Piano concerto with limited orchestra

[jiwongirl]

Hi all,

I need to learn a piano concerto, but the orchestra I'm playing does not have a percussion section.  Can anyone recommend me a concerto with limited orchestral instruments?  This orchestra mainly only has strings, woodwinds, and very few brass instruments. 

Thx!

[thierry13]

A liszt one could be good. Definately not Grieg, because of the timpani rolls at the beginning. Without them, it ruins the piece. Rachmaninoff 2 could be okay I think. He doesn't use anything else than strings and some winds.

[shasta]

Off the top of my head, Bach's D minor (BWV 1052).

[BoliverAllmon]

Off the top of my head, Bach's D minor (BWV 1052).

go bach definately I love this cocnerto. I was hoping to learn this one until stuff came up.

boliver

[Goldberg]

Also check out Bach's 4th concerto in A major. I only recently discovered this piece (Gould's recording of course) and am very delighted with it!

Mozart concerti are generally not inclined to stretch the usual limitations of the orchestra, and indeed for something a little bit mainstream (but not too much so) I might also recommend Beethoven's light 2nd concerto, my favourite of the set personally. The John Field concerti are similar to those Classical concerti, but definitely have some quasi-Romantic features, mostly in technical requirements (though not hard).

[shasta]

Mozart concerti are generally not inclined to stretch the usual limitations of the orchestra

Mozart did employ timpani in at least some of his concerti, though.  I know the 21st uses it.  Maybe his earlier ones would be fair game...?

[dlu]

or Bach's 1st Keyboard Concerto...

[jiwongirl]

Thanks for the input!

I'll have a look at the Bach and the Liszt.  Can anyone recommend some more romantic works? 

[Regulus Medtner]

Take a look at Alkan's Concerti da camera. The op.10 no.2 is scored for piano and strings only and it's very beautiful.