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Topic: In need of an underrated substantial romantic work.  (Read 2290 times)

Offline illystraiter

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I'm sad because I just found out Chopin's nocturnes are not considered "substantial" romantic works. What would then be considered substantial enough for an audition? I know the obvious answers are Chopin Ballades and Scherzos, but I would like something a little bit more under the radar, more of a hidden gem. In general I like more obscure works by major composers (Chopin, Schumann, Brahms, Liszt, Mendelssohn, etc.) instead of works by obscure composers.
Anyone have suggestions?

Offline quantum

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Re: In need of an underrated substantial romantic work.
Reply #1 on: July 25, 2020, 04:54:02 PM
Chopin Rondo Op 16







Made a Liszt. Need new Handel's for Soler panel & Alkan foil. Will Faure Stein on the way to pick up Mendels' sohn. Josquin get Wolfgangs Schu with Clara. Gone Chopin, I'll be Bach

Offline ronde_des_sylphes

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Re: In need of an underrated substantial romantic work.
Reply #2 on: July 25, 2020, 05:25:31 PM
 




My website - www.andrewwrightpianist.com
Info and samples from my first commercial album - https://youtu.be/IlRtSyPAVNU
My SoundCloud - https://soundcloud.com/andrew-wright-35

Offline kc_gracie

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Re: In need of an underrated substantial romantic work.
Reply #3 on: July 26, 2020, 05:17:18 AM
Hi. Not sure what your audition if for or what level of difficulty you have in mind. Regardless, I will include some links to some pieces that I absolutely adore by some pretty large composers. Most of these are not as well played as many of their more popular works.

And, to go with what some people have already shared, I really like the suggestions of the Medtner Sonata and the Liszt Pensee des Morts. I play this Liszt piece and if is so powerful if played well and can have a dramatic effect on people. It literally gives me chills every time the piece enters into the moonlight-esque section in the second half. Just breathtaking.

-KC

Liszt - Benediction de Dieu dans la Solitude

This is one of my absolute favorite Liszt pieces and is so much fun to play. Along with Pensee des Morts, this piece just induces so much emotion. I feel that this piece is very underrated and an absolute joy to listen to and play. Also a very emotional and breathtaking piece.




Liszt - Valle d'Obermann


Although I wouldn't really say this piece is underplayed or anything, I still don't feel like it is played too much and, I believe, is underrated in comparison to many of the things Liszt wrote. This may be my favorite Liszt piece because of the story that is portrayed by the music. An absolute joy to play as well.



Scriabin - Fantasy in B minor



Scriabin - Sonata No. 4 (or any of his sonatas really, and they are all pretty awesome and very, very different, even amongst themselves)



Grieg - Ballade



Franck - Prelude, Aria, and Finale



Beethoven - Fantasia in G minor



Mendelssohn - Caprice in F-sharp Minor



Mendelssohn - Fantasie in F-sharp Minor

Offline visitor

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Re: In need of an underrated substantial romantic work.
Reply #4 on: July 26, 2020, 07:48:44 PM

Offline ted

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Re: In need of an underrated substantial romantic work.
Reply #5 on: July 27, 2020, 03:19:44 AM
Andrew is probably too modest to suggest it but why not ask him about his Concerto for Solo Piano ?
"Mistakes are the portals of discovery." - James Joyce

Offline ronde_des_sylphes

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Re: In need of an underrated substantial romantic work.
Reply #6 on: July 27, 2020, 05:18:08 PM
Andrew is probably too modest to suggest it but why not ask him about his Concerto for Solo Piano ?

Far too modest for that  ;D
My website - www.andrewwrightpianist.com
Info and samples from my first commercial album - https://youtu.be/IlRtSyPAVNU
My SoundCloud - https://soundcloud.com/andrew-wright-35

Offline visitor

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Re: In need of an underrated substantial romantic work.
Reply #7 on: July 28, 2020, 03:05:39 PM
Far too modest for that  ;D
Your work speaks for itself ! 😎😎


PS honerable mention /understated addl suggestion
A but shorter than some of the other goodies but might work

Offline visitor

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Re: In need of an underrated substantial romantic work.
Reply #8 on: July 28, 2020, 03:07:16 PM
And something "grand"

Sort of like a Liszt Hungarian Rhap but mixed w some Tchaikovsky Dumka, and some spicier folk tune elements

Offline fftransform

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Re: In need of an underrated substantial romantic work.
Reply #9 on: August 02, 2020, 08:23:53 AM
Not as difficult as most of the suggestions:





Not sure there's such a thing as obscure Chopin, but maybe the Fantasy Op. 49 is comparatively uncommon?

For Liszt, the Ballade No. 2 is less difficult than most of his virtuoso stuff (and less difficult than the suggestions above).  The Polonaise No. 1 is very rare and a great piece, and the 2nd Polonaise is quite tough and less uncommon, but also clocks in at about 8' only.  Both are definitely virtuoso works:

Offline visitor

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Re: In need of an underrated substantial romantic work.
Reply #10 on: August 02, 2020, 02:14:31 PM
Not as difficult as most of the suggestions:





Not sure there's such a thing as obscure Chopin, but maybe the Fantasy Op. 49 is comparatively uncommon?

For Liszt, the Ballade No. 2 is less difficult than most of his virtuoso stuff (and less difficult than the suggestions above).  The Polonaise No. 1 is very rare and a great piece, and the 2nd Polonaise is quite tough and less uncommon, but also clocks in at about 8' only.  Both are definitely virtuoso works:



Excellent

Not sure there's such a thing as obscure Chopin, but maybe the Fantasy Op. 49 is comparatively uncommon?

Agreed

Along that line op 46 allegro de concert has no reason I can understand as to why it gets ignired relative to other pieces I his output , this one has its origin likely as beginning of his third concerto , letters to multiple people to and from attest and support this , for whatever reason never fleshed out fully so we get it in this form,.  I like this and if I was gonna pick up a meaty work of his , this is at the top of my list




Offline presto-con-fuoco

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Re: In need of an underrated substantial romantic work.
Reply #11 on: August 04, 2020, 10:16:51 PM
I'll put in a second vote for Liszt's Ballade no. 2. It can be really effective. I think Scriabin Sonata 4 and Sonata 2 are played pretty often, but both of them are excellent. Another Medtner Sonata that works well is the Sonata Tragica in C minor (pretty tough!). Up to you whether or not it's fully romantic or if you would consider it more 20th century, but check out Samuil Feinberg's first sonata - definitely not played often, I think it's beautiful. (it's a sort of chromatic romanticism that is very reminiscent of Scriabin.)

Offline michzxl

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Re: In need of an underrated substantial romantic work.
Reply #12 on: August 07, 2020, 03:30:48 AM

Offline lowk-_-y

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Re: In need of an underrated substantial romantic work.
Reply #13 on: August 07, 2020, 03:31:49 AM
Definitely underrated











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