suggestions for next piece?

[echoyjeff222]

Hi all,

I'm trying to figure out the next piece I want to tackle. I've recently been doing a lot of shorter pieces. I'm currently playing Haydn's Sonata in B minor (https://imslp.org/wiki/Keyboard_Sonata_i ... dn,_Joseph) along with Heller's Prelude in C# minor, Op. 81 No. 10.

I know that I want to play "Songs without words op 622 no.6 in a major (spring song)" as a sight read / short piece, but I think I need to try something a bit more challenging/meaty. The last Beethoven sonata I played was the Pathetique (all three movements). I really like Chopin, but my teacher wants me to get away from doing too much Chopin. She wants me to try some Brahms or something a bit different.

I was thinking about the Waldstein ... I love the first movement. However, I've also never played Liszt. I heard No.3 in G sharp minor (La Campanella) and thought that I might want to try it. It sounds a bit difficult though!

thanks for all the input

[j_menz]

You're kidding, right? 

[david456103]

i agree with j_menz. Waldstein and La Campanella is a great piece, and having played both, I would say put it on your wishlist for maybe 2 years?
Some suggestions:
Liszt: Waldesrauchen
Liszt: Un Sospiro
Beethoven: Sonata op 10 no 2
Chopin: Etude op 25 no 1, 2/Any of the nocturnes(well maybe except op 48 no 1),

[echoyjeff222]

Is the Waldstein really that hard? I asked my teacher today and she didn't seem as surprised as you two, haha.

I'm not doing the Liszt, though. That one is too tough.

[j_menz]

Is the Waldstein really that hard? I asked my teacher today and she didn't seem as surprised as you two, haha.

I'm not doing the Liszt, though. That one is too tough.

In some ways deceptively so. Not so hard to get to 95%, but that next 5% ......

[david456103]

technically, the waldstein is much more difficult than it sounds(esp some of those 16th note passages-surprisingly difficult to get 100%!). its too easy to be caught up in the technique of the piece and miss out on the musical side of the piece, hence making the sonata sound mechanical.
la campanella IMO is underrated in difficulty. i'd even say it is about as difficult as some of liszts more difficult transcendentals(well maybe excluding mazeppa and feux follets).

[stevenarmstrong]

From the impression I get of your current level, I agree that La Campanella in particular is too difficult.

I'd suggest:
A single movement Medtner sonata
Liszt: Sonnets
A group of Chopin preludes or Poulenc Improvisations (A small collection of shorter pieces is far meatier than one bigger work)
Bach: Italian Concerto
Franck: Prelude Chorale and Fugue (big fat work!)
Rachmaninoff Etudes (doesn't get much meatier than that!)