ARCT List B?

[thomaspiano]

Hey folks,

So I just finished grade 10 piano and am super pumped to be starting ARCT! I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to what sonata I should play? I would love to learn something by Beethoven but am hesitant to play something 'overdone' (like moonlight or pathetique). Any suggestions would really be appreciated!

Thanks 

[pianoman1349]

Could you post your grade 10 program as well as any other works (grade 9 and higher) that you have learned.  It would help give a better idea of what repertoire to pick.

[thomaspiano]

Could you post your grade 10 program as well as any other works (grade 9 and higher) that you have learned.  It would help give a better idea of what repertoire to pick.

My program was:

A - Prelude and Fugue No. 21 (WTC Book I) - Bach
B - Sonata in F Major (K332) - Mozart
C - Waltz in E minor (post.) - Chopin
D - Arabesque II - Debussy
E - Six Variations on Land of the Silver Birch - Gallant

Other pieces I've played include:

Arabesque I - Debussy
Claire de Lune - Debussy
Prelude in C# Minor (op.3 no.2) - Rachmaninoff
Waltz in C# Minor (op.64 no.2) - Chopin
Moonlight Sonata (Mov. I/II) - Beethoven
The Rails - Deshevov
Variations in A Minor - Kabelevsky

[j_menz]

If you want to avoid overdone, do the Clementi instead. Or ask to substitute a Czerny or Weber sonata.

[pianoman1349]

If you want to avoid overdone, do the Clementi instead. Or ask to substitute a Czerny or Weber sonata.

Unfortunately, the RCM examinations system isn't that flexible when it comes to sonata choices for the list B

For Beethoven:

Op. 31 No. 1:  This is a relatively light sonata that could be nice on a program.  It's about 18 minutes long (without repeats)

Op. 31 No. 2 (Tempest):  This is a rather popular choice for exams ... it's a darker and more moody sonata that tends to do fairly well in exams.  It's about the same length as the  Op 31 No 2

Op. 90:  This is a short 2 movement sonata ... the first movement was the soundtrack for the promo of the Minnesota e-piano competition for a long time.  A great choice if you have a substantial work chosen from one of the other lists such as another sonata  (e.g. Prokofiev sonata no 3), major romantic work (e.g. Chopin ballade no. 4), substantial concert work by Bach (e.g. Italian Concerto/Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue).

Op 2 No 2:  A happy sonata with some symphonic moments.  The difficulties are subtle than the later sonatas, as this sonata requires a lot more finesse and refinement, as the writing is much more exposed.  A rather long sonata for an exam, but still doable.

Op 2 No 3: I played this sonata for my own exam ... examiners know this sonata as the "double-thirds" sonata, as it opens in double thirds (it lasts 4 bars).  The plus with this sonata is that examiners will forgive a lot of mistakes later in the sonata if you nail the opening thirds, and have an exceptional second movement (as told to me by several RCM examiners in workshops).  THough lots of fun to play, this is one of beethoven's hardest sonatas (everything is exposed and relatively dry).  This sonata is 25 minutes long (without repeats).

The moonlight sonata is also a great choice as well, considering you have already learned most of it.

[j_menz]

Unfortunately, the RCM examinations system isn't that flexible when it comes to sonata choices for the list B

The Clementi is on their list.

They allow one substitution across several lists (with prior approval), and list B is one of them.

[pianoman1349]

Sorry about that ... I was referring mainly to the Czerny sonata. 

The Weber c major sonata (4th movement) is on the list as an etude ... I'm not sure if they would approve it if it is already on the syllabus on a different list

The approval system tends to be used for list a and c choices though ... i have not heard of anyone using it to substitute a sonata before for list b.  I guess there is a first for everything. 

[j_menz]

The Weber c major sonata (4th movement) is on the list as an etude ...

Clearly I had underestimated the "bonkers" factor of Canadians. 

[nanabush]

I never understood that one... I'd always read it and be like "ok, this must be from a classical list and they ctrl-c --> ctrl-v'd it to the wrong spot"... but apparently not...