Tournament where YOU can vote to choose Piano Street's favorite piece!

[gasplamey]

Hi, I'm Gasplamey, and welcome to the official "'Musicial Madness' but you vote for your favorite pieces" thread!
It took me a while to re-seed the bracket (latg, you suggested a ton of stuff that I'd never heard before, so thanks), but I finally finished earlier today, and can now officially open the matches to the public!
In case you missed the nomination round post, here's how the tournament works:
If you’re familiar with liszt-and-the-galops’ tournament, then this works similarly: piano forum users, lurkers, etc., vote in each matchup for the piece that they feel is best, or is their favorite. The pieces with the most votes move on to the next round. I should also specify that you can vote in as many or as few matchups as you want to.
Here are the forms for the first four matchups:
Match 1: Rachmaninoff - Piano Concerto no. 3 vs. Debussy - Preludes Book 1 Les Collines d'Anacapri
https://forms.gle/3GJGFEFEbNUjPjNR6

Match 2: Ravel - Piano Concerto for Left Hand vs. Liszt - Trancription of Beethoven's 9th Symphony
https://forms.gle/TWE1Z6kcsbGtvWuq6

Match 3: Prokofiev - Op. 11 Toccata vs. Saint-Saens - Op. 111 no. 6 Toccata
https://forms.gle/H2SJxgtuTMaUnKrSA

Match 4: Chopin - Ballade no. 4 vs. Liszt - Hungarian Rhapsody no. 2 (with insert your favorite cadenza)
https://forms.gle/ffEMxEEFzK2zEUMi9

Make sure you've voted by Midnight, August 3rd (GMT)! Even if you don't have an account on piano street, you can still vote for as many matches as you'd like.

Lastly, here's the link to the full tournament bracket (Google Sheets): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1f0I8EkzNaL-JgLu541LAyEC3jlFnzo57zTg1DWCpOBI/edit?usp=sharing

Also, feel free to discuss any of the matches (current, past, or future) in this thread, which will be used for the entirety of the tournament. Good luck to your favorite piece, and may the tournament begin!

[liszt-and-the-galops]

Voted! Glad this tournament ended up getting off the ground after all.

Anyways, as far as the first four matches go, #1 is probably a foregone conclusion, but I'll be interested to see how the others end up going. I have a suspicion as to which ones will win, but I'm really not sure. Personally, I voted for Liszt, Saint-Saëns, and Chopin in those, but they could absolutely go either way.

Also interested to see how the "separate forms" thing will turn out, because some of the matches in the bracket are definitely going to get fewer votes because both pieces are pretty unknown.

Also, is every match going to be roughly 24 hours, or is it just the first few?

[gasplamey]

Also, is every match going to be roughly 24 hours, or is it just the first few?

Probably just the first round, but maybe others as well. Also expect some days off every now and then.

Personally, I voted for Liszt, Saint-Saëns, and Chopin in those

You have some odd preferences. Especially the Saint Saens.

[liszt-and-the-galops]

You have some odd preferences. Especially the Saint Saens.

It's literally my second favorite piece (after Grand Galop Chromatique) lmao. People are allowed to have different preferences than you.

Probably just the first round, but maybe others as well. Also expect some days off every now and then.

Thanks for the info!

[gasplamey]

It's literally my second favorite piece (after Grand Galop Chromatique) lmao. People are allowed to have different preferences than you.T

Obviously. I'm just saying that yours seem unusual.

[liszt-and-the-galops]

Obviously. I'm just saying that yours seem unusual.

Perhaps it should go in unpopular opinions then?

[gasplamey]

Perhaps it should go in unpopular opinions then?

Actually that wouldn't be a bad idea. Similar to your Alkan thing from before on that thread.
You're wrong, but it could still generate some discussion.

[gasplamey]

The first four matches are complete, and the bracket has been updated with their results
(1) Rachmaninoff - Piano Concerto no. 3, (33) Liszt - Trancription of Beethoven's 9th Symphony, (47)Saint-Saens - Op. 111 no. 6 Toccata, and (48) Liszt - Hungarian Rhapsody no. 2 have moved on to the second round.
(64) Debussy - Preludes Book 1 Les Collines d'Anacapri, (32) Ravel - Piano Concerto for Left Hand, (16) Prokofiev - Toccata, and (17) Chopin - Ballade no. 4 are all eliminated.

Here are the forms for the next four matchups:
Match 5: Scriabin - Sonata no. 5 vs. Debussy - Jardins sous la Pluie
https://forms.gle/n7366sNZZtmDttLJ6

Match 6: Chopin - Ballade no. 1 vs. Liszt - S. 139 no. 1 Preludio
https://forms.gle/hSi6vHeoFCb4RJUR6

Match 7: Debussy - Toccata vs. Liszt - S. 140 no. 3 La Campanella
https://forms.gle/vKB1epaemwWEHEJW7

Match 8: Scriabin - Etude Op. 8 no. 12 vs. Alkan - Op. 35 no. 5 Allegro Barbaro
https://forms.gle/w8SF9hY4t11jQBnV7

Make sure you've voted by Midnight, August 4th (GMT)! Even if you don't have an account on piano street, you can still vote for as many matches as you'd like.

Lastly, here's the link to the full tournament bracket (Google Sheets): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1f0I8EkzNaL-JgLu541LAyEC3jlFnzo57zTg1DWCpOBI/edit?usp=sharing

Finally, feel free to discuss any of the matches (current, past, or future) in this thread, which will be used for the entirety of the tournament.

[liszt-and-the-galops]

Voted. B1 and Sonata no. 5 are definitely winning here lol, though I do personally prefer Jardins. The other two are a bit more of a toss-up.

Also really interesting to see that some of that matches are getting almost double the votes that others are. I would have expected a difference of maybe around five votes between sets of four, not ten lol.

Also, I like the idea of keeping everything in a single thread, though I think you'll have some trouble keeping the thread labels consistent.

[gasplamey]

Voted. B1 and Sonata no. 5 are definitely winning here lol, though I do personally prefer Jardins. The other two are a bit more of a toss-up.

I expect all four of these to be decided decisively in favor of the higher seed, but I suppose we'll see what happens.

Also, I like the idea of keeping everything in a single thread, though I think you'll have some trouble keeping the thread labels consistent.

Makes the board less cluttered and keeps the tournament more focused, which might also increase engagement with the thread, which is one of my main goals.

[gasplamey]

The first four matches are complete, and the bracket has been updated with their results
(8 ) Scriabin - Sonata no. 5, (25) Chopin - Ballade no. 1, (56) Liszt - S. 140 no. 3 La Campanella, and (41) Alkan - Op. 35 no. 5 Allegro Barbaro have moved on to the second round.
(57) Debussy - Jardins sous la Pluie, (40) Liszt - S. 139 no. 1 Preludio, (9) Debussy - Toccata, and (24) Scriabin - Etude Op. 8 no. 12 are eliminated.

Here are the forms for the next four matchups:
Match 9: Liszt - Liebestraum no. 3 vs. Stravinsky - The Firebird
https://forms.gle/aue4qQrCnX6XMcYw9

Match 10: Rachmaninoff - Prelude Op. 23 no. 3 vs. Chopin - Scherzo no. 4
https://forms.gle/sGFtuFDfMKN5SHnb7

Match 11: Beethoven - Sonata no. 31 vs. Liszt - S. 219 Grand Galop Chromatique
https://forms.gle/nXiE7VjjumrbM3RTA

Match 12: Rachmaninoff - Etude Op. 33 no. 4 vs. Ravel - Le Gibet
https://forms.gle/Gj7n5RDiEoHoUH36A

Make sure you've voted by Midnight, August 5th (GMT)! Even if you don't have an account on piano street, you can still vote for as many matches as you'd like.

Lastly, here's the link to the full tournament bracket (Google Sheets): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1f0I8EkzNaL-JgLu541LAyEC3jlFnzo57zTg1DWCpOBI/edit?usp=sharing

Finally, feel free to discuss any of the matches (current, past, or future) in this thread, which will be used for the entirety of the tournament.

[frodo10]

I voted for this round but not for the prior rounds.  Very convenient to vote.  Couldn't be any better.  But......

I think I voted twice on one.  I'm hoping it did not count double.  If it did, then maybe everyone can agree to just vote once on the honor system.  I'm hoping it only records the last vote made by a person.

[liszt-and-the-galops]

I voted for this round but not for the prior rounds.  Very convenient to vote.  Couldn't be any better.  But......

I think I voted twice on one.  I'm hoping it did not count double.  If it did, then maybe everyone can agree to just vote once on the honor system.  I'm hoping it only records the last vote made by a person.

It's google forms, so it definitely counted both of them. The good news is that it should be pretty easy to remove the extra, assuming you know roughly what time you voted at.

As far as the matches, go I'm personally in favor of eliminating the Liebestraum because it's one of Liszt's most mediocre pieces (IMO) and objectively overplayed, plus it's facing off against a piece with one of the best finales of anything in the 20th century (again, IMO).

Also really hoping that a certain piece wins match #11, just a slight preference that definitely wouldn't make a lot of sense based on my username...

Voted for the Scherzo and Le Gibet for the other two and I don't really see the Scherzo losing but don't have too much of a preference either way for those two matches.

Also, match #35 is going to be insane, lol.

[gasplamey]

I think I voted twice on one.  I'm hoping it did not count double.  If it did, then maybe everyone can agree to just vote once on the honor system.  I'm hoping it only records the last vote made by a person.

Only two of the matchups are even remotely close, so it should be fine.

As far as the matches, go I'm personally in favor of eliminating the Liebestraum because it's one of Liszt's most mediocre pieces (IMO) and objectively overplayed, plus it's facing off against a piece with one of the best finales of anything in the 20th century (again, IMO).

I for one think that the Liebestraum no. 3 is Liszt's only piece that I wouldn't hesitate to call "great." There's a reason the next highest-seeded Liszt piece is significantly lower.

Also really hoping that a certain piece wins match #11, just a slight preference that definitely wouldn't make a lot of sense based on my username...

Honestly I only included it since I knew that you'd fuss if it wasn't in there and that I would never live that down.
Hopefully you aren't too unhappy with the outcome of that match.

Also, match #35 is going to be insane, lol.

I have a feeling match 33 is going to be the match of the tournament for many. Not for me though, which you probably figured by the seeding.

[liszt-and-the-galops]

I for one think that the Liebestraum no. 3 is Liszt's only piece that I wouldn't hesitate to call "great." There's a reason the next highest-seeded Liszt piece is significantly lower.[/font

Nothing wrong with liking it, but IMO anyone who says it's their favorite Liszt piece hasn't listened to enough Liszt. Similar to transitional's opinion on Fur Elise.

Now, someone really liking Fur Elise I might have a problem with.

Fair. Let me rephrase that: I might have a problem with people who think Fur Elise is the best thing ever created and don't know any other classical pieces.

Honestly I only included it since I knew that you'd fuss if it wasn't in there and that I would never live that down.
Hopefully you aren't too unhappy with the outcome of that match.[/font]

Roasted by a 13-ish-year-old, lmao.

I have a feeling match 33 is going to be the match of the tournament for many. Not for me though, which you probably figured by the seeding.[/font]

Also not that hard of a decision for me, seeing as I personally just generally dislike most of Rachmaninoff's writing and view Liszt's Beethoven Symphony Transcriptions as arguably the greatest piano piece of all time (greatest, not best).

Honestly, I think that a lot of people either like Liszt and dislike Rachmaninoff or vice-versa. I don't see many people say that they like or dislike both.

[frodo10]

I agree Liszt - Liebestraum no. 3 is a wonderful piece, but I would hesitate to call it great.  His sonata in B-minor is great though - one of the greatest of all piano compositions.  As far as Fur Elise - I wouldn't mind if this piece was removed from our planet. 

[frodo10]

.

[gasplamey]

The  bracket has been updated with the results of matches 9-12:
(61) Stravinsky - The Firebird, (36) Chopin - Scherzo no. 4, (52) Liszt - S. 219 Grand Galop Chromatique, and (45) Ravel - Le Gibet have moved on to the second round, meaning that every piece here was an upset against my preferences (how the fxck did firebird and ggc win).
(4) Liszt - Liebestraum no. 3, (29) Rachmaninoff - Prelude Op. 23 no. 3, (13) Beethoven - Sonata no. 31, and (20) Rachmaninoff - Etude Op. 33 no. 4 are eliminated (Liebestraum and Sonata no. 31 losing is tragic 😭).

Here are the forms for the next four matchups:
Match 13: Brahms - Op. 118 no. 2 Intermezzo vs. Gibbons - Op. 116 Fantaisie
https://forms.gle/9VMKY83m9zFL8Hg68

Match 14: Chopin - Sonata no. 2 vs. Chopin - Etude Op. 25 no. 1 "Aeolian Harp"
https://forms.gle/SdTVk1uNLMUZUBtQ6

Match 15: Chaminade - Op. 35 no. 5 "Impromptu" vs. Balakirev - Islamey
https://forms.gle/3ceUuTuiwmggEJ3z8

Match 16: Bach - Prelude and Fugue in C Major vs. Liszt - Piano Concerto no. 1
https://forms.gle/WZzSG6ZuEXWDMrCg8

Make sure you've voted by Midnight, August 6th (GMT)! Even if you don't have an account on piano street, you can still vote for as many matches as you'd like. Heads up that I will not bea ble to post the next four matches nor the results of these four until either wednesday or thursday (2-3 days from now) due to family events. Additionally, the previous votes (9-12) are technically still ongoing and will be for another 20 minutes, so the results there aren't final (someone please save Liebestraum no. 3 I can't live with it having a first round exit 😭).

Lastly, here's the link to the full tournament bracket (Google Sheets): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1f0I8EkzNaL-JgLu541LAyEC3jlFnzo57zTg1DWCpOBI/edit?usp=sharing

Finally, feel free to discuss any of the matches (current, past, or future) in this thread, which will be used for the entirety of the tournament.

[liszt-and-the-galops]

(52) Liszt - S. 219 Grand Galop Chromatique[/b have moved on to the second round

What happened to this? lol.

Hopefully you aren't too unhappy with the outcome of that match.[/font]

Anyways, happy that Firebird knocked out Liebestraum. Also definitely agree that losing Beethoven Sonata no. 31 this early sucks, but if it means that Grand Galop Chromatique gets to advance I'll take it.

Anyways, voted for Gibbons, 25/1, Chaminade, and Liszt. I don't think there's any shot that Gibbons wins and I don't exactly like the odds of the other three, but I do prefer them (by a lot, in some cases) so hopefully one or two of them wins.

[gasplamey]

How tf did you respond so fast?

What happened to this? lol.

That was mainly meant to ragebait you specifically. ggc was winning for almost the entire 24 hours. 😭

Anyways, happy that Firebird knocked out Liebestraum. Also definitely agree that losing Beethoven Sonata no. 31 this early sucks, but if it means that Grand Galop Chromatique gets to advance I'll take it.

I choose to believe that it's all your fault that they're eliminated. You mobilized the anti-Liebestraum Liszt fanboys somehow, you monster. /joking

Anyways, voted for Gibbons, 25/1, Chaminade, and Liszt. I don't think there's any shot that Gibbons wins and I don't exactly like the odds of the other three, but I do prefer them (by a lot, in some cases) so hopefully one or two of them wins.

I will agree on Chaminade and I'd be okay with the Harp etude, but istg if the Gibbons or Liszt wins.
And before anyone hates on me for insulting a still-living composer, the Gibbons is good but the Brahms is just better.

[liszt-and-the-galops]

How tf did you respond so fast?[/font

Because I'm just that good.

That was mainly meant to ragebait you specifically. ggc was winning for almost the entire 24 hours. 😭

lmfao.

I will agree on Chaminade and I'd be okay with the Harp etude, but istg if the Gibbons or Liszt wins.

We found common ground in Chaminade of all things lmao.
Honestly, out of the stuff remaining, I think Liszt HR 2 is probably going to win the whole thing; that or Sonata in B Minor. Ravel Left Hand Concerto, Chopin B4, Liebestraum no. 3, and Beethoven 110 all had pretty significant odds to win but are out already. The Bach P&F might make a deep run because basically everyone likes it but I don't think it's anyone's favorite. Beethoven Appassionata probably has a chance; as does Chopin 27/2 and B2, maybe Brahms Concerto no. 2 and Chopin's Barcarolle as well. Ondine and Chopin B3 intuitively have a chance but I don't think that they're enough people's favorite to win.

If I had to predict a final four based on the current bracket, it'd be HR 2, Chopin Scherzo no. 4, Liszt Sonata in B Minor, and then either Chopin B2 or Ondine. We'll see how well this ages.

[transitional]

I'm back, and it's great to see this tournament up and running! Some of these matches are really close, but I don't really find many of the results too surprising. It feels a bit weird putting such big concerti over solo miniatures, though. And some of the piece choices seem a bit strange (like some of my favorite pieces aren't on here, and I've never heard a Jack Gibbons piece before).

Brahms, S2, and Bach so far on this round for me. I still haven't listened to the Chaminade yet.

[hopefulauditionpasser]

i could see rach 3 or ballade 1 winning.

i personally hope that scriabin 5 or the firebird win however.

happy the liebstraum died. hopefully la campanella can go next

[liszt-and-the-galops]

i could see rach 3 or ballade 1 winning.

i personally hope that scriabin 5 or the firebird win however.

Honestly, same here. They aren't my personal favorites (those would be Grand Galop Chromatique, Saint-Saëns Toccata, and Liszt La Clochette), but I'd be happy with Scriabin 5th or Firebird winning. Rach 3 and B1 are definitely likely to advance far, but honestly I hope they don't.

happy the liebstraum died. hopefully la campanella can go next

Agreed on Liebestraum, but honestly the S. 140 La Campanella is one of my absolute favorite pieces, so I kind of hope it makes it pretty far. I think there's a good chance it beats Allegro Barbaro and then goes out to B1 or Scriabin 5th, whichever it faces it the Round of 16.

Also, welcome back, transitional!

Also, gasplamey, if you see this, please swap the Liszt Concerto no. 1 video to Cziffra's performance:

Thanks in advance!



Edit: gasplamey, if you somehow see this, can you please set the results summary to be viewable for the past four matches? Thanks!
Edit2: Ignore previous edit, saw that you already did that. Thanks!