3 month summer - what to learn?

[reubik]

I now have until october until I go back to university and can't seem to get in contact with my teacher so I thought I'd come here for advice.

I have 3 months now so all the time in the world to practice and I've finished off everything I was learning so now I need new pieces!

I was thinking of learning a sonata, no preference on composer. I've never played a whole sonata before so I think this would be an interesting challenge.
I also want to learn something else by Scriabin, I've already learnt the op.2 no.1 and op.12 no.2, but I don't know where I go from there.
Also a nocturne of some sorts, probably Chopin but open to other suggestions (Already played Chopin op.9 no.2)

Obviously I'm open to anything outside of these so please post some suggestions! To give you an idea of the standard I'm at the last things I played were Liszt's 'Cloches de Geneve' and Rachmaninoff Prelude in D Major.

Thanks!

[diomedes]

Best is to find something you *really* like in this case, since you're totally open. Listen to as much music as you possibly can figure out what that is.

If you managed op.8/12 ok and want more of the same, have a look at his 2nd sonata, polonaise or mazurkas op.25.

Chopin 2nd sonata, Brahms f sharp sonata come to mind too, but your observation no the challenge aspect would be realized since those mentioned above would be a fair bit of work.

[reubik]

I'm nowhere near any of these pieces, I think you misread op.12 no.2 as op.8 no.12. Thanks for the suggestions though

Edit: The scriabin op.25 sounds amazing and not too bad actually, will definitely be taking a look at some of that

[diomedes]

You're right, sorry about that. I figured if someone can confidently manage nr12 the rest is difficulty related to quantity.

I consider the op.25 to have some unbelievably attractive writing, they aren't commonly known. The f minor, E major particularly, c sharp minor and F sharp major drive me to the point of distraction. I'm currently in the process of listening to the preludes, all of them, since that's possibly the weakest area of knowledge with Scriabin's work for me personally, you might want to look at those, but it's a lot to listen to i find.

If you really want a sonata, you might be stuck with Beethoven due to the general demands.

Consider Debussy Images & Estamps Ravel Mirroirs. Faure too, Nocturnes or Barcarolles. Again those are lot to listen to. The 4th Nocturne i performed and still admire. The later E flat Barcarolle, and the 1st a minor Barcarolle along with the much later one too. I think the 6th Impromptu sounds more difficult than it is to learn, but i have not done that one yet.

Or Chopin 2nd Scherzo, that one is good for demands vs impressive sound.

If you have 3 months, i think anything big is fair game, and i'll repeat if you really like it anything is possible. When i first encountered the Saint-Saens toccata based on the 5th concerto i had trouble sleeping. Duchable plays it marvellously.

[visitor]

....
Also a nocturne of some sorts, probably Chopin but open to other suggestions (Already played Chopin op.9 no.2)

Obviously I'm open to anything outside of these so please post some suggestions! To give you an idea of the standard I'm at the last things I played were Liszt's 'Cloches de Geneve' and Rachmaninoff Prelude in D Major.

Thanks!

[visitor]

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[visitor]

[visitor]

[visitor]

[amytsuda]

Scriabin 2 poems Op 32.

Selections from Op 11 preludes.

Op 8 Etudes No 2 or No 4.

[ganymedger]

If you havent played a sonata before, I would advise you to play a Mozart Sonata.
I started playing Sonatas with Mozart KV 332 in F major and C major K 300. Then I played Beethoven Op.10 no. 1 , which was written for Amateurs.

The mozart sonatas look deceptively easy, but there are very difficault ones among them.
I wanted to play the A minor Sonata for a start. Then my teacher, who was taught by a student of Heinrich Neuhaus and Furtwängler, said that to me: "This Sonata is VERY difficault."




As for Scriabin, the Valse op.38 is quite amazing. Maybe take a look at it ?

[reubik]

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone!
I've decided I'm going to work on the f major Mozart sonata, the op.25 Scriabin mazurkas and the 3 preludes by Gershwin.
That op.38 waltz is incredible but I think i'll do some octave practice first before tackling it!

Still welcoming any other suggestions

[mjames]

Scriabin 2 poems Op 32.

Selections from Op 11 preludes.

Op 8 Etudes No 2 or No 4.

Instead of recommending the op. 11, recommend Scriabin's entire set of preludes (all 70+ of them). Scriabin mastered and "perfected" the prelude genre in a way that it would be an insult to just recommend the op. 11, imo probably his weakest contribution to the genre when you compare it to future opuses. Most (not all) of Scriabin preludes are accessible to a pianist of your caliber, and what I recommend for you to do is to sit down and listen to some music.

Liadov's bercuese is also pretty nice.