LLCM / LTCL

[gonzaga93]

Hello all  

I am hoping to sit my LLCM or LTCL diploma this year, and have been working on some repertoire ideas, but I can't for the life of me decide! Most of it is reasonably secure, but my last piece is proving terribly troublesome to choose. At present, my repertoire looks like this:

- Beethoven, Sonata in E flat major, Op. 31/3
- Chopin, Nocturne in C minor, Op. 48/1
- Liszt, Concert study in D flat major 'Un sospiro', S.144/3
...and there it ends.

For my final piece, I would really love to learn the Gottshalk ‘Souvenir de Porto Rico, “Marche des Gibaros”, Op. 31, but my teacher doesn't seem to think it would be a good idea in the context of the programme. As an alternative, the Scriabin Poemes, Op.69, have been suggested, but I can't find an indication anywhere of whether these would be up to the standard of the above diplomas. I had originally been looking at Debussy's 'Ondine', which is certainly a lovely piece, but I didn't think it would be sufficiently contrasting for my diploma.

Any advice on all of this would be hugely appreciated! I really want to be able to focus on all of my pieces, and for some reason that's just proving very difficult when I don't have a firm idea of my programme, and may indeed end up having to tear it all down and start from scratch!

 

[symphonicdance]

If you're really looking for the perceived conventional contrast of styles, then you should have works from 4 periods: baroque, classical, romantic, and post-19th century / modern.  (In any case, you will still have a balanced programme with 3 works from the above-mentioned periods.)

I am not familiar with Gottshalk music.  A lot of native American elements?  Nonetheless, he lived in the "romantic period".  So to play safe, a Scriabin and/or Debussy work could be better choice. Otherwise, a baroque work.  Have you clocked the individual playing time of your 3 pieces?  (Personally I think Beethoven PS No 18 is the hardest among them.)

When are you going to take the exam?  1H2016? 2H2016? 2017?  How well you have mastered the current 3 works?  How much time left for learning new piece(s)?  You need to judge yourself.

Another tip.  When structuring a programme, you need not to play in the sequence of periods.

Good luck.

p.s. I just happened to have luckily passed by LTCL and FTCL by self-learning.

[gonzaga93]

Thanks for all of the advice symphonicdance - and sorry for taking so long to reply!

At present the Beethoven is looking like 22.5/23 minutes (still fixing up the tempo in one or two sections), Chopin 5.5, and Liszt 6, so roughly 34.5 minutes without a fourth piece. I'm hoping to take the exam in 2016, most likely the first half, but if I feel I need more time I can always decide to go for the second. I have been learning the Beethoven and Liszt for a good while now, and think I should feel confident in performing those works within the next couple of weeks. Chopin is coming along well - most likely it, alongside the first two works, will be ready my Christmas.

Right now, I am thinking perhaps the Scriabin etude in D sharp (Op 8 no. 12). Very interesting point, by the way, regarding not necessarily 'sequencing' the periods - certainly it could make for some very interesting shifts!

Sounds like a lot more than luck - congratulations! I'm honored to be in receipt of advice from such a talent 

[symphonicdance]

A quick check to the playing time of a few famous pianists on your current three:

Beethoven PS No 18 (22.5 - 25 min incl. repeats) *
Chopin Op 48 No 1 (5 - 6.5 min)
Liszt Un sospiro (5 - 6 min)

* I suspect cutting the repeats will mean a reduction of 4 - 5 min.  (Gentle reminder that you should read the rules and regulations about (long) repeats.)

The Scriabin Op 8 No 12 will only last for about 2.5 min.  That means you need an additional piece, or you need to replace Scriabin with a longer one, in order to meet the min playing time requirement.  Consider picking 1-3 of the six Debussy Images Bk 1 & 2 to make up the time perhaps?

Good luck.

[gonzaga93]

You're quite correct, symphonicdance - I really had not paid sufficient attention to the requirements! Added to that, I have only just realised that, while ~37 minutes is sufficient for LLCM, LTCL requres 45-50 minutes, if going for the recital option. I shall have to find another large-scale work! Sorry for my ignorance in these matters  At least the Beethoven, Chopin, and Liszt, should still work for the programme! I also saw in the syllabus that LTCL must contain one piece by a living composer, which certainly poses some rather unique challenges...I must get to searching!

[visitor]

for a living composer you can try
Seymore  Bernstein, i have this score, it's super creative *(the mosquite one where you have to clap/swat the bug is super creative too lol)

[gonzaga93]

Some of those are rather entertaining! Not quite my cup of tea unfortunately, but it may well be that I have no choice! I'm wondering whether I could also play the piece 'Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake', which is quite beautiful, but I'm just not certain it's of the required standard...dratted business!

[sabtan]

For the LTCL recital programme, the programme itself needs to be between 37-43 minutes.
The exam length is 45 mins in total.

Yeah as per symphonicdance, do need to pay attention to the minutes. Even in the guidelines, have to be rather precise in your timing of the pieces even in the programme notes.

Also need a bit of a balance in the types of work, to try to include from most if not all periods.
While it need not be in chronological order, it does need to be coherent ( again, stated in the guidelines).

I had to re-work my repertoire a few times, and took me 1.5 years to prepare for it. (adult student, life, work, family etc not easy as when you're a teenager or young student! )
I'll let you know once I sit the LTCL exams in 2 weeks!

[symphonicdance]

I don't think there's any requirement to perform a work of a living composer in LTCL Recital/Performance.  At least, all the composers of all four works in my programme are dead.  Not sure about LTCL Pro-Music and LLCM though.

[symphonicdance]

For the LTCL recital programme, the programme itself needs to be between 37-43 minutes.
The exam length is 45 mins in total.

Yeah as per symphonicdance, do need to pay attention to the minutes. Even in the guidelines, have to be rather precise in your timing of the pieces even in the programme notes.

Also need a bit of a balance in the types of work, to try to include from most if not all periods.
While it need not be in chronological order, it does need to be coherent ( again, stated in the guidelines).

I had to re-work my repertoire a few times, and took me 1.5 years to prepare for it. (adult student, life, work, family etc not easy as when you're a teenager or young student! )
I'll let you know once I sit the LTCL exams in 2 weeks!

You understand the guidelines very well. 

I saw in your signature / repertoire:
Haydn Sonata in C maj Hob 50
Bach Toccata and Fugue in G maj
Faure Nocturne no.2 in B maj Op 33
Faure Impromptu no.3 in A major Op 34
Debussy Reflets dans l'eau

Are you going to play all of them in your LTCL exam?

[sabtan]

Yes symphonicdance.

Currently I'm in two minds about the order:

1st option:

Faure Nocturne
Bach Toccata
Haydn Sonata
Debussy Reflets dans l'eau
Faure impromptu

2nd option:

Faure Nocturne
Faure Impromptu
Bach Toccata
Haydn Sonata
Debussy Reflets

Basically it's a choice of beginning and ending the repertoire with Faure, or not.

The advantage of beginning and ending with Faure, which shows there's a bit of a theme somewhat, and also the impromptu has a large difficult grandiose finish. ( but not my strong piece)

So will see closer to the time how I feel about it. It's not a huge change, but yeah, do want to get some "artistic coherence"

Yes, I've read the guidelines a few times.
As you've said in previous posts, when you've paid an arm and a leg for exam fees , you tend to take more notice especially when it's out of your own pocket! Haha..

[symphonicdance]

My silly opinions only.

Subject to the choice of works, but generally speaking, a candidate should consider to play his/her most confident piece to start the recital, and play the piece with a sonorous ending as the last piece.

Nonetheless, playing in the sequence of "period" or in the sequence of the completion year of the work usually won't get criticized.

It is also interesting that a candidate to have a programme comprised of works all in major keys or all in minor keys. Nonetheless it could create a bit danger, but not as serious as to have all in the same major/minor key.

[sabtan]

My silly opinions only.

Subject to the choice of works, but generally speaking, a candidate should consider to play his/her most confident piece to start the recital, and play the piece with a sonorous ending as the last piece.

Nonetheless, playing in the sequence of "period" or in the sequence of the completion year of the work usually won't get criticized.

It is also interesting that a candidate to have a programme comprised of works all in major keys or all in minor keys. Nonetheless it could create a bit danger, but not as serious as to have all in the same major/minor key.

True, agree somewhat to the point about sonority for the ending.
Which is why I am seriously considering it.

Not by choice to have it all in major keys, but don't see why it should be "criticized" ( if they would) for having a selection in major keys.

Nonetheless, while the selection of the programme is important, what's more important is the execution of a "well balanced" programme, however one might define it.

Which is why to the original poster: while it's important to select a good, well balanced programme, which adheres to the guidelines, it's also equally important to pay particular attention to the execution of it.
I firmly believe the expectation is a step up from ATCL or the Performance certificates.

[symphonicdance]

Regarding my point about a programme comprised of works all in major or all in minor (or worst, in same major/minor key)...  I read a book written by an ex-examiner.

[symphonicdance]

And much agreed...  Execution or delivery of a convincing performance is most indispensable.  It would be nice for the candidate to have a few rehearsals in front of his/her family, friends, school-mates before the exam.