Okay I got a performance coming up April 19th and I need to perform one solo and one duet with either a trumpet or flute or maybe a voice. I've been playing for a long time so there arent many things that im not willing to try.

For the solo I need to play something tech/showy, but im not sure of any cool piano solos - last time I played 'Take 5' by Dave Brubeck and it sounded great. I'm more of Jazz than Classical player but both I like, so I was considering playing The Rach 3 by rachmaninov. Any recomendations?

As for the duets I really dont know many good peices that dont include some sort of bass and drum backing. Are there any duet songs for like Piano and Trumpet that are well known and not just a piano peice with a transposed melody for trumpet.

Thanks for the advice!

For the solo, why not try Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin, its pretty much a mix of jazz and classical, and it would sound alot better as a solo, than the Rachmaninoff concerto.

For trumpet and piano - Air on G string, Largo from Xeres, Haydn Trumpet Concerto, but all of those are slow and not jazzy

Ooooh, the Rach 3, watch those words around here, some people might not take too kindly to them.

Anyway, if you can do it, the Rach 3 is a great piece (flame suit on now) and I think that the audience will enjoy it. (Extra flame suit).

Didn't see this post before, but this is an excellent idea. Rhapsody in Blue is an excellent piece and a crowd pleaser, and is much shorter than the Rach 3.

Hey thanks for the ideas. Ive just found a few Rhapsody in Blue piano solos on the net and they sound awesome, so much energy!

As for duets im not too sure what to do. Do trumpets go with pianos? I found a lot of flute and piano duet music but all is classical. But I found a Rhapsody in Blue piano and trumpet duet - would that work or....ive never really listened much to that sort of music so im not sure.

What!!??!!

Someone who is "not sure of any cool piano solos" in the same breath suggests playing the Rachmaninoff Third?

What kind of fools are we to respond to this?

Yeah, I was a little confused also.

Huh, someone want to fill me in on the whole Rachmaninoff thing? From the music I have seen of it, Piano part 1 is like a Grade 3 reduction thing the 2nd piano part is some orchestral reduction thats like a grade 10 or something that isnt recognizable lol.

So I was just wondering if it would be better to play something like Rhapsody in Blue over The Rach 3 or not...lol...thats all..

ummm maybe the music that you saw was an arrangement. Rachmaninov's third is very very difficult. If I were you, I'd go with the Rhapsody in Blue. It's a wonderful piece, and a definite crowd pleaser. "ain't nobody don't like gershwin"

For your duet, check out compositions by Claude Bolling for piano and flute. They are light, jazzy and enjoyable to listen to and to play...

He also wrote something called "Toot Suite" for trumpet and piano, and did "Le Papillon" for alto sax and piano.

BUGGER OFF.. Rachmaninoff is a Brilliant (maybe over played) but it is still a damn brilliant piece second to none.

The first 2 pages of the Rach 3 are the easy parts (Grade 3-ish) then it gets bloody harder. Trust me.

I like the Rachmaninoff concerto too, not my favorite, but I like it. But I don't think it would sound like much as a solo. And from the sounds of his posts, I don't think he has to worry about playing Rachmaninoff's third anytime soon.

Ummm... I hope you have a LOT of practice time on your hands cuz the Rach 3 ain't no walk in a park. Look at the full score if you haven't and you'll see.

I'd say play Liszt. I'd go with one of his Hungarian Rhapsodies or his La Campanella etude (however you spell it). Those seem to be very good crowd pleasers.

Or mabye you could play the Hammerklavier sonata (if you could manage the Rach 3 this may still be difficult but doable, although the 1st movement alone may be too long).

That's what I'm getting right now, but I'm in a rush so... yeah.