Pieces that End a Concert with a Bang

[Ludwig Van Rachabji]

Hello,

I will be playing a solo concert in August. I'm looking for a piece for solo piano (no concerti) that will end the concert with a bang, if you catch my drift. I'm referring to pieces such as the Rhapsody in Blue, but preferable under 15 minutes. Keep in mind that I only have until August, so I don't want to play anything too difficult. All I'm looking for is a piece with a big ending, where the audience leaves feeling uplifted.

Thank you.

[Goldberg]

I don't think the Spanish Rhapsody would be SO hard as to stop you from learning it by August, and that's certainly a good close 'em up and let 'er rip piece! Perhaps even a Hungarian Rhapsody like 1, 9, 12, or 14..

Maaaybe Chopin's Allegro de Concert...maybe...you'd have to play it very very well though. I maintain that it is a highly effective showpiece as long as the admittedly scarce music is observed throughout.

Just a few suggestions...it's strange that of all the pieces I know about, I can't really come up with a good 15 minute grand finale..hmm..Spanish Rhapsody came to mind immediately though.

[ralessi]

La Campanella! although it sounds on the more difficult side, its really not too bad.  I have learned and memorized it in about 5 weeks.  (Even though it still needs polishing)  Even if you dont think so i say give it a shot.  I think its one of the ultimate encore pieces...flashy and not too long..cant beat that with a stick!

Cheers!
Rick

[donjuan]

La Campanella is a tough one.. with all the leaps of faith.  It would take someone exceptional to learn it/be able to perform it by August.

I recommend Grand Galop Chromatique!! -yes, some awkward technical issues, but no crazy leaps like in LC.  It also repeats, so it probably wont take too long to "learn the notes".  Performing it in public....well, that depends entirely on you!

[Goldberg]

Even though he did say "under" 15 minutes, I still assume he wants a fairly substantial piece. I wouldn't recommend ending a program with La Campanella or Grand Galop Chromatique, although both are acceptable encores if such a thing seems appropriate. If a piece like the GGC were to be programmed in a recital, specifically, I probably wouldn't put it near the end, but rather as an opening to the second half, say, or maybe as a piece before intermission. For the ending piece, however, I think something between 8 and, well as he says, 15 minutes, is the best way to go. But that's just my say...

[donjuan]

Yeah, I guess you have a point...

oo o oo oo I have the perfect piece!

Bach- Busoni: Chaconne in D minor

so mighty! -and about 12 minutes long

[Regulus Medtner]

Medtner's Sonata Tragica. Relentless and ruthless...

[Bacfokievrahms]

I thnk the first Ballade in g minor is great for ending a concert with a bang (but of course, depending on the rest of the program). I'm sure any technical difficulties could be overcome by August, but a unique musical interpretation probably wouldn't have enough time to develop.

[quantum]

Scriabin - Vers la flamme

[rohansahai]

Prokofiev: Sonata no. 3... simply bombastic and superb !

[Ludwig Van Rachabji]

Thank you, everyone, for your suggestions. I'll look into these.

Regards.

[keys]

Liszt's Rigolletto Paraphrase would be amazing! It's not too difficult, a lot of those little intricate Liszt patterns in the R.H. It has a really great end to it in octaves, and a very familiar melody that the audience could leave humming.

[pianomann1984]

I would recommend the Chopin Ballades, particularly Nos. 1 or 4, or the Liszt Rhapsody Espagnol.  Or perhaps even a small group of pieces by Debussy, ending with L'Isle Joyeux?

[AvoidedCadence]

My unoriginal suggestions:

Chopin - Ballade (as said above 1 or 4), Scherzo or Polonaise
Liszt - transcription, HR, or even an etude
Appropriate Toccata - pick one

Slightly more original suggestions -

Scriabin sonata (4, 5 or 9 - if you consider these "uplifting")
Chopin - Fantasy in f minor (if you like this/play it well)

Of course, there's always the option of a selection of Rachmaninoff preludes, Chopin etudes, or other set of short pieces.

For a really electrifying finale of appropriate length and bombast -

Schubert - Sonata in Bb

[viking]

I would Definately check out the hungarian rhapsodies.  Probably not 2, but 6 has an amazing ending....

SAM

[thierry13]

Liszt's Rigolletto Paraphrase would be amazing! It's not too difficult, a lot of those little intricate Liszt patterns in the R.H. It has a really great end to it in octaves, and a very familiar melody that the audience could leave humming.

I second that.

[klavierkonzerte]

i know exactly what you need
tausig ghost ship ballade it sounds WAY harder than it is
it's VERY impressive and flashy,  try it.

[paris]

i know exactly what you need
tausig ghost ship ballade it sounds WAY harder than it is
it's VERY impressive and flashy,  try it.

i never heard for this piece.  do you know where i can find sheet for it?  how long is it?

[rob47]

make your own virtuoso arrangement of a popular song/orchestra work from a movie.

[Goldberg]

I have the music to it--I haven't heard it but have played around with it and I'd estimate that it lasts for about 5 minutes. It really doesn't sound that good at all from what I can tell, except the beginning and a neat, although trite and over-extended, melody at the end. It's the piece, I believe, in which the first chromatic glissando appeared, and it may well be the piece referred to in the famous story of Liszt and Tausig--Liszt wondered how to play the glissando, and Tausig demonstrated it (always described as having a "blip" at the top end of the gliss) for him; after five or six tries, Liszt nailed it perfectly.

I don't know for sure if it's the piece though...

[Autumndark]

Chopin Ballades for sure (I would even recommend the third . . . not the second, tho) . . . and if you're looking for something REALLY short (like 3-4 min), Isaac Albeniz has some nice ones.  The one I'm thinking of is the Castilla from Suite Espanola, but Suite Iberia is better known, so you might check that out.

[Rach3]

I always thought it would be cool to end a very long program with an encore of the Diabelli variations...

[apion]

I would Definately check out the hungarian rhapsodies.  Probably not 2, but 6 has an amazing ending....

SAM

I agree with HR 6 -- the final 4 minutes keeps building in drama toward the percussive "bang" conclusion.

[klavierkonzerte]

goldberg you should listen to recording of it, it's not that bad.
i can send you the score paris i'm sure you'll love it.

[dancingfingers]

Ginastera Danzas Argentinas 

[musicsdarkangel]

I find it near impossible to beat Liszt's 9th Rhapsody.


WOW, this pianist played it for a closer on the prelims of the Van Cliburn competition, it was AMAZING.

[nicko124]

i know exactly what you need
tausig ghost ship ballade it sounds WAY harder than it is
it's VERY impressive and flashy,  try it.

I hope the music is as in interesting as the title, i hope that it has a phantom/ghost like presence to it. Come to think of it does anyone know any ghost piano pieces? I haven't heard any.

[quantum]

I hope the music is as in interesting as the title, i hope that it has a phantom/ghost like presence to it. Come to think of it does anyone know any ghost piano pieces? I haven't heard any.

Ghost piano pieces.  This is exactly what your looking for:

Scribin Sonata No.6:  Scribin is said to have been staring off in the room when he performed this, as if there were ghosts floating around.  To me it sounds like I were walking through a haunted house, you can even hear the mice skitter accross the floor.  I would describe this as more spooky (not really evil ghosts, but rather an intense presence of ghosts) as opposed to the demon infested 9th Sonata. 

Scriabin Sonata No.9 "Black Mass":  very demonic.  Something the sort of evil spirits.  You can hear the evil laughter in it.  It even includes this demented sounding march - maybe the spirits' parody on a funeral march.  The coda builds up so much intensity, as if you were being swallowed by ghosts. 

Would be great to have a haloween recital and end with one of these pieces 

[pianomann1984]

Ghost piano pieces.  This is exactly what your looking for:

Scribin Sonata No.6:  Scribin is said to have been staring off in the room when he performed this.

In fact, I have read that Scirabin was so disturbed by the evil within the 6th sonata, as he saw it, that he never actually performed it.

[rafant]

Chopin's Prelude No. 24. Not one but three strong bangs.

[nicko124]

Ghost piano pieces.  This is exactly what your looking for:

Scribin Sonata No.6:  Scribin is said to have been staring off in the room when he performed this, as if there were ghosts floating around.  To me it sounds like I were walking through a haunted house, you can even hear the mice skitter accross the floor.  I would describe this as more spooky (not really evil ghosts, but rather an intense presence of ghosts) as opposed to the demon infested 9th Sonata. 

Scriabin Sonata No.9 "Black Mass":  very demonic.  Something the sort of evil spirits.  You can hear the evil laughter in it.  It even includes this demented sounding march - maybe the spirits' parody on a funeral march.  The coda builds up so much intensity, as if you were being swallowed by ghosts. 

Would be great to have a haloween recital and end with one of these pieces 

The 'Black Mass' sonata is very evil indeed, anyone who wants to have a listen visit https://www.pianosociety.com/index.php?id=59 which has an mp3 of it.

For the sheet music visit https://www.sheetmusicarchive.net/dlpage_new.cfm?composition_id=1330.

I haven't listened' to the other sonata yet as there was no mp3 available, anyone got an mp3 of it?

[paris]

ok, if we're talking about evil sonatas...how about dante sonata?

you can hear fight between angels and devils all the time...i just love it 

[MasterTuner]

Balakirev- Islamey

[beethoartok]

not necessarily a "bang" but a very effective ending piece is beethoven's op.110, third movement.

[Jacey1973]

i'm playing a solo recital in June and i'm ending it with Ravel's "Alborada del gracioso" which i think creates a "bang"! Its taken a while to perfect it but im really looking forward to the whole thing now.

[ravel]

prokofiev toccata, balakirev islamey,  ginastera danzas argentinas, bartok sonata for piano, debussy: fireworks from preludes book 2  or l'isle joyeuse. thats what comes to my brain right now.

[sznitzeln]

Prokofiev 7th sonata, 3rd movement, is very cool. Sounds almost like jazz.
Of course many other sonatas have third movements that are bangy.

[quantum]

In fact, I have read that Scirabin was so disturbed by the evil within the 6th sonata, as he saw it, that he never actually performed it.

Yes that's true.  I guess I should have been clearer in my post.  He performed sections of the sonata for a private audience. 

[viking]

Actually, if you dont want to learn something major like la campanella, HR6, Scriabin sonata, etc... check out Brahms Hungarian dances arranged for 1 piano by brahms.  I bought the henle edition and they aren't very difficult at all, and quite convincing. 
SAM

[rachmaninoff_969]

Viking has a point with the Brahms Hungarian Dances.  I played 6 of them as part of a recital and the audience went bizurque (or however you spell that word).  I think it's because they are both flashy and familiar to many (even though they may not have been aware coming into the concert). 

But I have to say if you want a bang finish with Liszt's Heroide Elegique...it's so so so so so so impressive.

[jlh]

Ghost piano pieces.  This is exactly what your looking for:

Scribin Sonata No.6:  Scribin is said to have been staring off in the room when he performed this, as if there were ghosts floating around.  To me it sounds like I were walking through a haunted house, you can even hear the mice skitter accross the floor.  I would describe this as more spooky (not really evil ghosts, but rather an intense presence of ghosts) as opposed to the demon infested 9th Sonata. 

Scriabin Sonata No.9 "Black Mass":  very demonic.  Something the sort of evil spirits.  You can hear the evil laughter in it.  It even includes this demented sounding march - maybe the spirits' parody on a funeral march.  The coda builds up so much intensity, as if you were being swallowed by ghosts. 

Would be great to have a haloween recital and end with one of these pieces 

Henry Cowell: The Banshee... 

[liszt1022]

I wouldn't recommend ending a program with La Campanella or Grand Galop Chromatique, although both are acceptable encores if such a thing seems appropriate.

Liszt often had GGC printed in as the last piece in his recitals.

[musicsdarkangel]

ok, if we're talking about evil sonatas...how about dante sonata?

you can hear fight between angels and devils all the time...i just love it 

AH of course!  I think that we have a winner....

My teacher (this year) played the Dante sonata for a closer, and it kicked everyone's a$$..... there were about 20 times during that sonata where all of the pianists looked at eachother like "How in the HELL did he do that?!"

He nailed the hell out of that thing

[lostinidlewonder]

You could play the Tsar’s Hymn a part from 1812 Overture from Tchaikovsky and literally at the end wheel a cannon on stage and fire it. That would be funny.

[odsum25]

Liszt Tarantella, Brahms Rhapsodies, Bolcom The Serpant's Kiss.

[Barbosa-piano]

        I would say maybe Rakoczy March, Grand Galop Chromatique, or Chopin's 1st Ballade. I'm not sure if you can get those by August, but those are my opinions.