ARCT Rerpertoire and List E

[pieceless]

Alright, so here's what I'm playing/planning to play for my exam:

List A:
Bach: Prelude and Fugue in C major, BWV 846 (Somewhat Completed)

List B:
Beethoven: Piano Sonata 27 E minor Op 90 (Learning)

List C:
Chopin: Fantaisie-Impromptu in C sharp minor, op. 66 (Learning)

List D:
Ravel: Oiseaux Tristes (not started)

List E:
Bartok: Sonatina (not started)

Concert Etude:
Mendelessohn: Etude in F minor (Not started)

Any tips for playing these pieces?

Thanks

[pieceless]

Also, I would prefer something eas(ier) to learn, as I have a pretty much set exam date in January and I'm somewhat screwed for it xd

I'm pretty much done the Bach, on the 2nd mvmt in the Beethoven, got the intro down for Chopin, and nothing for the rest

[lecafe88]

I'm slightly concerned with your choice in List D. The rach G minor prelude is quite a beast both technically and musically, and if you've not even started it I would certainly not recommend it if your exam is in 6 months.

This is on the grounds that in my school's piano competition, I was put up against this guy who was certainly a better pianist than I am and he played the Rach prelude in G minor in a rather poor fashion. I played the much easier 1st movement of the Pathetique, and placed 2nd. He didn't even place. So shows you that there is no need to pick a piece that is harder than what you need. I know sonatas and preludes are in different lists in the ARCT but please see suggestions below:

If you are any good at phrasing and recognizing voicing between different parts, may I instead recommend you impressionist options from Debussy (Images 1, 2) or Ravel (Mirrors).

I've personally done Cloches a travers les feuilles (Debussy Images 2) and Oiseaux Tristes (Ravel Mirrors). Both pieces are very right hand biased, but very doable and of a similar length to the rach prelude. I've learnt the notes for these within a month, and it probably takes another two months to fix the textures, so in my opinion it fits your timeframe much better than starting off the Rach G minor from scratch.

[pieceless]

Which one of the Dubussy or Ravel do you think would be slightly easier to learn/memorize?
And do you have any suggestions for List E?

Thanks for the input though

[lecafe88]

Unfortunately I do not know much about music post the early 1900s, but I do know that Shostakovich and Bartok pieces (which you chose) are quite neat. As far as your concern about contrasting pieces goes, don't worry, if you choose a Debussy/Ravel piece from the books I mentioned, it would be a huge contrast to anything you've put up in List A, B or C.

There isn't really a particularly easy/best one to choose, but I'd avoid:

Poissons d'Or (3rd one from Images 2, Debussy) <You have to do tremolos while playing a melody
Une barque sur l'océan (3rd one from Miroirs, Ravel) <Your LH needs to be quite good
Alborada del gracioso (4th one from Miroirs, Ravel) <This is probably the worst one


Overall, I'd say Oiseaux Tristes (Ravel's 2nd Mirroir) would be the easiest to play, and it's only 4 pages so won't be too hard to memorize. Be aware that since these pieces are atonal you may find it a bit harder to memorize than a classical sonata.

[pieceless]

Ok thanks, I'll probably do Oiseau Tristes then. Do you have any recommendations for a List E song?

[pianoman1349]

If you like Bartok, I think the Sonatina Sz 55 will be a good choice.  I've personally taught this work to students that are either really young with small hands and short attention spans, or students that are really busy with their lives.

The Danzaz Argentinas by Ginastera is more challenging and would also add some contrast to your program (in terms of ethnic styles -- the more latin feel would be a nice contrast from the Oiseau tristes -- though the motoric/perpetual motion may not neccessarily be that contrasting with your mendelssohn etude or the fantasie impromtu).

The Scherzo by Oscar Morawetz.  This is a Canadian piece that sounds a harder than it is to play as it repeats itself.  Examiners tend to like this work as it is not that commonly played. 

Alexina Louie's Memories of an Ancient Garden is also really effective in the exam, as in involves playing, hitting and strumming the strings and structures inside the piano.  (they have removed this from the syllabus, but it can still be done as an own choice).

My personal favourite is the "In Memoriam to the Victims of Chornobyl" by Larysa Kuzmenko, a composer from Toronto.  I personally played this piece for my ARCT exam, as well as by LLCM (london college of music) exam ... I received perfect scores in both exams for this work.  It is easy to learn (in my opinion) as the composer has included detailed instructions for what each section of the work means to her.  It has also the most variety of ethnic quotes, textures, technical and musical elements of the works that I have suggested.

Best of luck with your exam!!   

[pieceless]

Hi, thanks for your suggestions! Unfortunately, Oiseau Triste isn't in the syllabus for ARCT, aswell as Sonatina Sz 55, so I've decided on Scherzo by Morawetz for List E.

I still don't know what to play for list D though as I want something short and preferably slow (to add contrast to my pieces) :S
I'm tempted to choose Cloches a travers les feuilles but I don't know...it's kinda long and I don't know if I can memorize it

[superman1980]

Hi, thanks for your suggestions! Unfortunately, Oiseau Triste isn't in the syllabus for ARCT, aswell as Sonatina Sz 55, so I've decided on Scherzo by Morawetz for List E.

I still don't know what to play for list D though as I want something short and preferably slow (to add contrast to my pieces) :S
I'm tempted to choose Cloches a travers les feuilles but I don't know...it's kinda long and I don't know if I can memorize it

Although the Scherzo by Morawetz is a great piece to play, I would definitely go for the Sonatina by Bartok. The numerous movements and its folk origins would contrast with the other pieces in your repertoire.
And just to let you know, both the Oiseaux Tristes and Sonatina are in the syllabus.

[pianoman1349]

Although the Scherzo by Morawetz is a great piece to play, I would definitely go for the Sonatina by Bartok. The numerous movements and its folk origins would contrast with the other pieces in your repertoire.
And just to let you know, both the Oiseaux Tristes and Sonatina are in the syllabus.

Both the Oiseaux Triste and Sonatina is listed on page 102 of the syllabus on the left column.  It is downloadable at the following link

https://examinations.rcmusic.ca/publications-0


An option for list D may be the Rachmaninoff Prelude Op 32 No 12 ... It looks and sounds much harder than it is to play.  The writing is fits quite comfortably (generally speaking) under ones hands, and can be easily (relatively) learned in a shorter time frame.

Debussy's Reflet's dans l'eau or the Prelude from the Pour le Piano is also possible as a list D option.  Reflet's is very commonly played as an exam piece ... can be learned and mastered rather quickly (the counting in the last page is a challenge that most examiners listen specifically for).  The prelude is really bright and whimsical ... I didn't find it especially difficult to learn or perform, though I have not been as successful with this prelude, mainly as I don't like it as much.

If all fails, Ireland's Island Spell is a great option, as it is both not that hard, and very "charming," as described by at least three different piano profs at various universities across Canada.

[pieceless]

Oh wow...I completely missed that...

Nevermind, I'm doing Oiseau Tristes and Sonatina then

Thanks for all you help!

Any last bits of advice for my completed song list? I've edited the original post

[superman1980]

Oh wow...I completely missed that...

Nevermind, I'm doing Oiseau Tristes and Sonatina then

Thanks for all you help!

Any last bits of advice for my completed song list? I've edited the original post

Oiseaux Tristes is by Ravel. From his suite Miroirs.

[pieceless]

Oiseaux Tristes is by Ravel. From his suite Miroirs.

Whoops...fixed that, thanks