I just got back from my recital, and I am very happy about it. This was my program:

Bach P/f in d minor, bk I

Beethoven Op.22 sonata

Debussy "Voiles"

Chopin Scherzo in b minor

encore: My own composition, a rhapsody

Another pianist played the first half, and I concluded the second part. It was really great, and its very different when one plays a few pieces, and when one plays a program like this, although not a full length recital, still pretty long.

I'm glad you're happy with how it went!
That's the best feeling!

CrashTest:

That's a great program. I'm happy it went well.

I'm thinking about doing a recital with another pianist sometime soon, and I'm looking at sample programs, so this was helpful.

Also, do you happen to have a midi of the rhapsody you composed? I'm interested to hear what others are doing with composition.

Thanks!

I am still finishing its notation in Finale, so I do not have the midi of it yet. I will soon, hopefully!

Congrats CrashTest. Good for you. I always have a problem with nerves playing in front of people.
Even family I'm glad it went well for you.

pdolce

Nerves, as every artist has them, is a controllable phenomenon. I was more anxious to play, than nervous the few days before. When I get up there, the nerves are really not much of a hindrance, more of a fuel system and inspiration to play well. Its great to play for people, after you get over the nerves, its really a fantastic feeling that I could not find anywhere else!

CrashTest:

Nerves also serve me well in music: singing. When I play the piano, it's usually like a 50/50 thing; they may boost my performance, or cause me to think harder about the music, and have a memory lapse (which has happened to me before, during a competition, no less :rolleyes: ).

But, when I sing, my nerves usually boost my performance: I can hit higher notes, and am able to be a lot more conscious with things like dynamics, and drama (which I think, to an extent, is a very good thing for classical voice [not speaking opera here]).

This makes me think: I love performing. I can't imagine having any career where I couldn't perform. I live for it. Anyone else in the same boat?

Making mistakes, in a sort of perverse way, in sort of fun. It makes the atmopshere dangerous- who knows what may happen. This aspect of it attracts me as well, for example, I had a relavitly minor mishap in the 4th movement of the Beethoven sonata, but I improvised my way around it for a few notes- exciting or?!

I can see the excitement in that. However, when I screwed up, it was near the end of a Bach Gigue (from English Suite No. 3), and the rest of the performance had been the best I had ever played it. It was at the second stage of the competition, then, ***crash***, it all fell apart for like 5 seconds (which is an eternity on stage), and I remembered the end, and finished it up really quickly--more quickly than I had ever played it! :rolleyes:

I am actually going to learn the third Bach English suite next. What are your impressions on it? Do you think it is harder/easier than the other english suites, or even the Partitas?

Congrats!

Mike

Congratulations, CrashTest. Nice program!

My impressions on the 3rd English Suite:

I love it. It's beautiful. As far as difficulty, it's nothing that's not manageable, but more difficult than a good deal of the Bach that I've seen (but that probably doesn't say much :rolleyes: ). The prelude is especially wonderful. Gives me goosebumps every time I hear it. As far as in comparison to the partitas, I don't know. Are the partitas considered to be particularly difficult? I played the rondo from Partita II in c min., but it isn't overly difficult.

CrashTest,
Congrats!!

The 3rd Eng. Suite is the G minor right? That is my favorite of them. IMO, the preludes to the English Suites are 1 or two pages too long, however the prelude to the G minor is quite nice.

Hey, CrashTest, congratulations on a successful recital! It's great that you could also perform one of your own compositons. Must have been quite gratifying for you.

"D": Yes! I, too, live to perform (though not always on the piano)!!

Congratulations, CrashTest. I'm glad you're happy and it went well!

Nerves...they'll be there. And those times that you realize you're less nervous, you're nervous because you're not nervous!

Joe