Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Pianist Corner Looking for a short showpiece for an encore

I'll be performing my first solo concert in 3 weeks... and I thought... why not do a short encore, to surprise my teacher, and everyone else?

I'm looking for something virtuosic obviously, around/under 5 minutes long and something with not much variation in its patterns - because even though I learn pieces quite quickly, I do really want to master the encore piece, not spend the whole time memorizing it.

My first thought was Prok's toccata, partly because I had learned most of it a while ago but didn't have enought time to finish it, and I can still remember some of it. But an encore should be something with a more... happier sound, I thought.

So, do you have any good suggestions based on the criteria I mentioned above? I really need some help, because I don't want to consult my teacher on this... I'm certain of my abilities and I want it to be a surprise.

You plan to "master" a virtuosic piece in 3 weeks? If you had more time I would suggest something like Chopin's op. 10 no. 4, but it's not feasible with these time constraints.

Yes.

As I said, I learn pieces fast... last week, I learned and memorized a prelude and fugue from WTC I in 2 days, cause I discovered I have been slacking off from learning it :p

I considered Liszt's hungarian rhapsody 6 as well... I could play the fast section after 3 hearings, I think? incredibly easy to memorize, not so difficult on the fingers as well. But the whole thing might be too long for an encore.

But considering that you offered Chopin's op. 10 no. 4, I guess picking a minor-key piece as an encore isn't that bad at all I'm going to go with Prok's toccata anyways.

That was my bad, I have a thing for dramatic minor pieces. After rereading your post it was a rather silly suggestion.

Well, I have too! But, so you don't think that such pieces would suit as an encore?

Widmung, Schumann/Liszt is rather cathartic and easy, but sounds hard.

If you like Prokofiev, why not do his firecracker Suggestion diabolique?

http://youtu.be/45mXvaIW02c

One of the gems of the piano literature, Felix Blumenfeld's Impromptu in G flat Op.13 No.2:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmBb8_mOM18&feature=youtu.be&t=1h15m46s


Mel

Play the F major etude by Moszkowski

Any piece that I would play as an encore would be a piece that I have had in my repertoire for a long time, not one that I had just learned. While some might not appreciate any difference, to me, there is something about encore repertoire that should have a spontaneous quality that comes from long familiarity with the work and that can be, because of that familiarity, played according to the mood of the moment.

However, we obviously differ in that approach.

How about the Chopin Waltz in G-flat major, Op. 70, No. 1? Short, sweet and scintillating!

Regards,

Liszt Grand Galop Chromatique.

I second this suggestion. I love this piece!

If the rest of your program is quite virtuosic, then I don't think your encore has to be virtuosic. Especially if your final piece on the regular program is highly virtuosic. There are thousands of possibilities. Are there any composers you particularly like?

Don't you want to do a lot of practicing on your regular program in the next few weeks? If so, will you really have time to learn an encore well if it's a new piece that's difficult?

That's right - Träumerai was Horowitz's favorite encore .

Guaranteed to get a reaction!

+1

And don't forget you'll be tired.

Yes!

That was going to be my exact recommendation!