Vocal solos with great piano parts?

[cubsfan334]

Hi,

My girlfriend is a soprano, but I'm not very familiar with vocal literature.  Does anyone know of any solos with great piano accompaniment parts (for example, Rachmaninoff Op. 14 No. 11)?

[j_menz]

The Schubert Lieder?

[maitea]

Hello!

One of my personal favourites is Ne poi krsasavitsa pri mne (also Rachmaninov, I think it is op4 n.4 ?). Not a fast piece like Spring Waters, but the piano part is just unbelievable.

I would suggest to look at Duparc, there are 17 songs of his, all of them wonderful, with very rich piano accompaniments. Most famous are Chanson Ttiste, L'invitation au voyage or La Vie anterieure.

Gosh there are so many other things.. ! Of course there is all the Schubert, Schumann, Brahms vast pool of options. But will give you another one (for sopranos) H. Wolff Ich hab in Penna, it's a very short charming song where the soprano says where she has all her different lovers and then hast the piano part doing a very showy rassle dazzle postlude which is fantastic!

My last suggestion of the day is de Falla, Siete canciones espanolas. They are fastastic to sing and play!

Have plenty more of recommendations if you want so!

M

[quantum]

I'd second the Duparc.

Debussy's C’est l’extase langoureuse

[g_s_223]

Many of Liszt's lieder exist in versions for piano solo, and in their original form have splendid piano parts. Also some Mahler songs have complex piano parts, albeit arguably quasi-orchestral rather than purely pianistic.

P.S. One presumes your singer appreciates big piano parts

[orangesodaking]

Most art songs by great composers have fantastic piano parts. My personal favorite art songs are Schumann's, even moreso than Schubert's.

Brahms has great songs, too. (I like German songs a lot)

[maitea]

I agree with you, orangesoadaking. But it's true too that there is wonderful art songs, from great composers,  that have more "um pah pah" type accompaniments, which I believe is what the OP was trying to "avoid". However it is also true, I think, (having spent quite a number of years as a vocal accompanist) that sometimes songs with a "bare" accompaniment present more problems! And there is quite a lot of skill involved in playing with the sound and touch of the accompaniment forms to support the singer's line. And a lot of beauty in it.

But the pianist in me, understands the OP asking for "big" piano parts! haha Btw, there are very interesting Berlioz songs too!

[albumblatter]

The Beatles: Let it Be.
Heh.

[orangesodaking]

I agree with you, orangesoadaking. But it's true too that there is wonderful art songs, from great composers,  that have more "um pah pah" type accompaniments, which I believe is what the OP was trying to "avoid". However it is also true, I think, (having spent quite a number of years as a vocal accompanist) that sometimes songs with a "bare" accompaniment present more problems! And there is quite a lot of skill involved in playing with the sound and touch of the accompaniment forms to support the singer's line. And a lot of beauty in it.

But the pianist in me, understands the OP asking for "big" piano parts! haha Btw, there are very interesting Berlioz songs too!

In that case, how about that set of songs by Barber that includes "I Hear an Army" (the rest of it escapes me).

[korlock]

[ahinton]

In that case, how about that set of songs by Barber that includes "I Hear an Army" (the rest of it escapes me).

It's the Three Joyce Songs Op. 10 of 1939.

As to songs for voice and piano with elaborate piano parts, three great song composers to explore who have much to offer in the regard are Rachmaninoff, Medtner and Marx - then there's Alan Bush's Voices of the Prophets and Stevenson's two song cycles Border Boyhood and The Infernal City; plenty to sink the fingers into there!

Best,

Alistair