Best Piano Transcriptions

[lisztmusicfan]

There are sooooooooososo many different piano transcriptions orchestral pieces out there, and I was wondering which are your guys' favorites. I personally like the Finlandia arrangement by Sibelius himself, but that's just one of many.

[chicoscalco]

There are sooooooooososo many different piano transcriptions orchestral pieces out there, and I was wondering which are your guys' favorites. I personally like the Finlandia arrangement by Sibelius himself, but that's just one of many.

Ravel's La Valse for solo piano is breathtaking and very similar to its orchestral version.

[awesom_o]

Liszt's transcriptions of Beethoven's 5th, 6th, and 8th Symphonies!

[j_menz]

That's a pretty big field. There are LOTs of great transcriptions out there.  Some I especially find interesting (not all straight transcriptions):

Mikhashoff - (Puccini) Portrait of Madame Butterfly, (Bellini) Casta Diva
Tausig - (Wagner) Ride of the Valkyries, Tristan & Isolde exerpts, (Bach) Toccata & Fugue in Dm
Gould - (Wagner) Dawn & Siegfried's Rhine Journey, Siegfried Idyll
Kempff - Various Bach Transcriptions
Plabst - (Tchaikovsky) Eugene Onegin Paraphrase
Reger (Bach) Various
Czerny - (Wagner) Rondos on a Theme from Rienzi
Brassin - (Wagner) Magic Fire, Ride of the Valkeries
Hough - Rogers & Hammerstein transcriptions

Aaargh.. so many.....

[arungargstl]

My favorite by far are the Liszt Transcriptions of the Beethoven Symphonies. A real pianist's treat.

I also love Borodin's Prince Igor transcribed for  piano duet. Lovely music that doesn't lose its color and charm when reduced for two pianos!

[awesom_o]

I also love Borodin's Prince Igor transcribed for  piano duet. Lovely music that doesn't lose its color and charm when reduced for two pianos!

Duet doesn't involve two pianos. You must be confused.

[j_menz]

Duet doesn't involve two pianos. You must be confused.

Or, like me, slightly less sociable. It can involve 2 if one doesn't like to sit that close at one.

[awesom_o]

But then it's not duet.... it's duet music played for duo.

And that's.... some pretty weak sauce. That's just somebody who doesn't have good enough manners to tuck his elbows in at the table!

[j_menz]

And that's.... some pretty weak sauce. That's just somebody who doesn't have good enough manners to tuck his elbows in at the table!

I'm assured by duet partners past that that is by no means my worst fault.

[awesom_o]

You mean by 'duet' partners past

Seriously though, how could you play the Moldau if you aren't even on the same raft?

[j_menz]

You mean by 'duet' partners past

Rather less than you meant to put a full stop at the end of yours sentence. In fact, not at all.

Seriously though, how could you play the Moldau if you aren't even on the same raft?

Firstly, only as part of the whole Ma Vlast. And that much closeness for so long would be far too much.  Particularly for the Secondo.

Besides, two canoes would navigate better than a raft.

[awesom_o]

No navigation is required on the river Moldau. It's so well-known, all you need to do is survive the rapids in style! And to do that, you need to be floating in the same boat!

And Mozart Sonatas for Four Hands as Mozart Sonatas for 2+2 Hands? 

[arungargstl]

Or, like me, slightly less sociable. It can involve 2 if one doesn't like to sit that close at one.

Hahah guys, I meant four hands. And the last person I played it with was quite large and smelled funny, so we definitely played it on two pianos 

[awesom_o]

If you're not both manipulating the same soundboard, it's really only 2+2 hands.

[cabbynum]

Ravel's La Valse for solo piano is breathtaking and very similar to its orchestral version.

Look up sean chenn playing his arrangement, it's actually even more true to the score.

[yeosh]

Oscar Peterson is an inspiration and a fascination for jazz players and listners alike. These are superb transcriptions and offer a chance for the mere mortals among us to have a taste of what it's like to play like Oscar. If you have the patience, it will be well rewarded. The quality of the publication is excellent as well with large easy to read font. If you can read piano music, this will be among the best $20 you ever spent - incredible value - enjoy! For more information Radio ads and Radio commercials