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Topic: Suggestions of works like Schumann and Czerny toccata?  (Read 1501 times)

Offline robertus

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I love playing these works, and find it a good technical workout to play them through many times in succession. But I would like to find more pieces like this- hard in a mechanical sense, which treat the hands fairly equally, and harmonious and tuneful. Any suggestions? 
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Offline anacrusis

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Re: Suggestions of works like Schumann and Czerny toccata?
Reply #1 on: February 21, 2023, 12:56:31 PM
I know you didn't get answers here but I guess it was a tricky question. Did you find anything on your own? I'm looking for something similar myself!

Offline robertus

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Re: Suggestions of works like Schumann and Czerny toccata?
Reply #2 on: March 02, 2023, 03:56:00 AM
I know you didn't get answers here but I guess it was a tricky question. Did you find anything on your own? I'm looking for something similar myself!

I found a few other Czerny pieces ("Grand Exercises") which are much the same kind of thing. However, the early-19th engraving, and inconvenient format makes it hard to read them. Another thing which is kind of the same idea is playing the first sixteens number of the Tausig selection of Gradus[//i] in rapid succession (it takes about 12 minutes), then repeating four times in succession.

But nothing quite as effective as Schumann as general finger workout!

Offline anacrusis

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Re: Suggestions of works like Schumann and Czerny toccata?
Reply #3 on: March 03, 2023, 08:53:10 PM
Nice, I'll take a look at those. Thanks!

What do you think about the Prokofiev Toccata?

Offline robertus

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Re: Suggestions of works like Schumann and Czerny toccata?
Reply #4 on: March 05, 2023, 06:13:46 AM
Nice, I'll take a look at those. Thanks!

What do you think about the Prokofiev Toccata?

It's a great piece, but too physically awkward and intellectually and emotionally demanding for me to enjoy practicing.

Do you like playing it?

Offline anacrusis

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Re: Suggestions of works like Schumann and Czerny toccata?
Reply #5 on: March 21, 2023, 02:58:07 PM
Haven't played it yet :D but might at some point. It looks pretty difficult though.

Offline cuberdrift

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Re: Suggestions of works like Schumann and Czerny toccata?
Reply #6 on: March 28, 2023, 01:12:42 AM
The Clementi toccata (which are probably the ancestor of the Czerny one), and the Henselt toccata.

There's the famous Feux follets, Chopin toccata study, and Chopin study in sixths.

If you manage to obtain the sheets, there's also Kitten on the Keys and Smashing Thirds, those are similar pieces but from the swing genre.

Offline robertus

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Re: Suggestions of works like Schumann and Czerny toccata?
Reply #7 on: March 28, 2023, 02:58:32 AM
The Clementi toccata (which are probably the ancestor of the Czerny one), and the Henselt toccata.

There's the famous Feux follets, Chopin toccata study, and Chopin study in sixths.

If you manage to obtain the sheets, there's also Kitten on the Keys and Smashing Thirds, those are similar pieces but from the swing genre.

Thanks for the great suggestions! I do use (or abuse) the Chopin Study in sixths like this, playing through 8 times in succession. Which one do you call that toccata study?

I'll definitely check out the Henselt toccata. And Clementi- I played it some years ago, but don't remember what it was like.

Feux Follets
is too hard for me, I believe!

Offline cuberdrift

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Re: Suggestions of works like Schumann and Czerny toccata?
Reply #8 on: March 29, 2023, 05:40:10 AM
Thanks for the great suggestions! I do use (or abuse) the Chopin Study in sixths like this, playing through 8 times in succession. Which one do you call that toccata study?

I'll definitely check out the Henselt toccata. And Clementi- I played it some years ago, but don't remember what it was like.

Feux Follets
is too hard for me, I believe!

Not a problem!

I mean the Chopin Etude op. 10 no. 7.

The Henselt is called toccatina...though it isn't really a study in double notes but does use multiple voices.

Czerny also wrote a nice-sounding toccatina as a finale for his fifth sonata that's more musically interesting than his toccata.

The Schumann really comes out on top though, for the common practice era, imo. The Cziffra performance is insane.

Offline robertus

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Re: Suggestions of works like Schumann and Czerny toccata?
Reply #9 on: March 30, 2023, 06:00:04 AM
Not a problem!

I mean the Chopin Etude op. 10 no. 7.

The Henselt is called toccatina...though it isn't really a study in double notes but does use multiple voices.

Czerny also wrote a nice-sounding toccatina as a finale for his fifth sonata that's more musically interesting than his toccata.

The Schumann really comes out on top though, for the common practice era, imo. The Cziffra performance is insane.

Thanks- you really know the repertoire well!

I've checked out the Czerny Sonata, No.5, as well as his other sonatas. Much better than I had expected!

Offline franks66

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Re: Suggestions of works like Schumann and Czerny toccata?
Reply #10 on: April 13, 2023, 12:02:13 PM
Just from brainstorming:
Poulenc Toccata
Debussy Toccata (from "pour le piano")
Kapustin Toccatina (if the jazzy side is an option)

Not in Toccata style, but you may like it:
Rachmaninov Prelude op 23 No 9
(in my opinion its matches feux follets in diffculty.
While in Feux follets that short famous passage is harder,
the Prelude has challenging double notes from start to end)

Have fun

Offline bryfarr

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Re: Suggestions of works like Schumann and Czerny toccata?
Reply #11 on: November 02, 2023, 12:29:57 PM
I also like the Toccata style and have been collecting my list of pieces to study:
Czerny Toccata Op 92 - I'm a bit bored by the harmony so haven't practiced it much
Schumann Toccata - some of the maneuvers are next to impossible aren't they?
Chopin Etudes - 10/7 (in C) and 25/8 in Sixths
Moskowski Etudes Op 72 - #13 in A-flat, #15 in B, #3 in G, #8 in C
Debussy Toccata (3rd mvmt of Pour le Piano) - mostly single notes
Ravel Toccata - !
Prokofiev Toccata - !
Poulenc Toccata -
Khachaturian Toccata - much easier than above
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