Piano Miniature Sets

[klavieronin]

I'm looking to learn a collection of piano miniatures and am wondering if there is anything out there comparable to Prokofiev's Visions Fugitives. I want something preferably modern (but not necessarily), short pieces (2-3 pages max), and a decent number of them (say, around the 20-30 mark, or more). Difficulty isn't an issue but I would prefer if the were suitable for concert, i.e. not student pieces.

Thanks.

[opus10no2]

Not modern but the Alkan esquisses are a brilliant collection of varied miniatures....unique quirky and eccentric among them.

[klavieronin]

Hi opus10no2,

Thanks for the suggestion. Great little pieces but maybe a few too many for my needs (almost 100 pages!). I've decided to go with the more manageable 24 Preludes of Shostakovich, Op.34.

[alkan2010]

Nino Rota's wonderful 15 preludes! Only a couple page each, they present colorful and contrasting material.

Some Rzewski's works (Nanosonatas, etc.) are quite short, quirk and interesting. On IMSLP you can find recording and manuscripts in public domain -quite strange for a living composer!-
Zaderatsky wrote 24 Preludes, more extended than Shosta's but you can easily make a selection. You can find them in Youtube or (all) in Spotify. Liadov wrote some of the most enchanting miniatures of the Russian school. Often grouped in smaller sets, Biriulki could be your choice.
In the Romantic period, small pieces cycles by Schumann and Grieg are a very famous choice. Baroque music is a treasure trove of miniatures, but OT  
Last, I suggest you to have a look at the album "85 Piano Miniatures" by Matthias Veit, rich of wonderful ideas.

[klavieronin]

Thanks for that suggestion alkan2010. I hadn't heard of Nino Rota before. That's a great little set. I'll definitely look into to that.

[alkan2010]

Altough Rota is enormously famous as a movie composer (worked with Fellini and was the composer of the Godfather's score!), he has a substantial body of "pure" classical music well worth exploring!

[rubinsteinmad]

Prokofiev's Ten Pieces from Romeo and Juliet?
Scriabin's Preludes Op. 11?
Bowen's Preludes?
Schumann's Carnaval?


I'm sure you've already thought of all of these before, but just in case you didn't, here are my suggestions...

[klavieronin]

Prokofiev's Ten Pieces from Romeo and Juliet?
Scriabin's Preludes Op. 11?
Bowen's Preludes?
Schumann's Carnaval?

Great suggestions. I actually forgot about Schumann's Carnaval. I might consider that. The Scriabin and Bowen preludes are also on my radar.

[handz]

Scriabins preludes op 11 - amazing works, short but have all there should be.

[irrational]

I am not sure of the difficulty level as I have not looked at the scores.
You could have a look at

Lyadov - Spillikins Op.2
Medtner - Improvisation No.2 Op.47. These may be a bit too long though.