What repetoire should I learn?? Please give me suggestions thanks

[virtuoso_pianist]

Hi users of Pianostreet,

I'm 17 years old and I recently just completed my LMus (the Aussie equivalent of the LTCL or LSRM) and I was wondering what repetoire I should learn now? I intend to take up the career of a concert pianist, especially since I just won 2nd place in a big national piano competition.

Anyways, my LMus program consisted of a Bach Prelude and Fugue (G# minor, book 2), the Les Adieux Sonata (No. 26 op. 81a) by Beethoven, Chopin's Ballade no. 2, the Toccata from Pour Le Piano by Debussy, and the Ginastera Danzas Argentinas. I hope that helps:)

I was hoping to learn a chopin or Liszt etude, since I've only played the CHopin op. 25 nos. 1 and 9, both of which are quite straigthforward and simple. Also, I wouldn't mind learning a long Romantic sonata, but I would love lots of suggestions so I can think more deeply about this.

Thanks so much guys!!!!

[manuelc23]

Hi!
For romantic sonatas you should check on Schumann and Brahms sonatas, they both have big difficult works. Medtner sonatas are  greats works for postromantic era (G minor and op 25 no.1 are my personal favorites)

If you have played Chopin's ballade 2 you should be okay tackling most of the Chopin Etudes and as for Liszt listen to transcendental etudes no.2, 6, and 7. Also consider the Pagannini Etude no.1. For something different check Lyapunov's etudes.

For virtuoso romantic piece:

And some suggestions for Impressionist music

[visitor]

Can you add a short transcription? The Raymond Lewenthall one of  Greensleeves is amazing

Edit I should add I don't suggest stuff I wouldnt play or buy score to myself ,I own this and was thrilled when I got it (I'll update the purchased thread over at Anything but piano )

[lelle]

Scriabin's second sonata is not long, but it's  a great romantic (maybe impressionistic-ish) sonata

[virtuoso_pianist]

I had a look at the Scriabin and its amazing!!! I think I will probably learn this, as well as Liszt Tarantella. Do y'all have any good suggestions for Baroque pieces around my level (LTCL/FTCL level)? I was thinking Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue, or even the BUsoni arrangement of the Chaconne, but I wasn't sure.

[lostinidlewonder]

I find it sad that you have got past your LMus (which is no easy feat) and don't have vision yourself as to what repertoire you could explore. Have you merely played pieces you have been told to do you whole life? Surely you have explored music yourself and been drawn to particular works? I find it just random to ask people online what you should do, what is stopping you from exploring yourself? If you do that surely you can create a list yourself.

[fftransform]

I find it sad that you have got past your LMus (which is no easy feat) and don't have vision yourself as to what repertoire you could explore. Have you merely played pieces you have been told to do you whole life? Surely you have explored music yourself and been drawn to particular works? I find it just random to ask people online what you should do, what is stopping you from exploring yourself? If you do that surely you can create a list yourself.

Well, doesn't mean they know everything; they're probably just looking for new ideas, I'm sure they have some stuff they wanna learn.  But yeah, these threads are always pretty fishy!  I just view them as a good way to promote nice recs tbh.

The OP asks for Baroque pieces "at my level."  Well, with a couple exceptions from Rameau or Couperin, the only 'virtuoso' Baroque stuff is ofc Scarlatti.  So here are some of the most virtuosic:

Tho ofc 'at your level' might instead mean a big suite by Bach or Handel, instead.  But I love Scarlatti, check his stuff out.  There are many others that are also extremely technical.

[lelle]

Hmm, kinda feels like the pianist is just in a hurry in that first recording, and that its natural tempo should be a bit slower. Does not seem to a be a suitable tempo for the harpsichord at any rate... me no likey 

[nightwindsonata]

Scarlatti is great! I would also recommend checking out the Bach Toccatas and Partitas. The Partita in C minor is my favorite!

I played this one last year:

I will never not recommend the Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue:

Also, check out some of Liszt's transcriptions of Bach if you're looking for a cool blend of Baroque and Romantic styles:

Also, for a purely romantic piece (also Liszt), check out this little-known gem:

This is definitely at your level!

[fftransform]

Hmm, kinda feels like the pianist is just in a hurry in that first recording, and that its natural tempo should be a bit slower. Does not seem to a be a suitable tempo for the harpsichord at any rate... me no likey 

Yeah, that one definitely has some moments of trashiness, but that's how fast it's usually played.  It's just . . . too hard to voice interestingly at that speed, in some spots - though other spots are really gorgeous at that tempo IMO

Anyway, do people here like boogie woogie?  I think Handel did.  People say Beethoven Op. 111 was ahead of its time . . . but that's right here in this piece (give it a couple minutes):

Then just for people who might not have already been familiar, here are a couple Rameau showpieces:

Scarlatti also had a couple of forward-looking sonatas that stand out to me.  This one is like he looked into the future at Beethoven's orchestral writing and was like "I can try that":

But if that's not impressive enough, how about Mendelssohn.  The Midsummer Scherzo motif AND some very SWW-style writing:

[anacrusis]

+1 point for Rameau, his music is so charming!