Piano Forum

I think I'm not gonna tackle another etude any time soon since 10 12 was pretty hard, especially since I don't have great stamina.

Debussy does sound pretty good though. But personally I'm looking for something that can be played for non-musicans. So maybe Clair de lune since that's pretty popular, or maybe Arabesque. I initially thought about Un sospiro because it sounds more like a song rather than the usually crazy Liszt stuff.

Looking at HR2....yeah, maybe I'll wait for a few more years, since I haven't been playing for all that long.

Ah!  Well, if you're coming down on the side of Debussy, then you can't be all bad!

Sure, you can do the Clair de Lune or the Arabesque E/ C#m (I think that's the one you mean):  I've done those, and I've only time I ever used the Op. 10/12 occasionally if I felt like doing some octaves split between two hands, just for want of something to practice at.  So, if I can do those, pretty sure you can.

And, if you can't do it already, you need the 3:2 and 2:3 rhythms from the Debussy Arabesque.  Not just for Brahms (all over the place!  look at his exercises 0)), but certainly for Liszt.  Or Chopin's C major prélude, for that matter, after a fashion.

More importantly is if you actually like those pieces.  It won't take you long to sight-read them at a pretty good level.

There's a whole lot to Debussy's music, to understate the point.  But, as a point of history, think how much Debussy appreciated Chopin's music in particular.

So, even though the harmonies may be a bit strange at times, there's still the continuity.

I'd really, if I were you, think strongly about the Children's Corner suite:  since you seem to want some crowd-pleasers, there's plenty in there. 

And some of it is not so easy.  Yeah, the Gradus and the cakewalk are not especially demanding, from the perspective of someone who can play, but they are certainly crowd-pleasers, in their way.

Mmmmmm.......none of my young nephews nor extended family care for "Jimbo's Lullable," the few times I did it during some holiday or get-together, but they're just wrong! 

ETA

think I'm not gonna tackle another etude any time soon since 10 12 was pretty hard, especially since I don't have great stamina.

Moszkowwwwwwwwski.....G minor.......oooh!  It's almost Halloween.

You might profit by building on your LH strengths.  The Moszkowski is maybe not the greatest bit of music ever written, but I'm pretty sure you could play it without too much trouble.  Give yourself a week or two, while doing other stuff.  Shouldn't be a problem. 

Elephant in the room:  the Brahms LH arr. of that Bach Chaconne in D minor.

That's something anyone can play, were it not so darned long and a PITA to learn.

So, those are two études you can do.  The Brahms would take quite a while to get all the notes and interpretation, but, you know.

I'd just do the Beethoven Op. 26:  the Trio and parts of the Rondo have plenty for the LH to do.  Or pick a Bach where you're constantly running in the LH. 

Show off your strengths, really. 

ETA OR, do something nice, but not necessarily short, like Scarlatti's K. 141.  That's a ball-buster of a piece, but instead of LH, you're going to be working overtime with the RH.  No, I haven't mastered it, so don't look to me for a masterclass on how to play it.

But, I'd look to live concerts or programmed albums by some of the greats.

Whoever your favorites are, it doesn't matter.

EETA do the Contrapunctus IX from the Ars fuga.  It's long, and somewhat complicated, but you don't have to play the whole thing once the exposition is complete:  with good ears and mind, you can just abridge it if you want and make up some ending when the tonality gets back to either F or the home key.

EEETA I think you'd be surprised what "non-musicians" would regale in hearing.  You could play a half-dozen of the Bach Sinfonias, and, likely as not, people will love it.

As long as it sounds good.

It's a balancing act, really, like a tightrope walker. 

If it's good music, and you play it good, you might be surprised at what people enjoy hearing.

Now, yeah, sure, I keep a few "Ohhh!!!!  I know that piece!" in my memory, but I think you'd be surprised how little it takes to please your average audience.  If it sounds good, and it's good music, they're going to be happy.

EEEETA Sure, I'll put in a plug for Beethoven's Op. 126.  As a complete piece, first through the last.  They're short bagatelles, for the most part, and you will develop different aspects of your technique.  I have always used the Brendel ed. from Wiener Urtest, but, hint, with a printer and scanner, you can condense the set into one double-sided page when printed, provided you can see that small and only need some cues to remember some of the pieces.  The ledger lines in the third piece are riduculous, but it's not so bad once you get the idea.