Piano Forum

Stanchinsky is Gramophone's Editor's Choice
The short-lived Russian pianist and composer Alexey Stanchinsky was playing in public by age six and was highly regarded in all the musical activities he undertook. Swedish pianist Peter Jablonski has recorded an album with selected Stanchinsky works for the Ondine label, a recording that was recently selected as Gramophone's Editor's Choice of May 2021. Piano Street talked to Jablonski about the young forgotten composer and his works. Read more >>

Pages: [1] Go Down

Topic: help with competition pieces (Read 2825 times)

frederic

PS Silver Member
Sr. Member
Posts: 508

help with competition pieces

on: March 13, 2003, 08:13:55 AM

Hi everyone

I am taking part in a piano competition this year around July. This is a rather small competition and is open to any pieces.
The pieces i will definitly be playing are Chopin Sonata No. 3 and Bach 2 part invention in E major.
I was then thinking maybe Liszt's Paganini Etude No. 5 or grand galop chromatique.
Then maybe a piece by Schumann or Rachmaninoff (i was thinking maybe his Polichinelle op 3, no. 4 or his humoresque op 10, no. 5)
Then maybe a 20th century piece
I was thinking maybe mompou or shchedrin.

All advices or suggestings are welcome!

Logged

"The concert is me" - Franz Liszt

ayahav

PS Silver Member
Sr. Member
Posts: 405

Re: help with competition pieces

Reply #1 on: March 13, 2003, 04:05:32 PM

i recorded polichinelle. It's a GREAT piece. I suggest you do that one. as for Liszt, you might want to try the Paganini etude no. 6 (based on the violin caprice) because it sounds familiar and new at the same time. A very nice Schumann combination is "Des Abends" and "Aufschwung" from Fantasiestücke or only the second one. Both are moderately difficult but if you are playing the chopin 3rd then they shouldn't be a problem.

Amit

Logged

willcowskitz

PS Silver Member
Sr. Member
Posts: 539

Re: help with competition pieces

Reply #2 on: March 13, 2003, 10:43:42 PM

Rachmaninoff, Liszt and Chopin are pretty mainstream as probably mentioned before... If I was to play different pieces in a free competition, I'd pick something unknown yet inspiring - influencing, and something the audience will remember. What about Sibelius? He composed some great piano works... I believe the audience would be pleased.

If you want to show off technical skills or something like that, sure, pick Liszt or Rachmaninoff. Polichinelle is a nice, timeless and flowing piece, but could be real difficult to perform _well_. I'd go for a surprise. If you're a strong interpreter, Sibelius' works are technically relatively simple but open great opportunities for showing musical maturity. I wouldn't probably attempt the Paganini etude, except of course, you feel certain about being ready to perform it. I consider Liszt's Paganini studies as a world of their own, rhythmic and melodic nature of those pieces requires certain kind of approach.

Logged