RCM 10 Repertoire "Contrasting Selection"

[mistermister]

Hello! I'm currently choosing my program for my RCM Level 10 exam and wanted to make sure my pieces are contrasting enough. My selections are as follows:
A. Works by Bach
- WTC1 Prelude and Fugue in E Major BWV 854
B. Classical
- Beethoven, Sonata in F minor, op. 2, no. 1 (1st and 2nd movements)
C. Romantic
- Tchaikovsky, Troika Op. 37 No. 11 - November
D. Post-Romantic
- Debussy, Claire de Lune
E. Modern
- Peterson, Land of the Misty Giants
Etudes
- Burgmüller, Etude in E Major No. 9
- Rachmaninoff, Etude-tableau No. 8

I believe three of the pieces are in E Major, which may or may not be a problem. Let me know what you think, thank you!

[1piano4joe]

Hi mistermister,

It looks fine to me. Each piece seems to selected from the appropriate syllabus section. So, I don't see any problem.

I hope that helps, Joe.

[getsiegs]

I believe three of the pieces are in E Major, which may or may not be a problem. Let me know what you think, thank you!

*disclaimer* I’ve never done an RCM exam, but I imagine that the “contrast” should be in style/character more than in key signature. If you’re at RCM level 10 and learning a Rach etude, then I (and I think RCM judges also) would imagine you’re advanced enough to know your key signatures and scales. At that point keys stop mattering so much IMO.

Key signatures aside, I think your selections contrast musically quite a bit. The Beethoven sonata is a far cry from Clair de Lune (well, the 1st mvt at least), and your two etudes are way different from each other too (the staccato, dry Burgmuller vs the flowing, expressive Rachmaninoff - I assume you meant No.8 from Op. 39).

[anacrusis]

I haven't done an RCM exam either, but as far as the program goes, it looks contrasting enough. If you are really worried, you can swap out one of the pieces in E major for something else. But really, as has already been said, when I think about contrasting pieces I think more about their character than the key per se. Hope that helps!