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Topic: Which pieces should I play at the recital?  (Read 1757 times)

Offline chopin2015

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Which pieces should I play at the recital?
on: June 25, 2013, 02:52:19 AM
So, I have a recital in about a month. I am memorizing a few pieces for it, but I already memorized most and have no problem reading through other pieces when I do not have enough time to work on smoothing out the piece, from memory to performance. The piece with the star next to it means I had to learn it recently.
Anyways. I am playing at a classical theatre, and I would like your opinion and/or suggestions regarding the pieces I am choosing.

This is what I am currently thinking, the parenthesized piece is a maybe/I know them but do not know if I should play it.

Program:

*Moonlight sonata complete
Chopin etudes 10 3, 25.5, 25.11
(Chopin Ballade 2 and/ or Liszt mephisto valse 1...too much fast stuff?)
*3 Gershwin preludes
Debussy La plus Que lente
**Should I add another Debussy piece?

My encore will be Ravel valse nobles no 1

Any suggestions? It has to be about 40 minutes to an hour. Should I do the Debussy as an encore and just throw in Ravel valse nobles no 1, 2 and 3?....that would be too bad***...

Thanks, y'all!
"Beethoven wrote in three flats a lot. That's because he moved twice."

Offline j_menz

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Re: Which pieces should I play at the recital?
Reply #1 on: June 25, 2013, 04:02:45 AM
You should definitely do the Ballade or the Mephisto. Probably not both as you really won't have time.

Consider the order and do a trial run to see your time - my guess is your running a bit over the hour. Allow 2 minutes between pieces too, more time gets taken up there than you might think.

If you do the Debussy, do the Ravel as well and save the Gershwin for your encore - it makes a nice contrast there.
"What the world needs is more geniuses with humility. There are so few of us left" -- Oscar Levant

Offline chopin2015

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Re: Which pieces should I play at the recital?
Reply #2 on: June 25, 2013, 04:42:13 AM
You should definitely do the Ballade or the Mephisto. Probably not both as you really won't have time.

Consider the order and do a trial run to see your time - my guess is your running a bit over the hour. Allow 2 minutes between pieces too, more time gets taken up there than you might think.

If you do the Debussy, do the Ravel as well and save the Gershwin for your encore - it makes a nice contrast there.

I like your idea.

I will add the Ballade no 2. So, when you say play the Debussy and Ravel, should I play the first 3 valses?

The Gershwin as an encore, would I play a prelude or the 3 preludes? They are very short but sooo much fun to learn. I have not preformed them yet, but I am probably going to avoid blasting the tempo.
I don't know why, but the 1st and last mov of the Beethoven are easier than memorizing the pretty chords in the middle mov. Reading chords is actually more difficult, I think. It's kinda like there are  many voices, too.

But, ah. I see what you mean about the contrast. Gershwin is most modern, rather than Debussy and Ravel.

I just don't know what to do there. I've known the Debussy for such a long time now. The Ravel is sometimes stressful, cause of the big scary chords that I will probably omit notes in, but I will keep the lowest and highest notes, for sure.

Idk. I could also just ditch the Ravel and learn more Debussy. I want to do the complete Ravel valse song for my Junior or Senior Recital, anyhow. Whichever one comes first :P

 Then I'd need an encore piece. Could you or anyone suggest a piece that would contrast with Beethoven, Chopin, Gershwin, Debussy?



"Beethoven wrote in three flats a lot. That's because he moved twice."

Offline asiantraveller101

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Re: Which pieces should I play at the recital?
Reply #3 on: June 25, 2013, 03:04:43 PM
Then I'd need an encore piece. Could you or anyone suggest a piece that would contrast with Beethoven, Chopin, Gershwin, Debussy?
Save one of the etudes as encore? Or add a short Chopin prelude?

Offline chopin2015

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Re: Which pieces should I play at the recital?
Reply #4 on: June 25, 2013, 03:20:45 PM
I like that idea as well. I could play the 2 op 25 etudes and ballade no 2. And play the 10.3 gentle, sweet etude as encore.
"Beethoven wrote in three flats a lot. That's because he moved twice."

Offline asiantraveller101

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Re: Which pieces should I play at the recital?
Reply #5 on: June 25, 2013, 04:59:18 PM
Yes, I like that too. Please don't break up the Gershwin preludes. They are precious all together.
Good luck!

Offline chopin2015

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Re: Which pieces should I play at the recital?
Reply #6 on: June 25, 2013, 06:38:52 PM
Hmm, agreed. Thanks!

So, I could do

Moonlight sonata Beethoven
Chopin op 25 nos 5 and 11; Ballade no 2
Gershwin 3 preludes
Debussy La plus Que Lente
* maybe Ravel Valse Nobles 1 and 2

Chopin op 10 no 3 as an encore

"Beethoven wrote in three flats a lot. That's because he moved twice."

Offline asiantraveller101

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Re: Which pieces should I play at the recital?
Reply #7 on: June 25, 2013, 10:13:51 PM
Personally I won't end with Debussy..too slow, anti-climatic. I will end with Chopin Ballade or Winterwind, or the Preludes.
Another comment: I do not like to break up set pieces...therefore I would wait to do the entire Valse Nobles when they are ready.  :D   
However, it is your recital, you do what is most comfortable for you. Cheers.

Offline chopin2015

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Re: Which pieces should I play at the recital?
Reply #8 on: June 26, 2013, 03:39:15 AM
Personally I won't end with Debussy..too slow, anti-climatic. I will end with Chopin Ballade or Winterwind, or the Preludes.
Another comment: I do not like to break up set pieces...therefore I would wait to do the entire Valse Nobles when they are ready.  :D   
However, it is your recital, you do what is most comfortable for you. Cheers.

Ok, I could save the valse nobles for later.
What would the order be like, if you were to play these pieces? What other pieces would you play?
"Beethoven wrote in three flats a lot. That's because he moved twice."

Offline asiantraveller101

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Re: Which pieces should I play at the recital?
Reply #9 on: June 26, 2013, 04:05:26 AM
With what you have, if I were to play them, without intermission, it would be:
Preludes
La plus
Moonlight
Etude Op. 25 no. 5, 11
Ballade no. 2
Encore: Op. 10 no.3

It is just my odd sense of arrangement. You should play the order you like and can tackle. I won't add any piece, esp. new one(s), at such a late stage in the preparation (it's in a month!). I will make sure what I have is completely secure, all technically fluent, and well-thought through as to my interpretation and intention.
Best!
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