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Topic: Another repertoire suggestion request  (Read 1507 times)

Offline judiciary

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Another repertoire suggestion request
on: May 23, 2020, 01:40:07 AM
Hello,
I'm a lapsed piano student -- I had lessons for many years as a child, burned out badly at some point and barely touched a piano for the next 3 years, and I'm now really wanting to come back to it. I'm trying to find a piece or two to learn over the next few weeks. I'd like to do something that isn't too long (under 10 minutes hopefully). Other than that my only requirement is that I like it musically.

I have my own likes/dislikes as well as a bucket list of things that I always wanted to play, but I'm not confident in judging what's doable for me since it's been so long. I'm also not certain how to balance challenging myself with playing something more comfortable so that I can get more immediate satisfaction. I was hoping that people here might be able to suggest pieces that could work and/or give advice.

The hardest things I've learned at a polished/performance level are:
- Liszt Un Sospiro
- Ravel Sonatine
- Prelude from Debussy "Pour le piano"

Things that I like or want to explore include:
- Pieces that aren't commonly played, Rach C sharp minor is lovely but I really enjoy getting to find out about overlooked composers or works
- Baroque music that's fast and rhythmic/aggressive sounding
- Late-Romantic stuff that has strong chords and that moody/dramatic quality. Bonus if it's playable with small hands, I'm able to stretch to a tenth with great difficulty but I have a hard time picking up things with a ton of fast octaves

Specific pieces I've wanted to play but I'm not sure if I could handle it are:
- Ravel's Jeux d'Eau
- Rachmaninoff Moments Musicaux no. 4
- Moszkowski Caprice Espagnol

Obviously I'd like to get a teacher again at some point but that's pretty hard given everything that's going on; so for now it's just me with a piano trying to keep busy. Would love to hear any suggestions or advice people have.

--jh
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Offline rachlover23

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Re: Another repertoire suggestion request
Reply #1 on: May 23, 2020, 06:30:45 AM
hey Jh,

Seems to me you your technique is a little subpar to some of the pieces you want to play. the Moszkowski is full of repeated notes and octaves and guessing from you saying u struggle with octaves, this piece could potentially injure you if u were to attempt it. Now the Ravel i think you could learn as it is a good next piece after his sonatina. The Rach needs very solid finger working, so unless you have strong fast fingers then do not learn it.

Now pieces I suggest you learn are Chopin etude(they help build technique, which is what you need to play some of the pieces u want to play). If u wanna play the Rach prelude play it, but it is performed wayyy to much. maybe a Schubert impromptu (any would do u good).  a nice fun bach to play is "Nun freut euch, lieben Christen g'mein" it is his 4 choral prelude and i think u would enjoy it.


hope this helped
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Offline judiciary

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Re: Another repertoire suggestion request
Reply #2 on: May 23, 2020, 03:00:23 PM
Great, I appreciate it! I know my technique is not at the level I need to tackle those four pieces, that was more a list of long term goals for things I probably can't handle yet. It's good to get confirmation and I appreciate the suggestions.

Which Chopin etudes would you recommend? Also, any suggestions for things to build fluency with octaves/large chords?

The Bach seems very fun, thank you for that! I hadn't heard of it. I really like the moment musical so I might try to just give it a read, I've been through a few of Moszkowski's etudes so I have some confidence in my fingerwork.
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Offline visitor

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Re: Another repertoire suggestion request
Reply #3 on: May 24, 2020, 02:31:03 PM


Worth the effort if you can find the score, I may have this , I would probably share If it becomes apparent that pianoraescores.com lifted a copy of my scans and selling them

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Offline fftransform

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Re: Another repertoire suggestion request
Reply #4 on: May 24, 2020, 08:57:11 PM
Oh yeah, me too.  I also need repertoire help.  I played for four months when I was six years old.  Unfortunately, the hardest pieces I could master were:

Boulez Deuxieme sonate
Xenakis Herma
Liszt Norma Fantasy
Chopin Prelude No. 3
Ludovic Lamothe "La Habanera"


Can I play Sorabji?  I'd ask my teacher, but my teacher actually knows my skill level and would just say no :(
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Offline dogperson

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Re: Another repertoire suggestion request
Reply #5 on: May 24, 2020, 10:55:30 PM
Quote from: fftransform on May 24, 2020, 08:57:11 PM
Oh yeah, me too.  I also need repertoire help.  I played for four months when I was six years old.  Unfortunately, the hardest pieces I could master were:

Boulez Deuxieme sonate
Xenakis Herma
Liszt Norma Fantasy
Chopin Prelude No. 3
Ludovic Lamothe "La Habanera"



Can I play Sorabji?  I'd ask my teacher, but my teacher actually knows my skill level and would just say no :(


I’m afraid that if this is the best you could do after four months of lessons you need to go away and learn Fur Elise before anyone here could possibly provide any suggestions.  You obviously need remedial work based on your poor progress. If you prefer, you can learn Sorabji rather than Fur Elise
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Offline judiciary

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Re: Another repertoire suggestion request
Reply #6 on: May 25, 2020, 02:05:36 AM
Quote from: visitor on May 24, 2020, 02:31:03 PM
Worth the effort if you can find the score, I may have this , I would probably share If it becomes apparent that pianoraescores.com lifted a copy of my scans and selling them

Thank you!

Quote from: fftransform on May 24, 2020, 08:57:11 PM
Oh yeah, me too.  I also need repertoire help.  I played for four months when I was six years old.  Unfortunately, the hardest pieces I could master were:

Boulez Deuxieme sonate
Xenakis Herma
Liszt Norma Fantasy
Chopin Prelude No. 3
Ludovic Lamothe "La Habanera"


Can I play Sorabji?  I'd ask my teacher, but my teacher actually knows my skill level and would just say no :(

LOL, I didn't expect to get torn to shreds in my first post here!!

Obviously asking my teacher was my first thought. Sadly it's a bad time to seek out a new teacher (at least where I live), what with society being shut down and everything. I haven't been in contact with my previous one since 2017 -- I feel that it'd be weird to call her up.

I'm open with the fact that I wasn't too serious about piano when I did it, and I don't have a strong knowledge of the literature as a result -- so I thought that trying to talk to some real people might be a good idea in addition to looking for pieces by myself. I don't think I said anything out of line. If I did, I'd appreciate if you told me instead of passive-aggressively mocking :)

(Anyway these are all great to listen to, thanks for the recs)
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