Inspired by the recent posting by Thracozaag I began to think about what works would be on a list of the greatest two piano(without orchestra)works.

Not being very familiar with this genre I could only come up with a few:
Mozart: Sonata for two piano
Ravel(transcribed by Ravel): La Valse
Rachmaninov:Suites Nos. 1 and 2
Brahms: Variations on a Theme (not really)by Haydn

Which would be on your list of greatest two piano works?

I think that the Poulenc sonata is also brilliant... And the Milhaud Scaramuch (sp?) suite...

All those mentioned are wonderful. And to me, the Mozart is the ultimate model, and the ultimate.

Speaking of whom, there's also his Concerto for 2 Pianos, which I love too.

For me, Messiaen Visions de l'Amen without question. I find it at least as captivating, if not more, than Vingt Regards.

AMEN !!!!

Schubert Fantasie.

I think that's for 4 hands on one piano, unless he wrote another one for two pianos specifically.

Ravel's Rapsodie Espagnole works for both 4 hands and 2 pianos. I like that one a lot!

Yes.

liszt's reminiscences de don juan all the way





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Bach: Partita no.4
Mozart: Sonata in F k.533
Chopin:Some sort of large scale work (haven't decided yet)
Chopin:Selected Mazurkas
Liszt:Six consolations
Brahms: Hungarian Dance no.5

With 2 pianos I might have a chance to play the 1 piano version.

I can't find any reference to a two-piano version of the "Reminiscences de Don Juan."

Regards,

Ligeti 3 Pieces

I had never heard of it, but quick googling did show reference to Liszt having done such a version. (I can't tell you anything more about it because I didn't click further.)

Published by Schott in 1874, though I couldn't find the date that Liszt actually made the arrangement.

I know it has been recorded at least once, and quite interestingly I have read (cannot recall where) that Liszt's two-piano version is in no way a mere simplification of the original. In fact, he will occasionally add to the existing solo piano with the result that some of the most difficult parts of the original are unchanged!

Saint Saenes transcriptions of:
Liszt B minor sonata
Chopin B minor sonata (no3)

I know it isn't originally written for two pianos but it is so much easier and with decent sight readers it is a heck of a lot of fun to play through
Ravel transcription of Debussy nocturnes.

"Great" or just an interesting novelty?

Boulez - Structures II

(Avoid Structures I, unless you really like that sort of stuff).

Grieg's arrangement of Mozart's Sonatas K533, K545 and Fantasia K475. One pianist plays Mozart's original, the second pianist plays Grieg's 'take' on Mozart, adding some piquancy to the harmonies as well as additional counterpoint.

They have been recorded by Sviatoslav Richter and Elisabeth Leonskaya, no less.

GREAT??

Not Grieg's finest moments. Another pianist and I performed one of those years and years ago, pretty much for amusement.

YES!!!

The two-piano version of Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances

Would Ive's pieces that use quarter-tone-offset pianos count?

Lutoslawski's Paganini Variations. (Not sure if you would call them "great" but they are very effective in performance.)

OMG, I had no idea that existed... I know what I'm listening to tonight!


I'm not a huge fan of two piano works, but I do like Debussy En blanc et noir. I once heard James Williams (jazz pianist) work the opening phrase into a solo...great stuff.

Stravinsky's Concerto.

With orchestra, Carnival of the Animals, and Poulenc's Concerto. In between, Bartok's Sonata for 2 pianos and percussion.

YES. What a brilliant work.



Both intrigue me. I really need to take a listen to both.



WANT. SRSLY. Nuages is one of my all-time favorite works.

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the Stravisnky Concerto. (edit: Sorry, BDB, I didn't see that.)

I'm not surprised that no one has mentioned the Brahms Sonata in F Minor. I'm not mentioning it either.

Bartok Sonata for Two Pianos & Percussion is, if it counts here, at the very top of the list.

The Brahms F Minor sonata for two pianos, in my opinion, works so much better in the Quintet form. But yeah, Bartok's sonata for two pianos and percussion is ROCKIN'!