Lesser-Known Music Suggestions?

[pianoisthebest23]

Hi Everyone,

Lately I have been playing a lot of more showy/technical music for competitions and such. In doing this, I have neglected playing more lyrical music which I miss doing   When I do play slower more poetic music for myself, it's often Chopin, Brahms, and other well known composers. As much as I like doing this, I was wondering if any of you had suggestions for romantic or spiritual pieces by lesser known composers that I could try. Any suggestions are appreciated!

Thank you

[visitor]

i've covered this at length in other posts. a basic forum search will yield vols of suggestions I've made in past.

that said, i'll bite. here's a nibble

[visitor]

[visitor]

[visitor]

[visitor]

there are 24 of these. all amazing. the dainas are essentially character preludes. not unlike Rachmaninoff preludes [like many of these more so than Sergei's actually]

[pianoisthebest23]

Visitor -

Thank you so much! I will try some of these out tonight. Sorry, I never think to search for things like this I'll remember to check in the future.

[iansinclair]

You might also look at some of Sibelius' piano music.  It's a bit on the slight side, but it's not all that hard and some of it is quite pleasant.  Just don't do Finlandia...

[breakup]

I'm not sure if this is Lesser-Known or not, most of the music I am familiar with, most other people I talk to, don't know anything about. 

Anyway, how about this one, "Song of India" Rimsky-Korsakov, this is a nice version,

[visitor]

[visitor]

[visitor]

[visitor]

[visitor]

truely beastly. am working on a much less demonic versionof this, but this is fun to listen to and gives me some good ideas of how to let the main theme breath and pace itself.
should really get more play.

[diomedes]

That's right up there with the Carmen variations for fun material. I never encountered it, but knew of it, the Gliere theme is quite characteristic, and Lewenthal's name precedes him as always. Very interesting/entertaining. There's a different version of it?

[anaimadureira]

I've played recently a piece called "Nocturno em Ré bemol Maior". With many impressionistic influences, it is a very lyrical, deep and rich piece, probably the best example of portuguese piano music. You should try it  

I think the score isn't available on internet, but if you contact me, I'll get you that.

Here you have some information about the composer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ant%C3%B3nio_Fragoso

[visitor]

That's right up there with the Carmen variations for fun material. I never encountered it, but knew of it, the Gliere theme is quite characteristic, and Lewenthal's name precedes him as always. Very interesting/entertaining. There's a different version of it?

there is a cool looking one on imslp at the momment , i have a third version not available on the interwebs from an 'advanced' old methods book (so it is a teaching piece/arrangement but because it appears int he final volume of a series it is advanced enough to sound good, i like the imslp version but for what i aim to work on technique wise, the little piano ped concert arrangment will do  especially given i have lots on my plate that is harder so i do not want to have to dedicate tons of time to it but def plan to circle back to that other one on imslp, don't know much about the arranger, heck not even sure there's a single recording of it on yt either, but texture wise it's beefy and looks legit)

[visitor]

lots and lots of these in various styles, ie here's one of my fav

[bluemuse]

Poulenc - Novelettes I and III

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-poYR7uYXtg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcdu_WUDbnM

[visitor]

known tune, little know transcription by master Siloti 

[mjames]

I love Siloti! There are quite a few scores on IMSLP but unfortunately a lot of them are still owned by the Siloti estate/family/descendants for god knows why. Why haven't they released his unpublished manuscripts? people are annoying. 

[visitor]

yep.
here's let s annoy you some more

[visitor]

this one is fun

[mjames]

good transcription of a famous piece

feinberg's transcription of bach's sonata

AND, feingberg's own original stuff

[visitor]

[visitor]

been a while since I gave a knod to Martinu in any discussion. Shame really, this sonata is rad

*yt will link to the other mvmnts

[visitor]

and some Debussy inspired Kodaly

[visitor]

loving this lately

[pencilart3]

[visitor]

[visitor]

Louis Glass
ie

[visitor]

there's been some members that uploaded Nielsen before (which I applaud and enjoyed, too bad there wasn't a lot of buzz on those aud room upl's).

[visitor]

[roncesvalles]

This prelude (number 3 of the Three Preludes) by Stanchinsky is slow and Romantic.  The performance in the video really doesn't do it for me--it doesn't highlight the tension and release of the piece well, and there is an overall lack of nuance and paucity of expression, but the piece itself is beautiful and contemplative, a spiritual (and motivic) descendent of the e flat minor prelude from Book I of the Well Tempered Clavier.   If you play this well, I think it can be very effective.  For another slow piece by Stanchinsky, check out number 1 of the same set of Three Preludes--to me, it isn't quite as effective as 3 is, but it is another meditative mood poem.

[robinlamott]

Yes I have both technical and romantic lyrical music that I wrote. I will send you some pdf's if you like for free if you like.

[visitor]

not sure why Domenico never gets the love he deserves. I have a premium edition of a number of these Arteria editions , they are lovely.

listening to the lot right now, ear heaven
 

[pencilart3]

I had to play a piece by Cimarosa when I was 10. I am never going to play one of his pieces again! 

[kevonthegreatpianist]

I have millions of suggestions:
Beethoven Sonata Op.10 No.2
Beethoven Sonata Op.54
Beethoven Sonata Op.78
Beethoven Sonata Op.101
Beethoven Sonata Op.111
Chopin Tarantella Op.43
Chopin Gallop Marquis
Schumann Toccata Op.7
Schumann Sonata Op.11
Liszt Pagini Etude 1
Cyril Scott Lotus Land

[schumaniac]

^ not all of those are necessarily "unknown," I wouldn't think

How about Turina? A very unique Spanish composer who wrote lots of piano music. Though some of it isn't very convincing, a lot of his pieces deserve to be played more. His "Danzas fantásticas" are great...

[visitor]

lots to choose from (from Alex G)

just couple of exs

[schumaniac]

^ nice

other Russian composers include Feinberg, Lyapunov and Medtner (well, he's relatively more well-known, but still not that widely performed). There were a lot from that era.

[visitor]

somewhat 'borderline' for 'lesser known' as it depends to whom is the question posed but i have loved this little bon bon for years and this now my favorite version so far , her work w Kapustin definately helps her here. 

[visitor]

lovely little Ravina nocturne. Should be played and recorded more (more Ravina in general would be good)

[asiloti]

I love Siloti! There are quite a few scores on IMSLP but unfortunately a lot of them are still owned by the Siloti estate/family/descendants for god knows why. Why haven't they released his unpublished manuscripts? people are annoying. 

I am not aware of the Siloti estate getting royalties for his arrangements.  I would love to hear of any knowledge you have on this subject.
Alexander Siloti

[visitor]

i know you think  you're cool, but you're not  'playing rebikov while my album has me with leather, shades, and a cigar' russian cool.  

[visitor]

a lot of the LH rep/lit is not played as often as probably could/should.  The Scriabin stuff usually comes up more often. This lovely Ponce is not totally unknown, but certainly stays hidden if one does not set out looking for it.

[visitor]

[visitor]

love these preludes.

[dratinistar]

I would definitely look into lesser played Romantic composers such as Glazunov. One of the only complete recordings by Duane Hulbert. The recordings are a hidden gem. Also the Helps I'm playing right now is quite lyrical.

[chopinawesome]

Bach Prelude and Fugue No.1 from WTC II
Beethoven Bagatelles
Chopin Bolero and Op.1
R.Starer Preludes
Poulenc Suite:Vif
Villa LObos-PRolo do bebe mvt.2 or 5
LIszt-Hungarian Rhapsody No.3 B flat Major
Dello-Joio Suite 1st and 2nd mvts
Elliot Warren Sea Rhapsody
Antonio Soler SOnata No.84 in D Major
Francois morel Deux Etudes de Sonorite
Domenico Frescobaldi-Toccatas
Japanese,Chinese music
Summer by Joe Hisaishi:

Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the PHoenix:

Prokofiev Romeo and JUliet Op.75 The YOung JUliet or mercutio or Masks
Prokofiev Pieces Op.12 Gavotte(Scherzo is famous)
Liszt-Etudes Opus 1
       Psaume(from the Church of Geneva)
       The Shepherd at the Manger(IN dulci jubilo)
       Pieces from the Book "At the Piano With Liszt"
Copland-Three Moods
MacDowell-Etudes OP.39
Just to name a few