first concerto

[BoliverAllmon]

What would be a good first concerto? I have worked on the first mvt. to the shostakovich no 2, but am now looking at starting to learn a complete one. anything besides the shosty and please be realistic.

boliver allmon III

[Ludwig Van Rachabji]

It depends on what you're up for. The Grieg is good for a first concerto, as is the Haydn D Major. It all depends on the amount of work you are willing to put into it. A concerto is a huge commitment, and requires a lot of tedious detail-work.

Good luck!

[steinwayguy]

Beethoven 1 or 2
Mozart 21 is the standard first concerto, but any Mozart would be good, except 20 and 25
Grieg is the standard second concerto (first for some)


I recommend Beethoven 1.

[BoliverAllmon]

I am listening to the Beethoven 1st right now. I have gotten past the orchestral tune up yet, but was definately surprised enough that you mentioned it to check it out. I don't like the grieg that much. haydn is a possibility. Anyone have a recording? I have never heard it before.

boliver allmon III

[galonia]

I learnt the Beethoven 2 as my first ever concerto, but never even played it with the piano reduction orchestral part.

My first proper concerto is the Saint-Saens 2, which I will actually perform at some stage.

[apion]

What would be a good first concerto? I have worked on the first mvt. to the shostakovich no 2, but am now looking at starting to learn a complete one. anything besides the shosty and please be realistic.

boliver allmon III

Might I suggest the Mendelssohn 1 or the Saint-Saens 2?

[lenny]

as i always say, go for a one that you love most

even if it is rach3, id go for it (im imagining you have at least intermediate technique already?)

[BoliverAllmon]

Yeah, I guess I have intermediate technique. Not sure how you define that though. I wouldn't play Rach 3. I don't really like it. Rach 1 on the other hand is more my thing, but I think that it would be out of my league for a little while longer. I will have to listen to the saint-saens and the mendelssohn. (I am finding out that I am not that well versed in concerti).

boliver allmon III

[brsmpianist]

Beethoven 1 or 2
Mozart 21 is the standard first concerto, but any Mozart would be good, except 20 and 25
Grieg is the standard second concerto (first for some)

SteinwayGuy -  why not the Mozart 25?  Is it because its too difficult musically?  Just wondering ...

[anda]

Mozart 21 is the standard first concerto

why? it's one of the most problematic ones - why would anyone want to start with this one?

[anda]

mozart a dur kv 488 was my first one - and i loved working on it!

[steinwayguy]

SteinwayGuy - why not the Mozart 25? Is it because its too difficult musically? Just wondering ...

It's the most interpretatively difficult Mozart concerto. Definitely not a good first Mozart concerto, much less any concerto.

why? it's one of the most problematic ones - why would anyone want to start with this one?

Who doesn't play Mozart 21? Seriously. I know not a soul that hasn't played that piece. And everybody does it age 10 or 11. Then Grieg is 12-14.

[Ludwig Van Rachabji]

Who doesn't play Mozart 21? Seriously. I know not a soul that hasn't played that piece. And everybody does it age 10 or 11. Then Grieg is 12-14.

I hope you are joking...

[larse]

First concerto? Hmm...My first Concerto was Bach Fm. Then...Mendelsohn Gm(no 1). And I'm playing Mozart 21 this spring. However, everybody does not play Mozart 21 at age 10-11. And definately not Grieg Am at 12-14. If that's the case, I should've given up a long time ago...

[Skeptopotamus]

grieg at 12.

you beat me!  Let me guess- you had Gespard de la Nuit done at 15, then went on to tackle bigger things like the Sorabji 4 hr sonata, but found it too easy and decided to write your own music that would challenge you.  I want to see those pieces!

[presto agitato]

Yeah. Mozart´s num 21 is the easiest however i suggest Mendelssohn´s Capriccio Brillante for piano and orchestra in B minor.

[BoliverAllmon]

First concerto? Hmm...My first Concerto was Bach Fm. Then...Mendelsohn Gm(no 1). And I'm playing Mozart 21 this spring. However, everybody does not play Mozart 21 at age 10-11. And definately not Grieg Am at 12-14. If that's the case, I should've given up a long time ago...

the bach sounds interesting. i really dig baroque music. I listened to the saint-saens no. 2 the third mvt is really awesome. I kinda like the first two mvts. but feel that if I started working on it then I would start to really like it more. I have a vid of Rubinstein playing it and was thinking of interpretation right away.  mozart 21 is a joke 25 is more of a joke. If I played a mozart one I would go for one of his first 5 for two reasons. One they are easier and two NO ONE PLAYS THEM. I like them anyway. they are real childlike and really nice. I don't think I will play the mendelssohn. My teacher (or soon to be teacher) is performing it next year and if i work on a concerto I want to perform it with the local orchestra, but couldn't do that because my teacher is already doing it. so that's out. grieg is out, i get bored real quick with it. Same goes for the Beethoven 1st. I haven't gotten to listen to the 2nd completely, but wasn't overly thrilled at first glance.

boliver allmon

[DarkWind]

It's the most interpretatively difficult Mozart concerto. Definitely not a good first Mozart concerto, much less any concerto.



Who doesn't play Mozart 21? Seriously. I know not a soul that hasn't played that piece. And everybody does it age 10 or 11. Then Grieg is 12-14.

Well then, I guess just about everyone here should give up. Your statistics are flawed. Either that, or you grew up around Horowitz's, Argerich's, and Arrau's.

[steinwayguy]

Alright, alright. If you haven't played Grieg or Mozart 21 by 16, I would be surprised, unless you are a late beginner.

[BoliverAllmon]

well, I am 21 and am a late beginner so ages don't apply to me.

[larse]

Why should I play Grieg Am by 16? Well, I guess I could have done it, though. you're right there. But I think at least 12 is a little too early. At least musically. I actually played Beethoven 3rd first, when I think it through. But the orchestra had to cancel, so I never performed it.
THAT is a good idea for a first concerto. the 1st is a bit boring, but if there's any concerto I like, Beethoven 3rd is probably it.

[pianostudent88]

I would suggest Haydn d major as a good one to start with, it's not very hard technically. Mozart is also good, I can not see any reason not to start with the d minor(no.20). But 19, 23 might be easier "musically" alltough I am a bit confused of what you really mean by the word. what is hard for one person might be easy for another.
Why don't you try Mozart no.26, a very nice concerto i think. For records try Leif ove andsnes' Haydn concertos or/and Perahias Mozart concertos and Bach Concertos, they are amazing!!   

[BoliverAllmon]

I would suggest Haydn d major as a good one to start with, it's not very hard technically. Mozart is also good, I can not see any reason not to start with the d minor(no.20). But 19, 23 might be easier "musically" alltough I am a bit confused of what you really mean by the word. what is hard for one person might be easy for another.
Why don't you try Mozart no.26, a very nice concerto i think. For records try Leif ove andsnes' Haydn concertos or/and Perahias Mozart concertos and Bach Concertos, they are amazing!!   

I am not worried about musicality. I  am more worried technically.

[DarkWind]

Alright, alright. If you haven't played Grieg or Mozart 21 by 16, I would be surprised, unless you are a late beginner.

Luckily I'm not 16 yet. I have time!!!

[BoliverAllmon]

what do you think about Bach's Dm concerto?

[steinwayguy]

How many orchestras are going to take Bach over Beethoven or Mozart? Not many. And don't do Haydn either.


Mozart 23, 24, 26
Beethoven 1

[larse]

Well, the practic thing about the Bach Concertos is that they're written for piano and string orchestra only. Which might make it easier to gather an orchestra if you're in touch with a musical institution i.e. a conservatory.

But I cannot see the rush of playing a concerto. Of course, it's fun, but it's not necessarily more challenging than a regular piece. However, if you should play a concerto for the first time, be sure to pick out something you're absolutely hundred percent sure that you're gonna master(not 'be able to play', but really MASTER) so that you won't sh*t in your pants during the performance.

[BoliverAllmon]

Well, the practic thing about the Bach Concertos is that they're written for piano and string orchestra only. Which might make it easier to gather an orchestra if you're in touch with a musical institution i.e. a conservatory.

But I cannot see the rush of playing a concerto. Of course, it's fun, but it's not necessarily more challenging than a regular piece. However, if you should play a concerto for the first time, be sure to pick out something you're absolutely hundred percent sure that you're gonna master(not 'be able to play', but really MASTER) so that you won't *** in your pants during the performance.

yeah that is true. i really want to perform a concerto. For the fun factor more than anything and I guess some bragging rights. The orchestra that I have is a small local orchestra. The conductor is our Ear Training teacher. So, I don't think that would matter too much. It ultimately comes down to what my teacher says though. He may say no, lets play solo work. Which I will go for, but I would really like to do a concerto.

I understand what you mean about mastering it. I probably could play some of the harder repertoire out there, but they would suck performance wise and would take me a whole year to get up to that sucky level. LOL

Boliver Allmon III

[steinwayguy]

The orchestra that I have is a small local orchestra.

No Brahms or Tchaikovsky for you 

[BoliverAllmon]

actually they played the tchaikovsky last semester.

[e60m5]

Might I suggest the Mendelssohn 1 or the Saint-Saens 2?

Excellent suggestions. I agree wholeheartedly.


Grieg was my first, at 10.

[BoliverAllmon]

yeah but you are an exception to the rule. LOL

I am really leaning towards the saint-saens and the bach

[maul]

I'd say Beethoven 1. Was my first.

[Alfonso Van Worden]

My first one was Beethoven´s 1 and it was a great experience, but I agree with the Shostakovich´s second concerto as a good opcion!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BoliverAllmon]

I already did the 2nd concerto to the shostakovich. I won't be able to work on the other movements and in fact have no desire to right now. (teachers sucked the life out of me) I m not fond of the beethoven first either. I am really thinking bach f min, d min, or saint-saens 2 right now.

boliver

[Alfonso Van Worden]

Well Bach´s d min is one of the most beatifull concertos, If you choose it I´d advice you to get Lipatti´s recording and also Katsaris´s recording.

[steinwayguy]

Mozart 23!!

[hodi]

grieg at 12.

not everyone is a prodigy.. i think grieg is 12 is too early unless you have some kind of exceptional talent.. haydn d major concerto would be good.

again the members of this forum thinks every piece is easy!

[xvimbi]

again the members of this forum thinks every piece is easy!

I certainly don't!! In fact, my answer to those stupidest of all threads ("What's the most difficult piece in the Universe?") is always: it's always the one I am working on at the moment.

[pianoboi666]

well, my first concerto actually was the Hayden D Major at age 10 and it was one of my favorites and still is to perform neways.  Since then I have done Gershwin concerto in f, Rhapsody in Blue and Gershwin's second Rhapsody, Khatchaturian concerto, Mendelssohn g minor, Tchaikovsky 2, and 3, Mozart 21, Beethoven 1,3,4, Rach 1, 2 and 4, and I am currently working on Bartok 2, and Rach 3.  I noticed someone mentioned the Shostakovich 2 and I was wondering if neone had the score for that.  alot of people mentioned the Grieg, I never did learn that one, because I never had the desire to learn it and I probably never will as I think that it is one of the worst pieces ever written and horribly overplayed as well as the Schumann.  Neways wat I was trying to say was, the Haydn D Major is a wonderful first concerto and also the Mendelssohn g minor, or the Khatchaturian.  Best of luck to ya.

Dan 

[BoliverAllmon]

don't break your arm giving yourself a hand.

[musicsdarkangel]

What would be a good first concerto? I have worked on the first mvt. to the shostakovich no 2, but am now looking at starting to learn a complete one. anything besides the shosty and please be realistic.

boliver allmon III

Start with the Haydn D major (everyone does it), it is perfect for a first full concerto, because it is realistic, and will provide you with a good basis (plus you can do it solidly).

After that, play a Mozart, a Beethoven, and any romantic works you want.

That's what I'd suggest.

Anyhew, my answer is the Haydn D major

[BoliverAllmon]

does anyone know of a recording of it that I can listen to and the sheets would be nice.

boliver

[hodi]

also... IMHO there is no reason to play concertos unless u will play it with an orchestra because the most difficult thing about concertos is timing it with the orchestra. besides, piano concertos without orchestras sound very dull

[BoliverAllmon]

Oh I have the opportunity to perform. The question is just which one.

[sznitzeln]

Bach sounds wonderful, and not so _technically_ difficult.

[BoliverAllmon]

Yeah, I looked over the scores of the Bach f min. and d min. I think they are both attainable. I am really leaning towards the d min.

boliver

[steinwayguy]

don't break your arm giving yourself a hand.

Hahahahahaha.

No Bach, go for Mozart 23

[apion]

Start with the Haydn D major (everyone does it), it is perfect for a first full concerto, because it is realistic, and will provide you with a good basis (plus you can do it solidly).

Please, don't waste your time with Haydn's concertos, unless you are striving for mediorcity.

I mean, if you're going to memorize and perform a piece, shouldn't it at least be worthwhile?

[BoliverAllmon]

why is the Haydn not worthwhile? and why no bach? I dig the man, can't get enough of his stuff.

boliver