Seasonally themed pieces

[zipededoo]

Hi, first post here...

I've been playing since I was a kid, but haven't had lessons since I was a kid even though I pick at pieces with a complete lack of focus in my practice. I'm probably grade 3-4, at least I can find my way through pieces at that level and if I had some focus, I might play them smoothly and elegantly at the end of a few months. I stumble my way through harder pieces, but I'm being realistic with myself now.

In order to push myself next year and encourage myself to practice, I thought I would enrol in lessons, with a goal to playing four pieces by the end of the year, one a quarter. Then I would put on a 'four seasons' concert for my own satisfaction.

Having come up with this hare-brained idea, I want to pick your brains for pieces that are interesting but not massively hard, preferably pieces that reflect the four seasons - heck, if I've got a theme I might as well go all out right? Nothing higher than grade 5 that can be learned within a three month period. Doesn't have to include the season in the title, but if it expresses the feel of a season for you, that's almost better.

Thanks in advance,
Rob

[dw4rn]

Hi and welcome! I think that sounds like a great project!
Here are a few ideas.
All of these have titles that place them in a particular season. I might be back with another bunch when I have given this a little more thought. 

Tchaikovsky Album for the Young
Winter Morning
Song of the Lark

Schumann Album for the Young
May, Dearest May
Spring Song
Harvest Song
Winter Time (I)

[zipededoo]

Thanks for that. I hadn't listened to much Schumann before and was delighted by Spring Song and Winter Time I. I'll have a closer look at the Album for the Young. And the Song of the Lark played well is delicate and lilting.

To show I've not been idle, my researches so far came up with these potential candidates:

Autumn
Albeniz I., The Autumn - op 201 no 3 in A minor   101.03 (rated a grade 6 so too hard - I do like it though)
Mier M., Autumn Nocturne (grade 4)
 
Spring
Chopin F., Wiosna (Spring) Op 74 No 2 (grade 3)
Chopin F., Prelude in Db major Op 28 No 15 (Raindrop) (rated a grade 6, so probably out of reach)
Schumann R., Spring Song - op 68 no 15 E major (grade 5)

Summer
Cornick M., Last Summer (grade 5)
Gershwin G., Summertime (AMEB P for Leisure grade 5)
Grieg E., Summer's Eve - op 71 no 2 Bb minor (rated a grade 6 so beyond me for now)
Legrand M., The summer knows (grade 5)
Rollin C., Summers Nocturne (grade 4)

Winter
Schumann R., Winter Time I - op 68 no 38 C minor (grade 5)
Nakada Y., A Winter Melody  (grade 4)
Gillock W., Winter Scene from Lyric Preludes in Romantic Style (grade 6 - but it is short)

From those I'll pick the ones that most resonate with me the most and sound like I'll persist learning them.

I'm most short of ideas in Autumn/Fall I think. Which is odd given it's my favourite season. I had thought of an arrangement of Autumn Leaves, the old jazz standard, but haven't found one yet.

Rob

[musikalischer_wirbelwind_280]

Have you considered having a look-see  at Tchaikovsky's "The seasons"? You actually get a piece per month in that one, and while difficulty might spike a bit here and there (September comes to mind, for example), I wouldn't say it's a terribly difficult work.

Liszt's "Abschied" and Medtner's "Idyll" have always sounded rather "wintery"/"autumnal" to me, as well:

Macdowell's "Woodland sketches op.51" and Debussy's Prelude no.6, Book I "Des pas sur la neige" ("Footprints on the snow") might also interest you:

[zipededoo]

Many thanks for that! Much appreciated. A lot of the Tchaikovsky I think is beyond me at the moment. The other pieces though, particularly the Liszt and Debussy, both quite wintry sounding, would work well for the colder seasons.

Thanks for your insight,

Rob

[musikalischer_wirbelwind_280]

A pleasure! I forgot to mention that you may also find something for autumn and/or winter here:

Even if you don't, be sure to check it out, you won't regret it.

[zipededoo]

And I certainly didn't regret it! I'd not heard of Mompou before and I loved it. You're right, there are some very autumnal sounding pieces in there, at least to my ears. Thank you for the introduction!

I did also find a set of Menuetto Classics piano seasons albums that include many pieces I'd found before and a whole bunch more. They're all available to listen on Spotify. Although a lot of the pieces there are beyond my abilities in the grade 9-10 range, there are some that are possibilities for me. Perhaps they could help someone else with inspiration.

The album playlists are:

Spring   Slavonic Dances, Op. 46: No. 3 in D Major - Piano Version, B. 145   Antonin Dvorak, Alfred Brendel, Walter Klien
Spring   Woodland Sketches, Op. 51: I. To a Wild Rose   Edward MacDowell, Donna Amato
Spring   The Seasons, Op. 37a: III. March. Song of the Lark   Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Michael Ponti
Spring   Piano Sonata No. 15 in D Major, Op. 28 "Pastoral": IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non troppo   Ludwig van Beethoven, Robert Taub
Spring   Preludes, Book 1, L. 117: VIII. La fille aux cheveux de lin   Claude Debussy, Peter Frankl
Spring   3 Gymnopedies: III. Lent et grave   Erik Satie, Frank Glazer
Spring   Blumenstuck, D-Flat Major, op. 19   Robert Schumann, Peter Schmalfuss
Spring   Jeux d'eau, M. 30   Maurice Ravel, Abbey Simon
Spring   Estampes, L. 100: III. Jardins sous la pluie   Claude Debussy, Peter Schmalfuss
Spring   17 Norwegian Peasant Dances For Piano, Op. 72: IV. Hailing from the Hills (Tune from the Fairy Hill)   Edvard Grieg, Stefan Jeschko
Spring   Songs without Words, Op. 62: VI. Allegretto grazioso in A Major "Spring Song"   Felix Mendelssohn, Jeno Jando
Spring   Ma mere l'Oye, M. 60: V. Le jardin feerique - Piano Version, Suite   Maurice Ravel, Beatrice Klien, Walter Klien
Spring   Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major, K. 448: II. Andante   Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Alfred Brendel, Walter Klien
Spring   The Seasons, Op. 37a: IV. April. Snowdrops   Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Michael Ponti
Spring   Jeux d'enfants, Op. 22: V. Le volant   Georges Bizet, Walter Klien, Beatrice Klien
Spring   Les Saisons, Op. 101: I. L'Printemps   Isaac Albeniz, Rena Kyriakou
Spring   Preludes, Book 2, L. 123: V. Bruyeres   Claude Debussy, Peter Frankl
Spring   Piano Sonata No. 3 in C Major, Op. 2, No. 3: IV. Allegro assai   Ludwig van Beethoven, Alfred Brendel
Spring   10 Pieces from Romeo and Juliet, Op. 75: I. Folk Dance   Sergei Prokofiev, Josef Bulva
Spring   Piano Sonata in C Major, L 54   Domenico Scarlatti, Peter Schmalfuss
Spring   Piano Sonata No. 17 in B-Flat Major, K. 570: II. Andante   Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Josef Bulva
Spring   Le tombeau de Couperin, M. 68: IV. Rigaudon   Maurice Ravel, Abbey Simon
Spring   Slavonic Dances, Op. 72: No. 7 in C Major - Piano Version, B. 145   Antonin Dvorak, Alfred Brendel, Walter Klien
Spring   Album fur die Jugend, Op. 68: No. 15 in E Major, Fruhlingsgesang   Robert Schumann, Peter Frankl
Spring   Piano Sonata No. 10 in C Major, K. 330: III. Allegretto   Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Margarete Babinsky
Spring   New England Idyls, Op. 62: IV. With Sweet Lavender   Edward MacDowell, Donna Amato
Spring   The Seasons, Op. 37a: V. May. White Nights   Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Michael Ponti
Spring   Piano Sonata No. 5 in F-Sharp Major, Op. 53 "The Poem of Ecstasy"   Alexander Scriabin, Michael Ponti
Spring   Miroirs, M. 43: II. Oiseaux tristes   Maurice Ravel, Abbey Simon
Spring   Albumblatter, Op. 124: XIX. Phantasiestuck - Leicht, etwas grazias   Robert Schumann, Peter Frankl

Summer   Piano Sonata in D Major, L 424   Domenico Scarlatti, Peter Schmalfuss
Summer   24 Preludes for Piano, Op. 11: No. 3. Vivo in G Major   Alexander Scriabin, Peter Schmalfuss
Summer   New England Idyls, Op. 62: II. Mid-Summer   Edward MacDowell, Donna Amato
Summer   Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, K. 333: I. Allegro   Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Walter Klien
Summer   Children's Corner, L. 113: VI. Golliwog's Cakewalk   Claude Debussy, Peter Schmalfuss
Summer   Piano Sonata No. 17 in D Minor, Op. 31, No. 2 "Tempest": III. Allegretto   Ludwig van Beethoven, Robert Taub
Summer   Moments musicaux, Op. 16: V. Adagio sostenuto   Sergei Rachmaninoff, Michael Ponti
Summer   Mazurkas, Op. 24: No. 4, Moderato   Frederic Chopin, Charles Lilamand
Summer   The Seasons, Op. 37a: VI. June. Barcarole   Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Michael Ponti
Summer   Andante favori in F Major, WoO 57   Ludwig van Beethoven, Peter Schmalfuss
Summer   Preludes, Op. 28: No. 9 in E Major. Largo   Frederic Chopin, Bianca Sitzius
Summer   Suite bergamasque, L. 75: I. Prelude   Claude Debussy, Peter Schmalfuss
Summer   The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1: Prelude No. 3 in C-Sharp Major, BWV 848   Johann Sebastian Bach, Mieczysław Horszowski
Summer   10 Preludes, Op. 23: No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 23 - Maestoso   Sergei Rachmaninoff, Yuri Rozum
Summer   Piano Sonata No. 1 in C Major, Op. 24: IV. Rondo. Presto "Perpetuum mobile"   Carl Maria von Weber, Peter Schmalfuss
Summer   Les Saisons, Op. 101: II. L'ete   Isaac Albeniz, Rena Kyriakou
Summer   Lyric Pieces, Op. 71: II. Summer Evening   Edvard Grieg, Isabel Mourao
Summer   Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53 "Waldstein": I. Allegro con brio   Ludwig van Beethoven, Bruce Hungerford
Summer   The Seasons, Op. 37a: VII. July: Reaper's Song   Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Michael Ponti
Summer   Album of Popular Dances of the Different Nations, Op. 82: No. 6 Valse (Allemagne)   Anton Rubinstein, Michael Ponti
Summer   Preludes, Op. 28: No. 11 in B Major. Vivace   Frederic Chopin, Bianca Sitzius
Summer   Piano Sonata No. 62 in E-Flat Major, Hob.XIV, No.52: I. Allegro   Franz Joseph Haydn, Ilse von Alpenheim
Summer   10 Pieces from Romeo and Juliet, Op. 75: IX. Young Juliet   Sergei Prokofiev, Josef Bulva
Summer   The Seasons, Op. 37a: VIII. August: The Harvest   Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Michael Ponti
Summer   Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 56   Bela Bartok, Gyorgy Sandor
Summer   Moments musicaux, D. 780: No. 4. Moderato   Franz Schubert, Alfred Brendel
Summer   Piano Sonata No. 10 in C Major, K. 330: III. Allegretto   Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Friedemann Rieger
Summer   Italian Concerto in F Major, BWV 971: III. Presto   Johann Sebastian Bach, Andras Schiff
Summer   Mazurkas, Op. 41: III. Animato   Frederic Chopin, Charles Lilamand
Summer   Piano Sonata No. 3 in C Major, Op. 2, No. 3: IV. Allegro assai   Ludwig van Beethoven, Robert Taub

Autumn   Gnossiennes: III. Lent   Erik Satie, Frank Glazer
Autumn   Le tombeau de Couperin, M. 68: V. Menuet   Maurice Ravel, Abbey Simon
Autumn   New England Idyls, Op. 62: X. The Joy of Autumn   Edward MacDowell, Donna Amato
Autumn   Suite bergamasque, L. 75: II. Menuet   Claude Debussy, Peter Schmalfuss
Autumn   The Mysterious Forest, Six Pieces for Piano, Op. 118: I. Autumn Image   Erkki Melartin, Maria Lettberg
Autumn   Forest Scenes, Op. 82: VII. The Prophetic Bird   Robert Schumann, Peter Schmalfuss
Autumn   The Seasons, Op. 37a: IX. September - The Hunt   Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Michael Ponti
Autumn   Preludes, Op. 28: No. 15 in D-Flat Major. Sostenuto "Raindrop"   Frederic Chopin, Bianca Sitzius
Autumn   The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1: Prelude No. 6 in D Minor, BWV 851   Johann Sebastian Bach, Mieczysław Horszowski
Autumn   Dolly Suite: I. Berceuse   Gabriel Faure, Beatrice Klien, Walter Klien
Autumn   New England Idyls, Op. 62: I. An Old Garden   Edward MacDowell, Donna Amato
Autumn   24 Preludes, Op. 85: No. 14, Autumn-Night   Erkki Melartin, Maria Lettberg
Autumn   Embryons desseches   Erik Satie, Frank Glazer
Autumn   Nocturnes, Op. 9: No. 3 in B Major   Frederic Chopin, Peter Schmalfuss
Autumn   Lyric Pieces for Piano, Op. 59: II. Romance   Erkki Melartin, Maria Lettberg
Autumn   Piano Sonata No. 15 in D Major, Op. 28 "Pastoral": I. Allegro   Ludwig van Beethoven, Robert Taub
Autumn   Nocturne in E Minor, Op. 72, No. 1   Frederic Chopin, Peter Schmalfuss
Autumn   Miroirs, M. 43: V. La Vallee des cloches   Maurice Ravel, Abbey Simon
Autumn   Preludes, Book 2, L. 123: I. Brouillards   Claude Debussy, Peter Frankl
Autumn   Woodland Sketches, Op. 51: III. At Old Trysting Place   Edward MacDowell, Roger Shields
Autumn   Lyric Pieces, Op. 12: I. Arietta   Edvard Grieg, Jeno Jando
Autumn   Mazurkas, Op. 50: No. 3 in C-Sharp Minor. Moderato   Frederic Chopin, Charles Lilamand
Autumn   Petite Suite, L. 65: II. Cortege   Claude Debussy, Walter Klien, Beatrice Klien
Autumn   The Seasons, Op. 37a: X. October - Autumn Song   Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Michael Ponti
Autumn   Lyric Pieces, Op. 65: VI. Wedding Day at Troldhaugen   Edvard Grieg, Isabel Mourao
Autumn   Woodland Sketches, Op. 51: IX. By a Meadow Brook   Edward MacDowell, Roger Shields
Autumn   Les Saisons, Op. 101: III. L'automne   Isaac Albeniz, Rena Kyriakou
Autumn   Preludes, Book 1, L. 117: VII. Ca qu'a vu le vent d'ouest   Claude Debussy, Peter Frankl
Autumn   Preludes, Op. 28: No. 17 in A-Flat Major. Allegretto   Frederic Chopin, Bianca Sitzius
Autumn   13 Preludes, Op. 32: No. 5 in G Major   Sergei Rachmaninoff, Michael Ponti
Autumn   The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1: Prelude No. 12 in F Minor, BWV 857   Johann Sebastian Bach, Mieczysław Horszowski
Autumn   Piano Sonata in A Minor, L 469   Domenico Scarlatti, Peter Schmalfuss
Autumn   Piano Sonata No. 62 in E-Flat Major, Hob.XIV, No.52: II. Adagio   Franz Joseph Haydn, Ilse von Alpenheim
Autumn   Ma mere l'Oye, M. 60: IV. Les entretiens de la Belle et de la Bête - Piano Version, Suite   Maurice Ravel, Beatrice Klien, Walter Klien
Autumn   Piano Sonata No. 28 in F Minor, Op. 77 "L'Invocation": II. Tempo di menuetto con moto   Jan Ladislav Dussek, Rudolf Firkusny
Autumn   Preludes, Book 2, L. 123: X. Canope   Claude Debussy, Peter Frankl
Autumn   The Seasons, Op. 37a: XI. November - On the Troika   Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Michael Ponti
Autumn   Preludes, Op. 28: No. 19 in E-Flat Major. Vivace   Frederic Chopin, Bianca Sitzius
Autumn   Lyric Pieces, Op. 54: VI. Bell Ringing   Edvard Grieg, Isabel Mourao
Autumn   Nocturnes, Op. 48: No. 2 in F-Sharp Minor   Frederic Chopin, Peter Schmalfuss

Winter   Lyric Pieces, Op. 54: IV. Nocturne   Edvard Grieg, Isabel Mourao
Winter   Impressions, Op. 87: I. Twilight in the Snow   Erkki Melartin, Maria Lettberg
Winter   Gnossiennes, IES 24 : II. Avec etonnement   Erik Satie, Frank Glazer
Winter   Albumblatter, Op. 124: VIII. Leid ohne Ende - Langsam   Robert Schumann, Peter Frankl
Winter   The Seasons, Op. 37a: XII. December. Christmas   Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Michael Ponti
Winter   3 Gymnopedies: I. Lent et douloureux   Erik Satie, Frank Glazer
Winter   Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-Flat Major, Op. 26: I. Andante   Ludwig van Beethoven, Wanda Landowska
Winter   Kinderszenen, Op. 15: XII. Kind im Einschlummern   Robert Schumann, Peter Schmalfuss
Winter   Songs without Words, Op. 30: VI. Allegretto tranquillo "Venetian Boat Song"   Felix Mendelssohn, Jeno Jando
Winter   24 Preludes for Piano, Op. 11: No. 13. Lento in G-Flat Major   Alexander Scriabin, Peter Schmalfuss
Winter   Lyric Pieces, Op. 38: V. Elegy   Edvard Grieg, Isabel Mourao
Winter   Preludes, Book 1, L. 117: VI. Des pas sur la neige   Claude Debussy, Peter Frankl
Winter   12 Etudes, Op. 25: No. 11 in A Minor "Winter Wind"   Frederic Chopin, Abbey Simon
Winter   Les saisons, Op. 101: IV. L'hiver   Isaac Albeniz, Rena Kyriakou
Winter   Suite bergamasque, L. 75: III. Clair de lune   Claude Debussy, Peter Schmalfuss
Winter   Album fur die Jugend, Op. 68: No. 14 in G Major, Kleine Studie   Robert Schumann, Peter Frankl
Winter   10 Preludes, Op. 23: No. 4 in D Major   Sergei Rachmaninoff, Michael Ponti
Winter   The Seasons, Op. 37a: I. January. At the Fireside   Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Michael Ponti
Winter   24 Preludes, Op. 85: No. 10, Winter Road   Erkki Melartin, Maria Lettberg
Winter   Album fur die Jugend, Op. 68: No. 39 in C Minor, Winterzeit II   Robert Schumann, Peter Frankl
Winter   Preludes, Op. 28: No. 6 in B Minor. Lento assai   Frederic Chopin, Bianca Sitzius
Winter   Lyric Pieces, Op. 57: I. Vanished Days   Edvard Grieg, Isabel Mourao
Winter   Preludes, Book 1, L. 117: X. La cathedrale engloutie   Claude Debussy, Peter Frankl
Winter   Lyric Pieces, Op. 71: IV. Silence in the Woods   Edvard Grieg, Isabel Mourao
Winter   The Seasons, Op. 37a: II. February: The Carnival   Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Michael Ponti
Winter   Album for the Young, Op. 68 No. 43 in A Major: Silvesterlied   Robert Schumann, Peter Frankl
Winter   Lyric Pieces for Piano, Op. 59: III. Berceuse   Erkki Melartin, Maria Lettberg
Winter   Preludes, Op. 28: No. 13 in F-Sharp Major. Lento   Frederic Chopin, Bianca Sitzius
Winter   Piano Sonata No. 18 in E-Flat Major, Op. 31, No. 3: III. Minuetto. Moderato e grazioso   Ludwig van Beethoven, Alfred Brendel
Winter   12 etudes d'execution transcendante, S. 139: XII. Chasse-Neig in B-Flat Minor. Andante con moto   Franz Liszt, Louis Kentner

Cheers,
Rob