Fast, five minute, little known 20th century/contemporary piece?

[reesabp]

Hi everyone,

I am looking for a showy/fast/technically challenging piece that is 5 minutes or under (also, a set of pieces that total in a length under 5 minutes is okay) in 20th century/contemporary literature.

This is for a competition, so underplayed works or underplayed composers would be good as well. I appreciate any ideas you might have in advance!

-r

[ahinton]

Hi everyone,

I am looking for a showy/fast/technically challenging piece that is 5 minutes or under (also, a set of pieces that total in a length under 5 minutes is okay) in 20th century/contemporary literature.

This is for a competition, so underplayed works or underplayed composers would be good as well. I appreciate any ideas you might have in advance!

How about Étude No. 4 in C minor: Étude à mouvement perpétuellement semblable, after Alkan, from Hamelin's Douze études dans tous les tons mineurs (it's a whisker under 4 minutes in his recording, for details of which see https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA67789; it was written at my suggestion, incidentally.

Best,

Alistair

[reesabp]

I appreciate the suggestion. I am looking for exactly those kinds of 20th century works. I especially like pieces that aren't as "atonal" or "discordant"* ... this is why I like your Hamelin suggestion! Any others?

(*disclaimer: I don't mean this in any pejorative sense; I also understand that "atonal"/"discordant" are subjective)

[chechig]

Not long ago I discovered Bortkiewicz's music, he has plenty of wonderful and challenging music

He has also "Lamentations and consolations" awesome, but I don't find good recordings of those
I hope you like this!

[reesabp]

Those youtube links don't work. Can you give me the names of the pieces by Bortkiewicz you recommend? Also, technically, Bortkiewicz isn't a contemporary composer, but I'd still be interested in what music you like by him!

Thanks.

[chopincat]

Ginastera Danzas Argentinas #3

Ligeti Musica Ricercata #7

not as fast and showy, but very beautiful!

[visitor]

How about a election from Francisco Mignone's six transcendental etudes?

[visitor]

See if pushing tempo on it gets it closer to 5 min though unthinking sounds better at this tempo
EJ Moeran , his music deserves more exposure , sorta like Ireland Bax and Delius all in one at times. 
Toccata

[j_menz]

Not long ago I discovered Bortkiewicz's music, he has plenty of wonderful and challenging music

He has also "Lamentations and consolations" awesome, but I don't find good recordings of those
I hope you like this!

See if pushing tempo on it gets it closer to 5 min though unthinking sounds better at this tempo
EJ Moeran , his music deserves more exposure , sorta like Ireland Bax and Delius all in one at times. 
Toccata

Sigh.

[visitor]

Sigh.

We do our best to help you feel useful!

[dosan12]

Under 4 minutes, Grainger's In Dahomey is very showy and virtuosic, with gliss, hand crossing, and very fun I must say, something to think about.

Probably Rosenthal's Papillons is of your taste as well.

[dosan12]

This topic made me remember about this, man, that was awesome, unfortunately it's about 10 mins.

[j_menz]

This topic made me remember about this, man, that was awesome, unfortunately it's about 10 mins.

It's part of a "set" called North American Ballads. If you take a fancy to Rzewski, several of the set (Dreadful Memories, Squall, Noctamble, Hyenas and Slideshow) are much closer to the requested timeframe.

If you do play one, please note it's pronounced Cheffski. 

[reesabp]

Thank you everyone! I am still interested in hearing more ideas, so if any of you (j_menz, please contribute some ideas as well!) have other ideas, please give me more. The more, the better, I want to build solid repertory, since this (regional) competition occurs a few times each year. Thanks!!

[dosan12]

Oh, and you can look also for the 12 american preludes(Preludios americanos) by Ginastera, and in particular, the octaves one sounds spacious and is fairly fast, so, that's another.

And Stanchinsky, the canons are really good as well, particularly the 2nd and the one in B minor(I have only played the first 2 mind you):

"The Sanctuary" by Jozef Hoffman is really fast and creates a great soundscape if you use the pedal masterfully, it's a very rewarding piece IMO.

You can look for the Concert Etudes by Alexander Tcherepin, the first(Shadow Play) and the fourth(Punch and Judy), I only have the scores of those but not recordings.

And a recent favorite, not spectacularly fast, but it's beautiful, you can adjust it to time by playing it a little faster, so yeah:

[visitor]

[visitor]

Maybe a hair short of your mark but great nonetheless

Also any of his etudes of Gershwin tunes would be appropriate too

[chechig]

Thank you j_menz for repairing my post.
You are right, Bortkiewicz is considered as late romantic, but as he died in the fifties I thought it will do.

[mjames]

Medtner...

His tales, march of paladin, Op. 20 no.1...fun pieces.

[worov]

What about Dianne Goolkasian Rahbee ?

[visitor]