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#1970879 10/09/12 04:06 PM
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SamXu Offline OP
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I need to pick a romantic piece to replace my brahms (op10 Intermezzo) and a baroque piece to replace my Bach (Sinfonia from Partita 2). Can you guys help me?

[BTW, my technical skills aren't all too good, and my hands are tiny - max is 9 keys with difficulty, and i'm trying for smooth double octaves.]

Baroque pieces:
Bach Prelude and fugue (any of these): Book 1 - Fmajor, F# major, F#minor, G major, G minor, Ab major, A major. Book 2 - C major, C# major, D minor, E major, F major, A major, A minor

Shostakovich Prelude and Fugues (any of these): A minor, Major, E minor, A major, F minor, Eb major, G minor, F major

Romantic pieces:
My teacher recommended to pick one out of these four (remember that my technical skills leave much to admire. :L)
Chopin: Nocturne in F# major op15 (personally, this one is nice, but a bit short)
Liszt: Ungarische Rhapsodie in E minor No5 from Ungarische Rhapsodien (i'd like to play this, but the middle section is a bit...evil for me)
Rachmaninoff: Elegie in Eb minor No1 from Morceaux de fantaise (i really want to play this, but the middle section with the double fourths is evil.)
Tchaikovsky: October from the seasons (easy to play technically, hard to interpret emotionally - i don't emit a rich warmth very much)

So, what do you think I should play, and which pieces do you like personally?


HSC pieces:
Shostakovich Piano Concerto op 102. movement 1
Chopin Op10 No1
Debussy Broulliards Preludes Bk1
Kats-Chernin Russian Rag
Messiaen Regard d'letoile
Mozart Sonata for 2 pianos D major
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Would you want me to choose what you have for dinner?

I'd listen to them, following the IMSLP score if necessary, and choose the ones from each group you like. In terms of their difficulty, your teacher knows what's appropriate for you or if from a syllabus, the pieces are grouped by difficulty.

Last edited by pianoloverus; 10/09/12 05:26 PM.
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Personally, I like Shostakovich A minor and A Major, and the Rachmaninoff Elegy and Tchaikovsky October.


"If we continually try to force a child to do what he is afraid to do, he will become more timid, and will use his brains and energy, not to explore the unknown, but to find ways to avoid the pressures we put on him." (John Holt)

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For the Bach, choose what you will. I definitely recommend book 2 C# major (my personal favorite).

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The Chopin nocturne is a deceitfully tricky piece. In the middle section, bringing out the octave melody on top of the filler can be tough.

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Originally Posted by Debbusyist
....i don't emit a rich warmth very much)....

I think if you're in touch with that and able to say it, you're probably just an inch away from being able to do it better!

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The Bach P&F's are ALL good, but play through them and pick your favorite. My favorite changes every month or so -- right now I'm really into the F# major in book 1. Try it out -- for me, it's one of the easier fugues and has a beautiful melody.

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Originally Posted by Kreisler
Personally, I like Shostakovich A minor and A Major, and the Rachmaninoff Elegy and Tchaikovsky October.


thumb

Though both Fugues are very tricky. (Fingering the A major was a nightmare for me!)


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Make sure you feel comfortable with your choice - don't think about what the examiners or PW members might like or not... YOU must like it because YOU have to play it and make a professional impression, and you cannot make a professional impression if you are somehow uncomfortable with it.



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Now that most of the pieces have been recommended by at least one poster, guess what you have to do?
Decide for yourself.

Last edited by pianoloverus; 10/10/12 06:36 AM.

Moderated by  Brendan, platuser 

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