA (the South African national syllabus) piano examination. Afterwards, I talked to my music teacher and she advised me not to take another exam before my Third Year at university, 4 years from now. So I've got ample time to do something that I've been wanting to do for quite some time....expand my repertoire.
I have to admit, the idea of picking from an enormous smorgasbord of eligible pieces is a somewhat daunting task, so I'd like some recommendations just to help me a bit along the way.

To provide a description of the standard I'm at now; these are the pieces I played for my exams.

Bach- Prelude and Fugue no. 17 in A-flat major from The Well-Tempered Clavichord: Book 1
Beethoven- Sonata no. 5 in C minor, Op. 10 no. 1 (complete)
Chopin- Waltz in A-flat major, Op. 34 no. 1

Also, the frame of pieces I have in mind to practice.

1. Another Bach (P&F, French Suite, Toccata etc.)
2. At least 2 more classical sonatas (I've started looking into Beethoven's 12th sonata, the one with the funeral march)
3. Intermediate Liszt
4. Intermediate Rachmaninoff
5. a Scarlatti sonata
6. A 20th Century piece by either Bartok, Prokofiev or Shostakovich.
7. Something 'nationalistic' from composers like Albeniz, Grieg, Scriabin, Granados and Falla.

If there are any recommendations that fit into the above or are closely related, please let me know!
Thanks a mil!
WORKING ON (Accompaniment)

Brahms- Violin Sonata 3 in d, Op. 108
Prokofiev- Flute Sonata in D, Op. 94
Debussy- Ariettes Oubliees, L.60
Debussy- Cello Sonata, L.135

Offline lukediv

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Re: Repertoire recommendations?
Reply #1 on: May 15, 2013, 09:44:47 PM
I think you've chosen a pretty wide list there. Its got something from everywhere which is good. It makes me happy that you're looking at Beethoven's Op.26 sonata, i too am working on this one and its a beautiful pieces, the final variation from the first movement is almost heavenly!

Apart from this, i would only add in some smaller works, maybe some Schubert, impromptus and musical moments?

And maybe some Haydn, have a look at his more popular sonatas for a good introduction to him or look at his variations in F minor, which is also on my to do list somewhere in the future.

Congrats on a successful exam :)

Offline abigailky

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Re: Repertoire recommendations?
Reply #2 on: May 16, 2013, 04:46:35 PM
I'm glad you included Liszt and Rachmaninoff in your list because they're my favourites!  ;) Hmm, for Liszt I think you should try a Liebestraum or a Consolation?

For Rachmaninoff, maybe:
Barcarolle Op10 No 3
Melodie in E Minor Op 10 No 4
Moment Musical in D flat Op 16 No 5
Prelude in C sharp minor Op 3 No 2 (I love this one and you could say it's a little overplayed but it's really great. It looks way harder than it actually is so don't fret when you're listening to it!)
My favourite... It's really, REALLY my favourite... Elegie Op. 3 No. 1 (It's just so beautiful it makes me cry)

Hope this helps with them two categories!
-Abi
To achieve great things, two things are needed; a plan, and not quite enough time. - Leonard Bernstein

Offline divided_loyalties

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Re: Repertoire recommendations?
Reply #3 on: May 17, 2013, 03:25:43 PM
Quote
I think you've chosen a pretty wide list there. Its got something from everywhere which is good. It makes me happy that you're looking at Beethoven's Op.26 sonata, i too am working on this one and its a beautiful pieces, the final variation from the first movement is almost heavenly!

It really is a great sonata; better than the one I played, in fact. The first movement is an absolute marvel of harmonic textures, which is actually one of the main reasons I'm learning it now.

Quote
And maybe some Haydn, have a look at his more popular sonatas for a good introduction to him or look at his variations in F minor, which is also on my to do list somewhere in the future.


Not a bad idea. My music-as-subject teacher suggested the variations not too long ago. They're absolutely lovely.

Quote
Hmm, for Liszt I think you should try a Liebestraum or a Consolation?

Now there's another idea. I'm also considering some pieces from the Anees.

Quote
Barcarolle Op10 No 3
Melodie in E Minor Op 10 No 4
Moment Musical in D flat Op 16 No 5
Prelude in C sharp minor Op 3 No 2 (I love this one and you could say it's a little overplayed but it's really great. It looks way harder than it actually is so don't fret when you're listening to it!)
My favourite... It's really, REALLY my favourite... Elegie Op. 3 No. 1 (It's just so beautiful it makes me cry)

Will look into these as well, thanks Abi!

 :) :) :)

Any good Chopin polonaises or nocturnes, though?
WORKING ON (Accompaniment)

Brahms- Violin Sonata 3 in d, Op. 108
Prokofiev- Flute Sonata in D, Op. 94
Debussy- Ariettes Oubliees, L.60
Debussy- Cello Sonata, L.135

Offline worov

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Re: Repertoire recommendations?
Reply #4 on: May 19, 2013, 08:53:36 AM
How about some Mendelssohn ? A song without word ?

Listen to this for instance :

Offline abigailky

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Re: Repertoire recommendations?
Reply #5 on: May 19, 2013, 11:10:52 AM
No problem. Let me know what you've chosen to study when you decide!  ;)
-Abi
To achieve great things, two things are needed; a plan, and not quite enough time. - Leonard Bernstein
For more information about this topic, click search below!

Piano Street Magazine:
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A previously unknown manuscript by Frédéric Chopin has been discovered at New York’s Morgan Library and Museum. The handwritten score is titled “Valse” and consists of 24 bars of music in the key of A minor and is considered a major discovery in the wold of classical piano music. Read more
 

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