Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Pianist Corner need advice on selections/performers

I finally had my first lesson here at SMU. My instructor is brilliant...he's very knowledgable and it seems he can pretty much play everything . Anyways, there are some areas in my repertoire that lacks certain periods, and he suggested some composers to look into:

Bach (French or English Suites), Bartok (possibly something out of Mikrokosmos, Allegro Barbaro, or something of the like), Shostakovich (Preludes, Op. 34), and Ginastera.

Do any of you have any suggestions as to which pieces to pick? Any favorite Bach suites or Shostakovich preludes? From the things I've heard of Bartok's music, I think I'll be doing the Bulgarian Dances. I haven't heard much Ginastera, though, so it would be hard to choose something by him. Also, which pianists do them justice?

Thanks for you help .

Bach - WTC
Bartok - I dunno
Shostakovich - Again, I dunno
Ginastera - Danzas Argentinas (I'm doing them right now, tons of fun) or (if you're good enough) Sonatas

Bach- Try French suites no.5&6
Bartok- try his Suite op.14. Very exciting but a bit difficult.
Shostakovich- Preludes and fugues no.4 in E minor or no.17 in Ab.
Ginastera- try his Sonata no.1 op.22. I found it in the same level as the danzas argentinas.

Bartok Sonata is great, and Ginastera has the Suite de Danzas Criollas (Criolla Dances..). I would recommend the Sonata as well, and Barbara Nissman has a wonderful recording of Ginastera works, and of course, Zoltan Kocsis is great for Bartok. You can find Allegro Barbaro, Sonata, etc. lots of Bartok on his recording.

For Ginastera, start with the American Preludes. There's lots of good Bartok. Look at the Op. 8a Romanian Dances, the 15 Hungarian Peasant Songs and Dances, the Bagatelles, or anything else.

Go to the library, check a bunch of stuff out and try things for yourself. I think it's a better way than listening to others. Try to get your own idea about the music. The things that you do to make sense of it are the things that will make your audience understand it.

Shostakovich preludes: I've only heard one recording, but I think it's good: pianist is Olli Mustonen, on Decca (recently reissued under the Gramophone Award series). Also has Alkan's Op. 35 preludes on it.