Competition Repertoire

[pianist_joe_bloggs]

Hi

I'm soon to be entering a piano competition and would appreciate some ideas for repertoire. I need big, showy, loud wowy pieces but not OVERLY difficult to learn. Leangth of piece isn't much of an issue. I also need a piano concerto of a similar type - big and bravada but not TOO difficult.

I currently play Chopin's Polonaise No. 4 (C Minor), and preludes 15 (raindrop), 20 and 4. Umm... i can play most of the Liszt consolations but they're not too showy. Plus, i'm learning Rachs C# Minor prelude, and a full piano transcription of Variation 18 (paganini variations) by Rach.

You're replies will be greatly appreciated.

Thanx

pianist_joe_bloggs

p.s. To he;p you name pieces, i am at a Grade 8 (ABRSM) stage - the highest attainalbe in Britain before Diploma.

[shasta]

Welcome to PF   

Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue
Mendelssohn's G minor

Both are good "starter" concertos.

If you do a search in this forum on "underrated piano concertos", "beginning piano concertos", "show-off pieces", "piano concertos"... you will find many links that will help you.  Good luck!

[pianowelsh]

Grieg amin is not too mechanically taxing and sounds impressive. As for rep you dont say if there are any requirements (style/period). Im always recommending the pertaca sonettos of Liszt 123, 104 are particularly good 104 is more bravura - but they are gorgeous and come in at ABRSM dip and LRSM dip respectively (you'll know what that means). Ravel sonatine is really effective if you need 20thc piece. The Brahms Rhapsodies are good op79 (again ABRSM /LRSM), a bach toccata is always nice maybe the emin (ABRSM) and Dmin (LRSM) are fine pieces and good for the rep - the toccata and fugue is more difficult around LRSM but very showy fingerwork. Chopin theres the big Cmin nocturne - very effective competition piece. There is the barcarolle(5th ballade) or the berceause again (LRSM and ABRSM)- more gentle but have there moments. Showy and loud you say?!?! - are you sure you want a whole prog of those for competition (consider a balance) - a chopin etude is always good (although people who play them rarely go through because the panel are so often divided on these pieces - Rach etudes are good too - wide ranging in difficulty - your teacher should advise on these.... the preludes are also very effective the gmin one the C#min one there is the the big Db one too - the G# one is magical. Some of the more manic Schumann fantasiestuck are impressive too and not much more than ABRSM level.

[pianist_joe_bloggs]

Thankyou for your suggestions.

Surprisingly, there aren't actually any requirements for what pieces i play, i just have to build four 15 minute programs, on containing a modern piece (i compose, so that'll be easy), and one containing a Mozart piece (i think i'll do a piano transcription of Die Zauberfloete). As for quite pieces, i have the chopin prelude 15 (okay, half quite ), and number four.

For the concerto, i was thinking rach 2. i looked over the score and it didn't appear to have too many tough spots, plus, i've read in other forums that people don't rate it much higher than 6/10 for difficulty.

Thank you for your suggestions so far though, i'll certainly look into some of those ideas.

[DarkWind]

Hmm, bad ideas you have there. You should not submit your own composition for a competition. Post a piece of yours here, and I could probably tell you if they would laugh you off or be impressed. Also, don't go for a transcription for Die Zauberflot. Transcriptions are geneally difficult since orchestral music usually can become very involved, and so will transcriptions. And a transcription isn't 100% pure Mozart. Go with one of his easier piano Sonatas. There aren't too many difficult ones. And for modern, does it specify what years?

[apion]

For the concerto, i was thinking rach 2. i looked over the score and it didn't appear to have too many tough spots, plus, i've read in other forums that people don't rate it much higher than 6/10 for difficulty.

Rach 2 would be an excellent choice, as would Beethoven 4/5 and Saint-Saens 2.  The Mendelssohn G Minor is a good starter concerto, but it is considerably easier than the Rach 2.

[steinwayguy]

Rach 2 would be an excellent choice, as would Beethoven 4/5 and Saint-Saens 2. The Mendelssohn G Minor is a good starter concerto, but it is considerably easier than the Rach 2.

Yeah, sorry, you're definitely not ready for Beethoven 4. Mendelssohn is OK I guess, definitely not Grieg as someone said earlier. And remember, every 12-year old in Asia is learning the Rachmaninoff 2nd (or 3rd  ). Why not Chopin E Minor or F Minor?

Modern- Scriabin...?

Mozart- Rondo or Adagio in B Minor? Maybe one of his more difficult sonatas. Or, if you want easy but tremendously awesome- K.570 is your piece.

"Quiet" Pieces- Dont' do the Preludes, too overplayed. Maybe the B Major Nocturne Op. 62 No. 1 or the C Minor Op. 48 No. 1. Or the Barcarolle, but that is extremely difficult.

Other Pieces- Consider a Brahms Opus (116, 117, 118, 119), or a selection of Scarlatti sonatas (K.490-492?), or a Rachmaninoff Etude-Tableaux or two (Op. 33 No. 4, Op. 39 No. 3?), or Rachmaninoff Preludes (Op. 32 No. 10, 12)

[apion]

Yeah, sorry, you're definitely not ready for Beethoven 4.

How can you proclaim that a person is "definitely not ready for Beethoven 4".

[zhonhern]

Hi, i've been frequenting these forums for awhile, found it really useful - so it's about time i give something back!

Some of my students do the abrsm exams(i grew up on them too), so i'd like to think i've a rough gauge of your technical abilities at the moment. It's good to stretch yourself playing pieces above your level, but not too much, or at the expense of musicality. Here're a few tips that might be useful -

-Definitely try a sonata for the Mozart requirement. As for big showy pieces, Granados' Allegro de Concierto come to mind - virtuosic and effective, yet managable. You might want to add a prelude/small piece before either work to fulfil the 15 minute requirement - it'll make a better impression than many short pieces scattered all over.

-It's probably not a good idea to play your own work or transcriptions at a piano competition.

-The Schumann concerto'll make a good choice. I'd prefer you spend your time wisely over a substantial programme than struggle with a major concerto. Also, the Schumann is easy enough on your fingers so you can focus on the musicality.

Good Luck!

 

[steinwayguy]

How can you proclaim that a person is "definitely not ready for Beethoven 4".

A. Because it is by far the most technically difficult Beethoven concerto, or piece, excluding the Hammerklavier.

B. It is the most intepretatively difficult Beethoven concerto, or piece, excluding maybe Op. 109, but even that is a stretch.

C. It would be a good idea to have played at least 6 or 7 Beethoven sonatas before you attempt the 4th Concerto.

D. There's no way in hell you'll be able to perform Beethoven's 4th concerto in a competition "soon" if you're playing Chopin's Raindrop Prelude, C Minor Polonaise or Rachmaninoff's C-sharp Minor Prelude.

Now make a petty attempt to disagree with that.

[Skeptopotamus]

ok

what is going on here?


i mean seriously.... this thread is all over the place.  Even I am more coherent than this stuff.  maybe ><

I'm gonna try to hit all of the subjects here, but i'm sure i'll miss a few.

1.  No no no.  You CAN NOT go into a competition with your own compositions.  BAD BAD BAD idea.  Not saying you aren't the greatest composer in the universe, and i'm sure you are, but even so you CAN NOT use it.  NAUGHTY!

2.  This is what you should play =P

1.  Corigliano Fantasia on an Ostianato  (modern- maybe a bit above level 8 but still in your grasp)

2.  Mozart Sonata K. 280

3.  Your chopin Repertoire and fill it with some other nice romantic stuff like Un Sospiro or Liebestraume No. 3

4. Rach Prelude in C#minor, and then a few scarlatti sonatas or some P/F?


and for a concerto.  Um wow.  "every 12 year old asian girl"  haha i just saw that and am kinda surprised nobody said anything.   Anyways, if you think that the Rach 2 is easy, why not take it further?

Rautavaara Piano Concerto No. 1

oh

or how bout the Beethoven No. 4!  that would be great.


er

w/e im bored.

[steinwayguy]

or how bout the Beethoven No. 4! that would be great.

No! Beethoven 5 if any Beethoven.

[Skeptopotamus]

yeah sorry buddy you ought to just ignore anything i say.  everyone else has learned to do it ><

but i like 4!

[SteinwayTony]

Don't even think about playing a Mozart transcription to fill the requirement for a Mozart piece.  You'll get laughed off the stage.

[Skeptopotamus]

yeah it's probably not a good idea.  i dont think that is what the judges would want.