Piano piece recommendation

[pianoguy2009]

Hey, I am a grade 8 pianist (age 14) and I would like some recommendations for some piano piece do play as my grade 8 pieces just sounds a bit ‘blank’ if you get what I mean, it just doesn’t sound like music I want to perform and impress people although I can handle those pieces pretty well. I would like some recommendations on those impressive ones and obviously not that difficult, I tried to learn moonlight sonata, and I got through the first few pages, and it wasn’t as hard as I thought, but over time I find myself making less progress and when I play those chords at the start I tend to play them too fast and messing them up, so I would like to play other pieces that sounds impressive. I have heard people saying revolutionary etude would be a good one although I did not try it, but just by watching others play, I feel like it would be a bit too hard for me as you’ll need a bit of work on the left hand, has anyone played it? Is it as hard as it sounds? I don’t have a lot of time so I would like pieces that’ not that long( and not that short) and takes me fairly quickly to learn. I know this may sound a bit childish. Has anyone got any suggestions? Should I give revolutionary etude a try?

[transitional]

I've never tried that etude before. But take a look at some Rachmaninoff Op. 3 if you can. Those pieces are definitely really attractive and way easier than they sound (around grade 8 standard).

Also, don't worry about not making progress on the Moonlight 3rd. Even though people say it fits under your hands easily, I started learning the Moonlight 3rd a bit over a year ago and started the Appassionata 3rd like 3 months ago and can already say I play the Appassionata MUCH better. Sure, the Moonlight 3rd is simple, but there's nothing like it, it's quite a monster in technique. And my hands can stretch up to a 10th, so definitely not a problem with that...

I don't really understand the "blank music" attitude. What repertoire would you put in this category? Because I can definitely take composers many people don't like such as Mozart any day and am not super picky with much music (except perhaps Einaudi, Mussourgsky, or Grieg)

[pianoguy2009]

I've never tried that etude before. But take a look at some Rachmaninoff Op. 3 if you can. Those pieces are definitely really attractive and way easier than they sound (around grade 8 standard).

Also, don't worry about not making progress on the Moonlight 3rd. Even though people say it fits under your hands easily, I started learning the Moonlight 3rd a bit over a year ago and started the Appassionata 3rd like 3 months ago and can already say I play the Appassionata MUCH better. Sure, the Moonlight 3rd is simple, but there's nothing like it, it's quite a monster in technique. And my hands can stretch up to a 10th, so definitely not a problem with that...

I don't really understand the "blank music" attitude. What repertoire would you put in this category? Because I can definitely take composers many people don't like such as Mozart any day and am not super picky with much music (except perhaps Einaudi, Mussourgsky, or Grieg)

Thanks for your suggestion man, how do you think of prelude in C sharp minor(op3. no2) by Rachmaninoff? It has a lot of chords but is it as hard as it sounds?

[transitional]

Thanks for your suggestion man, how do you think of prelude in C sharp minor(op3. no2) by Rachmaninoff? It has a lot of chords but is it as hard as it sounds?

The C-sharp Minor prelude isn't bad at all. You just need to know what you're playing. The big chords are heavily reliant on memory, and an occasional slip up is fine as long as the chords are loud/quiet enough haha. The middle section took some work but they're just chord arpeggiations essentially. I think I learned it in 2 months, would you say that's enough time?

[pianistavt]

I would recommend Kachaturian Toccata.  It's around grade 8, is fun and has an big, impressive soundscape.  The middle section poses some rhythmic complexity challenges and is very beautiful.  Another option is the first movement from Debussy's Pour Le Piano - also in a toccata style, is fun, with some interesting flashy sounds.  The Chopin Revolutionary etude is a lot of painstaking work, I think you would enjoy these other pieces more.  One last suggestion is Beethoven's Pathetique sonata.

[stringoverstrung]

I have heard people saying revolutionary etude would be a good one although I did not try it, but just by watching others play, I feel like it would be a bit too hard for me as you’ll need a bit of work on the left hand, has anyone played it? Is it as hard as it sounds? I don’t have a lot of time so I would like pieces that’ not that long( and not that short) and takes me fairly quickly to learn. I

the revolutionary etude is not easy  and is definitely not going to be learned very fast. When improperly studied it is just a big bunch of pedal noise. If you want Chopin  try Op. 10. nr 9 first.
However as poster said more effect is reached by Rachmaninov and it can be less difficult than Chopin to make it sound "right" or "impressive".

regards,
G

[pianistavt]

@pianoguy08
- - so where have you landed with these suggestions?  we took the trouble to reply ... did you neglect to circle back and check the answers ?  "youth these days"