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Topic: Medtner for college audition? (Read 3622 times)

zxiao9

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Posts: 22

I am prepping for college audition next year. Since most auditions require a "20/21st century" work, I was thinking about doing some Medtner pieces, since I appreciate his music quite a lot. My problem is I'm not sure if Medtner is really a "20/21st century" composer despite living in that time era, as his music style is more late romantic. Thanks!

My current audition plan:
Baroque: Bach D minor prelude/fugue from WTC Book 2
Classical: Mozart Sonata No.12 K332
Romantic: Liszt Funerailles
20th Century: Medtner Skazki Op.20 (No.1+No.2)
Etude: Chopin Op.10 No.12 or Op.10 No.2

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pianoplayer002

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Re: Medtner for college audition?

Reply #1 on: January 02, 2017, 07:10:01 PM

While he technically composed during that era I would say a safer bet would be something like Prokofiev, Ligeti, Schoenberg, Ginastera etc. They probably want to hear how capable you are in different styles and you already have some romantic pieces in your program.

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mjames

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Re: Medtner for college audition?

Reply #2 on: January 02, 2017, 08:06:44 PM

I've argued about this with my teacher so many times now, and while he is technically a 20th century/modern composer his style is mostly romantic. The point of playing through different eras of music is to demonstrate your skill in adapting to various styles and I'm sorry dude, that fairy tale is just a typical romantic work (even though it's awesome). Choose something else.

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visitor

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Re: Medtner for college audition?

Reply #3 on: January 02, 2017, 08:11:55 PM

+1 to the above, style and tradition is the big thing here. it would be more correct to play Medtner as a 'romantic' selection and include some other 20th century/modern piece that it would to include a romantic piece and then also the Medtner as a 20th century /modern style work.

Have a look at some of the more conservative 20th century composers if you you have trouble connecting to the style, ie Elinor Remmick Warren, Nicolas Flagello, John La Montaine, Samuel Barber to name a few Americans.

Also consider maybe David Diamond, Norman Dello Joio, Leonard Bernstein, Seymore Bernstein, Louise Talma, Robert Starer, etc. for more meat in the space they are asking you to demonstrate.

ie this is particularly lovely

can suggest more later, but parting sugg....Poulenc nocturnes, are super groovy, have a looksey

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zxiao9

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Posts: 22

Re: Medtner for college audition?

Reply #4 on: January 02, 2017, 09:28:24 PM

Quote from: visitor on January 02, 2017, 08:11:55 PM

+1 to the above, style and tradition is the big thing here. it would be more correct to play Medtner as a 'romantic' selection and include some other 20th century/modern piece that it would to include a romantic piece and then also the Medtner as a 20th century /modern style work.

Have a look at some of the more conservative 20th century composers if you you have trouble connecting to the style, ie Elinor Remmick Warren, Nicolas Flagello, John La Montaine, Samuel Barber to name a few Americans.

Also consider maybe David Diamond, Nicolas Dello Joio, Leonard Bernstein, Seymore Bernstein, Louise Talma, Robert Starer, etc. for more meat in the space they are asking you to demonstrate.

ie this is particularly lovely

can suggest more later, but parting sugg....Poulenc nocturnes, are super groovy, have a looksey

Thanks! I just listened to the Pulenc nocturnes and they are amazing! They would count as romantic pieces as well right (considering their style)? Do you have any suggestions for more modernist styled pieces with doable difficulty judging from the repertoire I am current doing? I have tried Prokofiev's sonatas but they are too difficult.

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dogperson

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Posts: 1559

Re: Medtner for college audition?

Reply #5 on: January 02, 2017, 10:51:52 PM

I find the two below to be wonderful--- but someone else here will need to confirm the appropriateness for college auditions. (SIGH! I took a different career path!)

this Ginastra

Lecouna's Malaguena

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visitor

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Posts: 5294

Re: Medtner for college audition?

Reply #6 on: January 02, 2017, 11:53:55 PM

Quote from: zxiao9 on January 02, 2017, 09:28:24 PM

Thanks! I just listened to the Pulenc nocturnes and they are amazing! They would count as romantic pieces as well right (considering their style)? Do you have any suggestions for more modernist styled pieces with doable difficulty judging from the repertoire I am current doing? I have tried Prokofiev's sonatas but they are too difficult.

most welcome. Poulenc is mild 20th century , > cannot imagine it being called romantic at all. It is more closely neoclassical to some degree much more closer to Francaix than Rachmaninoff.

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visitor

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Re: Medtner for college audition?

Reply #7 on: January 02, 2017, 11:56:07 PM

Quote from: dogperson on January 02, 2017, 10:51:52 PM

I find the two below to be wonderful--- but someone else here will need to confirm the appropriateness for college auditions. (SIGH! I took a different career path!)

this Ginastra

Lecouna's Malaguena

Ginastera would certainly be a very very good choice, Malaguena is iffy, it is very "tonal" and shares quite a bit with romantic style, but it is a great piece and a crowd pleaser but a but of a gamble for 20th century in my opinion.

however for Lecuona, San Francisco El Grande and Ante El Escorial are wonderful impressionistic pieces, either of those would or should work

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visitor

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Re: Medtner for college audition?

Reply #8 on: January 03, 2017, 12:00:20 AM

Op might consider mid to late Szymanowski as a potential if Poulenc doesnt end up making the final cut...

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visitor

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Re: Medtner for college audition?

Reply #9 on: January 03, 2017, 12:09:02 AM

This is different enough that it might work, it borrows heavily from a traditional African American spiritual...Still is an important figure in the mid century American composer landscape, if variety of styles including aome effecrive late impressionism at times.

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ajlongspiano

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Re: Medtner for college audition?

Reply #10 on: January 03, 2017, 12:11:43 AM

I played Medtner Op.20 No.1 in both of my college auditions for the 20th century selection and both faculty panels seemed to enjoy it a lot. Wishing you the best!

Best,

AJ

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visitor

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Re: Medtner for college audition?

Reply #11 on: January 03, 2017, 12:20:53 AM

Debussy eat your heart out...

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