Advice: What are some Great Works by American Composers?

[bachopiev]

Hi! I'm new on this forum, so I do hope I'm doing this post right / not violating any forum rules. If I am doing something wrong please let me know.

In any case, I have found that of late, many of the competitions I enter ask for a piece by an American composer. My repertoire does not include anything by an American composer (apart from the Maple Leaf Rag, something I learned seven years ago.) I have found that my not having any repertoire by American composers is really hurting me, and whenever there is competition that requires a piece by an American composer, I never apply.

I feel that my lack of knowing pieces by American composers has really hurt me. However, I haven't a clue what pieces to play. I've never encountered a piece I really like by any American composer.

With this being said, I would appreciate any feedback on some interesting pieces by an American composer. Do any of you have any suggestions? Ideally, the piece would be "classical" (I use this term in the broadest sense), and would also match my current skill level.

To give you guys an idea of my level, below is a list of repertoire I am currently working on:

Albeniz - Suite Espagnole
Bach - Goldberg Variations
Bach - Partita No. 2 in Cm
Beethoven - Undecided. Either Hammerklavier or Appasionata Sonata
Chopin - Ballade No. 4
Chopin - Scherzo No. 1
Chopin - Barcarolle
Chopin - Polonaise-Fantasie
Lizst - Rhapsodie Hongroise No. 5
Schubert - Sonata in A minor, D. 845
Prokofiev - Sonata No. 2 in Dm

To give you guys a sense of my tastes, my top five composers in order are:

1. Bach
2. Chopin
3. Schubert
4. Prokofiev
5. Beethoven

I really appreciate your time! 

[visitor]

I've covered "American" composers extensively in other posts, do a search and you'll come up w copious examples i've submitted in the past. Will try to recall some of the more notables and repost later but it's definitely out there if you look for it on the boards

[josh93248]

Gershwin

[visitor]

[visitor]

Still is a jewel, like fill Claude Debussy with some southern soul and you get Still. Here's an excerpt from one of my favorite larger works of his

this is him at his more 'impressionistic' and nostalgic
lovely lovely lovely

and some more:

Lits of great choices beyond the obvious ( ie Barbet , Grifes, etc)

Ellinor Remmick Warren considered neo romantic in slant ie like Barber Times
Her work along the shore ( suite type) is fantastic
Ie excerpts

I. Dark hills

Ii nocturne

Iii sea rhapsody

This was later orchestrated as the third movement of Warren's tone poem, "Along the Western Shore". Warren's love of the full tonal range of the symphony orchestra is readily apparent in this virtuosic piano piece, where one can readily imagine the restlessness of the sea, its surging waves breaking against a shore.

Else siegmeister
Three studies

Or here Is ex from American piano sonata ( no 1 )
Iii lusty and joyous

Bernstein wrote a lot for piano and really really well. Enjoyable pieces to play and listen to I have his complete works for piano scores an audio. Lots of variety
Anniversaries are a good place to start exploring

Other ex of many pieces and variety of style

I do wonder if op even bothered a basic read/ search before asking.  i can't look for basic stuff without tripping over multiple options.  The american piano list is vast and varied. Hec for every one i post, i don't post several just because i don't like them. of those even avail to post a recording, i have several i don't because the audio is protected and i can only access via my database subscription.

oh well, let's keep going.

Florence Beatrice Price

Margaret Bonds

Edward Bland

etc etc....

[rubinsteinmad]

Liebermann: Four Etudes on Brahms Songs
Earl Wild: Etude on Gershwin's Embraceable You
Gershwin- Rhapsody in Blue (version for piano solo)
Amy Beach- Hermit Thrush at Eve; Hermit Thrush at Morn
Barber- Nocturne
MacDowell- Various Pieces
Gottschalk- Grand Scherzo; La Savane

You may also wish to look at Gershwin's 3 Preludes, some works by Ornstein, transcriptions by David Guion, Liebermann's 4th Nocturne, Gottschalk: The Banjo, Pasquinade etc.

[c_minor]

I'd recommend Gottschalk. Here are some works of his that I like:

[visitor]

there's a LOT and very diverse music w Brubeck
ie

there's lots of these, here's a little sample

[bachopiev]

Thanks, everyone, for all the excellent recommendations! I am slowly wading through all these pieces (listening to them, that is) -- I am almost done wading through visitor's gigantic recommendation list! Thanks, to all, for all these excellent recommendations! Please keep them coming, I am listening to each and every piece that appears in this post.

As an aside, I am especially infatuated with the Flagello Sonata, and to a lesser extent, the Bernstein Anniversaries.

[alkan2010]

Common pieces in the repertoire are Barber's Ballade *wonderful!* and Nocturne

Gershwin's famous Three Preludes and songs;
Rzewski's Ballads, Mayn Yingele and others (search them in IMSLP!);
Rochberg's Nach Bach;
George Perle's Etudes and shorter pieces;
Amy Beach's wonderful works, in late Romantic vein. Her Variations on Balkan Themes are a large-scale, virtuosic crowd pleaser! She wrote a great deal of piano music at every difficulty level;
Bolcom's Etudes (difficult!) or Rags;
etc. etc. etc....
Hav fun!

[ahinton]

I'm surprised that this thread has had to enter a double figure number of posts before anyone's mentioned Ives' two piano sonatas, Carter's piano sonata, Barber's piano and Sessions's three piano sonatas - and the thread's not even confined to piano music anyway!...

Away from the piano, a recommend anyone wanting to know the answers to this to trawl through - among many other things - the symphonies of Sessions, Piston, Schuman, Diamond and Mennin and the orchestral works of Carter - and that only covers orchestral repertoire! It's an immensely rich vein to tap into...

Best,

Alistair

[visitor]

Also, prev reccs are north america in general, but 'american' would be closer akin to saying panamerican, so we would include central and south american too, and that opens up the goodies , too many to really list

[rubinsteinmad]

Also, prev reccs are north america in general, but 'american' would be closer akin to saying panamerican, so we would include central and south american too, and that opens up the goodies , too many to really list

I think when piano competitions require an "American work", they want you to play a piece written by a composer from the USA. "It can be advantageous, but it can be unwise, to make exceptions." - Dr. Fay King

Away from the piano, a recommend anyone wanting to know the answers to this to trawl through - among many other things - the symphonies of Sessions, Piston, Schuman, Diamond and Mennin and the orchestral works of Carter - and that only covers orchestral repertoire! It's an immensely rich vein to tap into...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that in piano competitions, they expect you to play works scored for the piano.

[bachopiev]

Thanks so much for every post on this thread -- I am slowly slogging through this immense list of listening material. I have found many gems amongst your suggestions. I appreciate everything tremendously, and thanks for your feedback.

Yes, this competition refers to "your native country's music", that being U.S.A. which is commonly referred to as American. Sorry for the ambiguity.

Can you guys please suggest an American piece that is longer than 8 minutes, and no longer than 30 minutes? I think such a piece would be perfect for this competition. Deadline is June 1 to learn it, so please keep that in mind.

Cheers!

[visitor]

Thanks so much for every post on this thread -- I am slowly slogging through this immense list of listening material. I have found many gems amongst your suggestions. I appreciate everything tremendously, and thanks for your feedback.

Yes, this competition refers to "your native country's music", that being U.S.A. which is commonly referred to as American. Sorry for the ambiguity.

Can you guys please suggest an American piece that is longer than 8 minutes, and no longer than 30 minutes? I think such a piece would be perfect for this competition. Deadline is June 1 to learn it, so please keep that in mind.


Cheers!

Normal Lloyd Piano Sonata, all 3 movements are super cool, should come in under time

[bachopiev]

Again, thanks to all contributors. I am considering many pieces on this list in terms of what to work on next.

However, do you guys know anything written more in the 19th century, European, romantic style? Or anything especially contrapuntal? I'm having some trouble truly connecting with any of the pieces listed here.

Indeed, many of them are very pretty. However, I do not feel like I feel any emotional bond, or connection, to any of the listed pieces. Perhaps this is do to my absolute and horrid inexperience in American composing ... however, used as I am to European composing, nothing here seems to sound like music I love.

I am sorry if I am being inarticulate, but I do not believe I have a better way to express my feelings except for those written above.

Thank you immensely, and please help me try to remedy this unfortunate situation!

[ahinton]

I think when piano competitions require an "American work", they want you to play a piece written by a composer from the USA. "It can be advantageous, but it can be unwise, to make exceptions." - Dr. Fay King

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that in piano competitions, they expect you to play works scored for the piano.

Of course - but read the thread title...

Best,

Alistair

[huaidongxi]

"19th century, European, romantic style ", have to second the nomination for Gottschalk, he qualifies in all three.  some of his dances and character pieces have affinities to Chopin and Schumann, at least to my ears.

[symphonicdance]

Charles Griffes is probably one of the lesser known American composers.  Just recently heard one of his works in a recital.  Quite nice.

I am lazy, so I just copy and paste the link of a CD of his piano works played by another American pianist.

https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA67907

[symphonicdance]

Also, not sure if someone has already mentioned Frederic Rzewski.  His North American Ballads are getting more popular, particularly Winnsboro Cotton Mill Blues.

[visitor]

Zephyr for piano solo by David Saperton. I have score and audio of this and started reading through parts again the other day, it's a possible work up project for me this  year and i really like it, falls easily in the hands, it's comfortable.

Super cool piece and  his bio is nothing to sneeze at. A forgotten heavy hitter/heavyweight. Phenom pianist and this is in a 'golden age' of piano neoromantic style , click on track 3 for a few seconds of demo audio
https://www.allmusic.com/album/music-from-the-golden-age-of-the-piano-mw0002448013

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Saperton