Recital Themes

[jy_]

Hi I am deciding on my repertoire for the a 42-50 min recital/exam next year and I was thinking that it would be good to have a theme.

Recently heard Szymanowsky's Tantris le Bouffon and was thinking of something clown-themed. And there's "Clowns" by Kabalevsky and Turina.

Or I was thinking of a horror theme - ligeti's Devil's Staircase, Liszt's Totentanz for solo piano, Libermann's Gargoyles and Tausig's Ghost Ship.

I do think the Szymanowski/ligeti/liszt are rather demanding technically so perhaps a recital based on a theme might not be the best idea. Any thoughts and suggestions are most appreciated !

Regarding my level of playing, Mussorgsky Pictures is rather above my ability and I haven't tried some of the longer Liszt works like the B minor Sonata. I have done the Totentanz for 2 pianos though.

[j_menz]

IMO a theme is often a good idea. A recital needs a certain unifying element rather than being just "here's a few things I can play".

I think it works best when the theme is a little loose and a little cryptic. To narrow and too obvious can make it a bit same old same old - and can make you feel obliged to play pieces that fit rather than pieces you should play.

[visitor]

thematic planning is one of the most fun parts of an otherwise process that can feel like a bugger (recital prep is not always enjoyable!    )

+1 to above.

it may open new possibilities to broaden the theme, or have a dual theme, perhaps a more obvious one and a slightly more subtle one (i once grouped pieces that were related by tritones as tonic distances from each, and used an opening that featured a tritone as a prominent part of the melody,  one or two attendees pulled me aside after the performance to remark if i planned it that way    ).

so first define the technical range and limit of difficulty, then look at your tastes and what you would like to express. you can do simple common era, or 'war time music'  or nationalism (iei composes of same country) or by form, or forgotten masters, etc. it's all pretty open ended unless you are bound to formal requirements by a degree program, competition rule, or recital committee

good luck! 

[jy_]

Thanks for your replies! I think the hard part of having a theme is that you need to fit the pieces. The tritone one is rather ambiguous and not easy to listen out for. What pieces did you play?

[ewalker1]

Do everything with the same number. I have one planned as "Opus 26", which would include:
Beethoven Sonata op 26
Chopin 2 polonaises op 26
Schumann Faschingsschwank aus Wien op 26
Reger 7 Fantasy-Pieces

I've also seen "Opus 1" which I think contained:
Schumann- Abegg variations
Brahms- Sonata op 1
Berg- Sonata
Prokofiev- Sonata no 1
And maybe a few more pieces, but I do not remember