Piano Audition Repertoire

[glatour2496]

Hello all,

So I'm planning on applying for NEC, BoCo, and the Manhattan School of Music in Autumn 2014. I'm a junior in high school. Currently I'm having trouble choosing pieces to play for the audition. I was getting ready for it but realized that the pieces I was learning might be a bit too common. By the way, it is going to be a recorded audition, being overseas. I've looked at some other posts on this site and have come to these choices.

Baroque
Bach Two-Part Inventions No. 1, 8, or 13

Classical
Haydyn Piano Sonata Hob. 49 in E flat major
or Beethoven Pathetique Sonata (I know Mov 1 and the first two pages of Mov. 2 but I understand this piece is played a lot so I'm a bit reluctant now to include this.)

Romantic
Chopin Fantasy in F minor Op. 49 (I really like this piece and had never heard it before today.)
or Liszt Liebestraume (Again, really like this piece, but it's played a lot.)
or Scriabin Sonata No. 9 Op. 68

20th Century
Khatchaturian Toccata (My piano teacher wants me to play this but I think it's too easy for these conservatories. I've finished this though so it'd be an easy addition.)
or Waltz of the Flowers from the Nutcracker Op. 71a
or Prokofiev Piano Sonata No. 7 (I like this piece but it's a bit long considering the Chopin Fantasy and Haydyn Sonata and pretty difficult from my viewpoint but then again I am "working" on La Campanella.... Maybe?)
or Prokofiev Toccata in D minor Op. 11 (I really, really prefer this over the Khatchaturian Toccata.)

Fast Etude
Rachmaninoff Etude Tableaux Op. 39 No.5 (A fun piece. Haven't learned it yet but wow.)

I'm looking for some suggestions regarding these pieces or other pieces that I might be interested in. I want to record an audition that will hopefully wow the judges but also intrigue them. I don't want to play really common pieces. Thanks in advance.

[j_menz]

20th Century
Waltz of the Flowers from the Nutcracker Op. 71a

I assume you mean the Grainger Paraphrase, since the Tchaikovsky original is decidedly 19th Century.  Even so, I suspect it's not what they have in mind (regardless of it being rather nice).

And why not 21st century instead?

[amelialw]

The Bach 2 part inventions are insufficient ... I'm applying for NEC as well...

You would need at least a prelude& fugue/Partita etc.

[classicalnhiphop]

don't do a two part invention and DO NOT attempt la campanella if you are not ready.  you will fail miserably on stage.  And idk, but i like beethoven more than haydn, but that's just me

[glatour2496]

I assume you mean the Grainger Paraphrase, since the Tchaikovsky original is decidedly 19th Century.  Even so, I suspect it's not what they have in mind (regardless of it being rather nice).

And why not 21st century instead?

No I meant the original. I didn't really want to do this for the audition because, like you said, I don't suspect it's what they're looking for. And I've not really dabbled into any 21st century. I tend not to like the new stuff. I'm going to remove it from the list.

The Bach 2 part inventions are insufficient ... I'm applying for NEC as well...

You would need at least a prelude& fugue/Partita etc.

Okay thanks. I wasn't sure what "equivalent Baroque work" meant entirely. I actually emailed BoCo asking for clarification and they never responded. lol.
 
My teacher recommended Chopin Study Etude Op. 10 No. 5 "Black Keys". Would this be a good piece as compared to the Rachmaninoff etude?

[ale_ius]

May I suggest am alternative to the toccata you mentioned? This one by Louise Talma is awesome and on a list of thing I have been considering for a while.

Fatanstic work

-Alee Marie

[amelialw]

on the NEC website this is what it states clearly for audition req:
1)piece written before 1750 (e.g., prelude and fugue, or suite or partita by J.S. Bach)
2)complete Classical sonata
3)substantial Romantic work
4)20th-century or 21st-century work
5)fast etude

[glatour2496]

May I suggest am alternative to the toccata you mentioned? This one by Louise Talma is awesome and on a list of thing I have been considering for a while.

Fatanstic work

-Alee Marie

Very beautiful! Unfortunately it doesn't fit the time period requirements for all three so I'm sticking with the Prokofiev.

The requirements for all three schools are the same excluding the 21st century work for NEC and Manhattan and the etude for NEC. If I combine the requirements from all three schools i get this -

prelude and fugue, or suite or partita by J.S. Bach
complete Classical sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, or Beethoven
substantial 19th century work (romantic era)
20th-century work (BoCo wants 20th century so no 21st)
fast etude

I think I've successfully combined the requirements for all three schools. Correct me if I'm wrong please. So I can now just make one audition recording and send it in instead of learning different pieces for all three schools. I think there would be like a 0% chance of me getting in based on how much work that would be and considering I only have a year left. So I've revised my repertoire for the audition based on your feedback and my own personal findings.

WTC No. 6 in D minor BWV 851 (prelude and fugue, or suite or partita by J.S. Bach)

Beethoven Pathetique Sonata (for the classical sonata; I understand this is overplayed but I don't want to start over since I've already learned the first and part of the second movement. I'll just have to play it really really well.)

Chopin Fantasy in F minor Op 49 (substantial 19th century work (romantic era))

Prokofiev Toccata D minor Op. 11 (20th-century work; this satisfies all the requirements)

and finally for the fast etude I'm still undecided.
Rachmaninoff Etudes Tableaux Op. 39 No. 6 (Red Riding Hood)
or Chopin's Etude Op. 10 No. 5 (as reccommended by my teacher) or Op. 25 No. 12

I'm applying for the three schools so I have to have this ready by about November next year. I see that the NEC pre-screen audition only requires the classical sonata and the romantic work so I'll make a video of all of it and just cut out what isn't needed for each. This list is subject to change though. I have piano lessons tonight so I'll post again if my piano teacher suggests anything other than what I've put.

Lastly, I have a quick question about the live auditions after the pre-screening recording stuff. I live in Italy and I was wondering how a live audition would work since I'm overseas. Does anyone know?

[glatour2496]

Very beautiful! Unfortunately it doesn't fit the time period requirements for all three so I'm sticking with the Prokofiev.

The requirements for all three schools are the same excluding the 21st century work for NEC and Manhattan and the etude for NEC. If I combine the requirements from all three schools i get this -

prelude and fugue, or suite or partita by J.S. Bach
complete Classical sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, or Beethoven
substantial 19th century work (romantic era)
20th-century work (BoCo wants 20th century so no 21st)
fast etude

I think I've successfully combined the requirements for all three schools. Correct me if I'm wrong please. So I can now just make one audition recording and send it in instead of learning different pieces for all three schools. I think there would be like a 0% chance of me getting in based on how much work that would be and considering I only have a year left. So I've revised my repertoire for the audition based on your feedback and my own personal findings.

WTC No. 6 in D minor BWV 851 (prelude and fugue, or suite or partita by J.S. Bach)

Beethoven Pathetique Sonata (for the classical sonata; I understand this is overplayed but I don't want to start over since I've already learned the first and part of the second movement. I'll just have to play it really really well.)

Chopin Fantasy in F minor Op 49 (substantial 19th century work (romantic era))

Prokofiev Toccata D minor Op. 11 (20th-century work; this satisfies all the requirements)

and finally for the fast etude I'm still undecided.
Rachmaninoff Etudes Tableaux Op. 39 No. 6 (Red Riding Hood)
or Chopin's Etude Op. 10 No. 5 (as reccommended by my teacher) or Op. 25 No. 12

I'm applying for the three schools so I have to have this ready by about November next year. I see that the NEC pre-screen audition only requires the classical sonata and the romantic work so I'll make a video of all of it and just cut out what isn't needed for each. This list is subject to change though. I have piano lessons tonight so I'll post again if my piano teacher suggests anything other than what I've put.

I have a quick question about the live auditions after the pre-screening recording stuff. I live in Italy and I was wondering how a live audition would work since I'm overseas. Does anyone know?Also, my piano teacher was wondering if these colleges are (not sure how to put this) to "perfect" my playing. She's wondering if these colleges are like for students to learn more (which I believe they are) or for like teachers. She's Italian so she's unfamiliar with American schools.

EDIT: My piano teacher doesn't want me to do Prokofiev. She says that it's something not on my level interpretation-wise and that I should wait to do any Prokofiev. My musical education has been sort of lacking since before I moved to Italy and found this teacher so it's understandable. So, I'm open to suggestions on a 20th century work.

[onwan]

and finally for the fast etude I'm still undecided.
Rachmaninoff Etudes Tableaux Op. 39 No. 6 (Red Riding Hood)
or Chopin's Etude Op. 10 No. 5 (as reccommended by my teacher) or Op. 25 No. 12

Stay away from the Rachmaninoff Etude Op.39 no.6, it's really very difficult. I would go for the Chopin etude Op.10 no.5, not that difficult but you can show your technique and for me It's really safe etude, no chance to make a mistake. Personaly, I love the Ocean etude and If I was you I maybe go for that one, but It's so demanding, some palces are very uncomfortible and it's easy to make a mistake.

[canada100]

For Baroque, do not choose Two-Part Inventions! Please! They are not enough! If I were you I would go for a Bach Prelude and Fugue. The first one from Book 1 is an EXCELLENT choice, because although the prelude is fairly simple, the fugue is extremely difficult. Also consider playing a Bach Toccata, Partita, or maybe one of his French or English suites.

As for Classical period, as you say, the Beethoven Pathetique is INDEED overplayed and yes, I agree that you should be reluctant to play it. Same thing goes for the Moonlight Sonata. The Haydn in E-flat Major may be a good choice, I have a good friend from Toronto, Canada, who won the Ettlingen International Piano Competition in Ettlingen, Germany, by playing that same piece as part of her competition repertoire. This should be a good choice. Another good suggestion is the Haydn Sonata in C Major, Hob XVI 50, which is a respected competition piece. Perhaps, for an advanced school, you could also pull out a Beethoven Sonata, such as his Op. 2 No 3, Op. 7, Op. 10 No 3, Op. 31 No. 2, Waldstein, Appassionata, or the Hammerklavier. The Op. 90, 110, and 111 are also good choices. Mozart is not a bad idea either. His sonatas are deceivingly difficult technically and musically. They look so simple that they are difficult. The K310 is a good choice, as well as his K331 or his K576.


DO NOT play Liszt Liebestraum! This is common sense, that a famously overplayed piece is HORRIBLE for competitions and auditions. They are too popular that they lose appeal. I suggest you maybe use a Chopin Scherzo, or a Chopin Ballade. I am not familiar with Scriabin and barely studied him so I will not be able to answer your Scriabin Sonata. The Liszt Dante Sonata (from the second book of his Annees de Pelerinage) is also a good piece, that lasts for 15 minutes. A Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody may also be a good choice.

Yes, the Khachuturian is indeed falling short of the difficulty requirements of conservatories. The Prokofiev Op. 11 can be a good choice, but also check out Prokofiev Sonatas, such as the No. 7 or No. 3. Prokofiev's Sonatas are extremely hard pieces, and good for competitions and auditions.

As for etudes, I suggest you look at the Liszt Paganini Etudes. La Campanella as well as his 6th Paganini Etude would be good, as so will be the Transcendental Etudes. Chopin Etudes are also good options. Please do not pick the Op. 10 No 5, as it is too well-known.

In the end it is up to you. Personally, I feel that your repertoire falls short of the difficulty requirements of conservatories. Please, never pick popular and overplayed repertoire for auditions and competitions, as people get tired of hearing them. Pick pieces that you LOVE and you can play well.

As far as I am concerned, the two problems are your repertoire difficulty level and the fact they may be too popular. This is what concerns me the most.

[chicoscalco]

For Baroque, do not choose Two-Part Inventions! Please! They are not enough! If I were you I would go for a Bach Prelude and Fugue. The first one from Book 1 is an EXCELLENT choice, because although the prelude is fairly simple, the fugue is extremely difficult. Also consider playing a Bach Toccata, Partita, or maybe one of his French or English suites.

As for Classical period, as you say, the Beethoven Pathetique is INDEED overplayed and yes, I agree that you should be reluctant to play it. Same thing goes for the Moonlight Sonata. The Haydn in E-flat Major may be a good choice, I have a good friend from Toronto, Canada, who won the Ettlingen International Piano Competition in Ettlingen, Germany, by playing that same piece as part of her competition repertoire. This should be a good choice. Another good suggestion is the Haydn Sonata in C Major, Hob XVI 50, which is a respected competition piece. Perhaps, for an advanced school, you could also pull out a Beethoven Sonata, such as his Op. 2 No 3, Op. 7, Op. 10 No 3, Op. 31 No. 2, Waldstein, Appassionata, or the Hammerklavier. The Op. 90, 110, and 111 are also good choices. Mozart is not a bad idea either. His sonatas are deceivingly difficult technically and musically. They look so simple that they are difficult. The K310 is a good choice, as well as his K331 or his K576.


DO NOT play Liszt Liebestraum! This is common sense, that a famously overplayed piece is HORRIBLE for competitions and auditions. They are too popular that they lose appeal. I suggest you maybe use a Chopin Scherzo, or a Chopin Ballade. I am not familiar with Scriabin and barely studied him so I will not be able to answer your Scriabin Sonata. The Liszt Dante Sonata (from the second book of his Annees de Pelerinage) is also a good piece, that lasts for 15 minutes. A Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody may also be a good choice.

Yes, the Khachuturian is indeed falling short of the difficulty requirements of conservatories. The Prokofiev Op. 11 can be a good choice, but also check out Prokofiev Sonatas, such as the No. 7 or No. 3. Prokofiev's Sonatas are extremely hard pieces, and good for competitions and auditions.

As for etudes, I suggest you look at the Liszt Paganini Etudes. La Campanella as well as his 6th Paganini Etude would be good, as so will be the Transcendental Etudes. Chopin Etudes are also good options. Please do not pick the Op. 10 No 5, as it is too well-known.

In the end it is up to you. Personally, I feel that your repertoire falls short of the difficulty requirements of conservatories. Please, never pick popular and overplayed repertoire for auditions and competitions, as people get tired of hearing them. Pick pieces that you LOVE and you can play well.

As far as I am concerned, the two problems are your repertoire difficulty level and the fact they may be too popular. This is what concerns me the most.

I don't want to offend you, but do you really think that the piece itself is what most conservatoires are worried about? What OP should do is to find pieces he loves with which he can display his musical ideas and technique. He won't be able to do so with a Prokofiev Sonata, or the Dante sonata, judging from what his teacher said. And this is totally fine, he's in junior high for christ's sake. I believe his repertoire is very fine, although I agree that the Pathetique is very overplayed, and I do prefer the Haydn. But hey, if you feel confident with it, great. For the 20th century work, how about some Ravel? Maybe his Sonatine? I think you'll love it. It is very challenging, and although it is not very long, it's a very substantial 20th century work to have in your repertoire.

Anyways, good luck! And tell us what you chose later!