New repertoire (urgent)

[chapplin]

Hello, I'll cut right to the matter.

College auditions are coming up next semester. I can't afford a teacher right now, and I need to start practicing my new audition repertoire. I have no idea what to play except my 21st century one. I need some fresh thoughts!

I'll be playing Ravel's sonatine for my 21st centry. Next I need a romantic, classical, and baroque.
I'm thinking perhaps go with a P&F by JS Bach, I like them alot.

Here's what I recently played in recital for an idea of what level I'm at.

Chopin Ballade A-flat.
Chopin etude op 10 no 1, no 9, no 12 op 25 no 2, no 4.
Bach P&F B flat minor (5 voices) & C minor (3 voices) WTC I
Rachmanioff Prelude op 23 no 4 & 5.
Rachmaninoff Variation on corelli theme var 1-10.
Beethoven op 10 no 1.

Please, anything goes! New ideas! Or just any composer that is worth looking into!

[awesom_o]

Why not consider some lesser-known Baroque repertoire instead of another Bach P&F? Everyone hears the latter so frequently, especially professors and jurors. Rameau, Couperin, Byrd, Buxtehude, Royer, the list goes on! As you said, you need some FRESH thoughts.


You are more likely to shine in repertoire that is well-chosen according to your individual strenghts from the vast amount of lesser-known-but-still-first-rate repertoire. This is for two reasons. The really well-known works by mainstream composers are played all the time by students who don't handle them nearly as well as the few top-drawer professionals who really do play that repertoire well.

As an aspiring artist, one can benefit greatly from playing a piece which we haven't all heard (and played) hundreds of times. Imagine if I were on your audition panel, and you were playing a programme filled with stuff that I myself have played countless times in concert. I'm going to have quite a well-evolved expectation for that music, subconsciously, and chances are your rendition will not live up to those highly-critical expectations.

If you are playing a number of seldom-heard jewels by under-recognized composers, I would be more likely to take a shine to you. Chances are high that I will not have played the particular works you have chosen. Compared to, say, if you've chosen the G minor Ballade, and I've heard 10 Chopin Ballade no. 1's in the last two weeks judging a competition. You happen to be auditioning one fine Monday morning at 9 am with the 11th, and I probably have very specific taste in this piece as I myself have played it many times and recorded it.

[blazekenny]

Well, if you go for the PF, it would be kinda logical if you kept chosing from the first book, as the second is notably harder. It depends on how you trust your skills; the d minor, d major and e minor are examples of some of the easier ones.
If you want to go for a full suite or partita, you may want to pair it up with some shorter classical sonata, like Beethoven F# major (op.78) or e minor (op.90). They are hard, but that makes a better overall time for a college audition.
I am still surprised you dont have enough of knowledge of piani literature, but I guess you should pick by your own taste

[asiantraveller101]

Ravel Sonatine is not 21st C, unless the category specifically says: 20th or 21st century, or, includes Impressionism into the 21st C category. I don't want you to prepare something that will not fulfill your audition program.
You have less than 6 months (assuming a semester is half a year) to pull together a program, and that is not a lot of time. My suggestion if to offer something you have played before. I know some posters here have mentioned that auditors are looking for potential, not the best performance. However, I differ on that issue. I think the auditors are looking for the best players out there, especially if you want to audition for the better-known schools. Your audition has to be well-prepared, polished, and hopefully, impressive.
Good luck and please double check on Ravel.

[ale_ius]

Rossini composed many very fine solo piano pieces late in his lifes.  We should hear these more than only Opera work. Maybe look to some of those solo?

--Alee Marie.

[promusician]

Hello, I'll cut right to the matter.

College auditions are coming up next semester. I can't afford a teacher right now, and I need to start practicing my new audition repertoire. I have no idea what to play except my 21st century one. I need some fresh thoughts!

I'll be playing Ravel's sonatine for my 21st centry. Next I need a romantic, classical, and baroque.
I'm thinking perhaps go with a P&F by JS Bach, I like them alot.

Here's what I recently played in recital for an idea of what level I'm at.

Chopin Ballade A-flat.
Chopin etude op 10 no 1, no 9, no 12 op 25 no 2, no 4.
Bach P&F B flat minor (5 voices) & C minor (3 voices) WTC I
Rachmanioff Prelude op 23 no 4 & 5.
Rachmaninoff Variation on corelli theme var 1-10.
Beethoven op 10 no 1.

Please, anything goes! New ideas! Or just any composer that is worth looking into!

You can play Fontana's elegie or mazurkas instead of chopin, Mendelssohn sonatas or fugues(rare) instead of Bach, Pinto's piano sonatas instead of Beethoven. If you like to play any of them, feel free to PM me, I will supply you.

[chapplin]

Thanks for all the comments, please list some more composer to check into

And I was putting it wrong as to the Ravel part, it was a 20th century piece that they want. (I guess that makes more sense chosing Ravel?)

I try to aquinte myself with all the composers I didn't know that you listed.

Is there anything for the romantic era that anyone has in mind? Besides Brahms Liszt Chopin etc.

[lojay]

I have to disagree with some of the posters above.

Make a list of all the schools you want to apply to and make a list of requirements.  You'll notice certain trends.

Without access to someone to regularly evaluate your playing, I think it'll be hard to polish a new piece for auditions so don't introduce too many new works.  If you're serious about getting in, you'll have to nail your audition pieces.

Lastly, if you're planning to learn new pieces, just get a few lessons just on those pieces after you've learned all the notes and have something presentable.

Baroque:  You definitely want to do a Bach WTC Prelude and Fugue. A lot of schools particularly request a P&F from the WTC.  If you can pull off the B Flat Minor P&F stick with that, I think that would be a great selection.

Classical: I would do a Mozart or Beethoven Sonata.  The op. 10 no. 1 is perfectly fine.

Romantic: The Chopin Ballade is acceptable.  If you absolutely must learn a new piece, do a different Ballade or consider a Scherzo (unless you absolutely love op. 44, 53, or 61 I would probably stay away from the Polonaises).  Besides Brahms, Liszt, and Chopin I can only think of Mendelssohn and Schumann.

Etude: Both op. 10 no. 1 and op. 25 no. 4 are really good choices.

20th Century: Ravel may not count as a 20th century piece (you should call the schools and ask).  If it doesn't I can give you some suggestions.

[amelialw]

Why not consider some lesser-known Baroque repertoire instead of another Bach P&F? Everyone hears the latter so frequently, especially professors and jurors. Rameau, Couperin, Byrd, Buxtehude, Royer, the list goes on! As you said, you need some FRESH thoughts.

a typical audition requires a Bach P+F or a Bach pieces with a Fugue

Ravel is not counted as a 21st C composer...you need to ask the schools which you are applying to what they are looking for; they will give you suggestions and ideas what is required.

Frankly it seems like this is a little too last min for audition prep no? you already should have almost everything done by now and at most have only 1-2 pieces which you need to finish off. To give you an idea I'm also applying and already have almost everything down and chose all my pieces by May.

[quantum]

As said above, you need to form a list of specific schools you wish to apply.  From that you can then form a common list of repertoire requirements.  It is far better then the guess, pray, and hopfully-won't-need-to-learn-last-minute approach. 

Bach is sometimes a category by itself.  So be sure to have a Bach selection ready.

I'm all for lesser known music.  But first off make sure you meet any repertoire requirements first.  You don't want to find out last minute that a composition written after 1950 is required when you are spending most of your time on Soler sonatas.  Be ahead of the game and contact schools for their audition requirements.  Don't wait for that time when they send out packages to everyone that is applying, and are bombarded with inquiries. 

[le_poete_mourant]

Frankly it seems like this is a little too last min for audition prep no? you already should have almost everything done by now and at most have only 1-2 pieces which you need to finish off. To give you an idea I'm also applying and already have almost everything down and chose all my pieces by May.

Unless you're scrambling to have a screening recording ready by end of November, I'd say it's probably enough time to be ready for auditions at the end of January into February and beginning of March. The problem of course is that this will be much more difficult without a teacher... but I actually agree with the post above suggesting to just stick with the repertoire already played as much as possible.

Actually, the repertoire chapplin played in recital is just about everything you'd need for most auditions -- Bach P&F, Chopin Etude, major romantic work(Ballade), Beethoven Sonata. Not every place asks for a 20th century work necessarily, but if you do need one I might suggest looking at the Liebermann Gargoyles. Or perhaps the Homage a Faure by Robert Helps.

To be honest, I think the biggest thing is that you need a teacher to help you prepare for your college audition, or at least somebody who can guide you and give you feedback. I suggest two things: think of lessons as an investment you are putting money into; you are investing in your future by helping yourself to get into the school that is best for you so that you can learn as much as possible and improve. If you really just do not have the ability to pay for it, I would suggest trying to do some sort of exchange. Perhaps a teacher would be willing to teach you if you would help them with something they need done, like running errands for them or painting their house or something like this. Some sort of mutual arrangement.