Yet another "modern" repertoire question

[stream]

Hello fellow members of Piano Street!

I am yet another student searching for contemporary/modern pieces, preferably those that don't sound like a devil-summoning session with the universe imploding and exploding simultaneously.

Since the definition of "contemporary/modern" has been argued about a lot, I think that for my purposes any composer from Debussy to 2020-still-alive will be fine.

For reference, I have recently completed:
Rach Prelude in C# Minor
Mozart Sonata No. 10 Kv 330 first movement
Chopin Nocturne Op. 9. No 1
Clair De Lune (cliche, but I think it's pretty. Fight me.  )
Humoresque by Shchedrin
Other "student" pieces (e.g. Khulau and Clementi sonatinas that are pretty boring and not really worthy of naming).

I am currently working on:
Chopin Waltz Op. 64 No. 2
Chopin Nocturne in C# Minor (the famous posthumous one)
Pathetique first movement
Scriabin Prelude No. 10

So far, I really, really like Scriabin's Etude in D Sharp Minor, but it also looks hard and  awkward to play and because my technical skill is severely lacking, my teacher estimates I can possibly play it but it'll be a very long-term project (a year?)

I am considering Shostakovich's Polka from the Golden Age as a possibility, as it's short and sweet. Debussy's Valse Romantique and Sibelius Romance Op 24 No 9 are fairly pretty, but they are stretching the "modern" part.

I turn to the wisdom of the internet.

Thanks in advance,

--Streamy
 

[samwitdangol]

How about Prokofiev Op. 22 Vision Fugitives? No. 9 or No. 14 from the set perhaps. That may be too easy though, considering your repertoire.

[pianoannieq]

Hi Stream,

I personally love Scriabin and I'm learning his piano concerto starting with the last movement. If you want something less challenging than his 8/12 etude, his prelude 11/14 has the same texture so I think you'll like that one! Also check out his 2/1 etude and his opus 9, there are some gorgeous harmonics.

If you're not interested in the "devil-summoning session with the universe imploding and exploding simultaneously" pieces (hahaha), I would consider impressionist composers. I played Debussy's Nocturne L. 82 (89) before and it is beautiful!!! It's still one of my favourites to listen to, and there aren't many technical difficulties. I remember some polyrhythms but they'll get easier once you get them to flow together. I love his ballade too, though I've never played that one.

Some other good ones that I like are Ravel's Miriors and his Pavane pour une infante défunte as well as Prokofiev's first piano sonata. Miriors is a set, but I think the second and the last pieces are the easiest of them. His Pavane pour une infante défunte leans towards the romantic side for contemporary pieces. Prokofiev's sonata has bits of Chopin and Rachmaninoff and it's so different from his later edgy/sarcastic style. This one is more challenging than the others, so it could turn out to be one of those long term projects.

Sorry for the long response but if I had to choose my favourites, they would be the Debussy Nocturne and Ravel's Pavane pour une infante défunte! I hope this helps

[quantum]

Is this just for personal playing, or do you need a modern selection for an exam or audition?

Since you like Scriabin, take a look at some of the miniatures he wrote in his middle and later periods.  It is a different style of writing than the early romantic influenced style of the D-sharp minor Etude.

[brogers70]

How about Janacek? Either the Piano Sonata or In the Mists might be good.

And since you mentioned Shostakovich, why not a couple of his Preludes and Fugues; they're terrific and pretty modern sounding.

[mhkeys]

Just to throw out some in a different style than the other suggestions. Leonard Bernstein's Anniversaries are very short pieces. Some are fun and tonally unangsty. Glass Etudes, if you don't mind some minimalism, are easy on the ears. Maybe some Piazzolla Tangos.

[aaaaaa]

If you're not interested in the "devil-summoning session with the universe imploding and exploding simultaneously" pieces (hahaha), I would consider impressionist composers.

Well then, what are some of your favorite pieces like that?  Sounds like exactly what I'm looking for.
Edit: Sorry about the formatting, I'm not sure how to go back to the normal text after a quote.

[ahinton]

It's as well that quotes are place around the word "modern" here.

"Any composer from Debussy onwards"? As Debussy's earliest known piano music dates from 140 years ago, the application of the epithet "modern" to him is surely way out of place? Yes, there's no universally accepted definition as to what should constitute "modern", nor could there be, but some time during the latter half of the previous century surely cuts it better than 1880+?

Best,

Alistair

[brogers70]

It's as well that quotes are place around the word "modern" here.

"Any composer from Debussy onwards"? As Debussy's earliest known piano music dates from 140 years ago, the application of the epithet "modern" to him is surely way out of place? Yes, there's no universally accepted definition as to what should constitute "modern", nor could there be, but some time during the latter half of the previous century surely cuts it better than 1880+?

Best,

Alistair

Some 20th century literary critic once said "Shakespeare and Dante divide the modern world between them," where modern meant anything after the classical Greeks and Romans. And "modern" Chinese poetry begins with the Tang Dynasty, around 800 CE. Clearly what constitutes "modern" depends on your perspective.

[ahinton]

Some 20th century literary critic once said "Shakespeare and Dante divide the modern world between them," where modern meant anything after the classical Greeks and Romans. And "modern" Chinese poetry begins with the Tang Dynasty, around 800 CE. Clearly what constitutes "modern" depends on your perspective.

Indeed it does and, after all, I did write "there's no universally accepted definition as to what should constitute "modern", nor could there be", but then we are dealing here with piano repertoire, of which there was none in the time of Shakespeare, Dante, the classical Greeks and Romans or the Tang dynasty!

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

How about some Purcell?

[ahinton]

How about some Purcell?

Or how about some Hildegard of Bingen?  Or how about John Purser's book Forty thousand years of music?...

Best,

Alistair

[visitor]

How about some Purcell?

winner. To the top with you!

[visitor]

[stream]

Or how about some Hildegard of Bingen?  Or how about John Purser's book Forty thousand years of music?...

Best,

Alistair

How could I not think of her?!    Ordo Virtutum is such a breakthrough composition; the whole morality play thing has never been done before! Forty Thousand Years of Music is a bit too retro IMO.

Anyways, I do think that the intention and spirit behind my request was fairly clear.
It is true that using "modern" was probably not the best choice of words and I should have put something more specific to my needs, but "modern" was just more concise.

That, or I am a time-traveller.

Is this just for personal playing, or do you need a modern selection for an exam or audition?

Both, though the second part is not too pressing at the moment, the cancellations and all.


Anyways, thank you very much for your suggestions everyone, I'll relay them to my teacher! I really like the Debussy Ballade and the Janaek and the Prokofiev sonata... though Purcell would be my top choice (duh). 

Thanks!

--Streamy

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