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Top 10 must-know piano music

Discussion in 'Repertoire' started by tinklekeys235, Aug 9, 2012.

  1. tinklekeys235

    tinklekeys235 New Member

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    Hi everyone! :D

    Which 10 specific piano pieces do you think is a must for all advanced pianists to be able to have in their repertoire at some point?
     
    tinklekeys235, Aug 9, 2012
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  2. pianoman342

    pianoman342 Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    If an advanced pianist is another term for concert pianist, here is my list:

    1. Granados - Goyescas - La Maja y El Ruiseñor

    2. Ravel - Tombeau de Couperin - Toccata

    3. Albeniz - Iberia - El Puerto

    4. Beethoven - Sonata Pathetique - 1st Mvt.

    5. Chopin - Sonata in B Minor - Op. 58, 4th Mvt.

    6. Bach - Art of Fugue - Contrapunctus 1

    7. Debussy - Images - Reflets dans L'eau

    8. Mozart - Sonatas - No. 18 (K. 576)

    9. Hamelin - Con Intimissimo Sentimento - After Pergolesi

    10. Rachmaninov - Op. 30, Piano Concerto No. 3

    They may be able to have some of these pieces mixed together in their repertoire, but to play all of these pieces back to back in a concert... :shock:

    Your fingers would undoubtedly hurt at the end of the performance. Actually, you'd really want to check that none were broken! :lol:
     
    pianoman342, Aug 10, 2012
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  3. tinklekeys235

    tinklekeys235 New Member

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    WAOW... that's pretty intense stuff. 8)
     
    tinklekeys235, Aug 10, 2012
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  4. techneut

    techneut Active Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    Making lists like this is fun, but ultimately pointless. This is so subjective and personal. Everybody will have their own favorites abd their own idea of what "must-know" means.
    All I would say is, if you want an audience, stick to the tried and tested repertoire. Play the Mondschein and Raindrop and you'll be fine :D
     
    techneut, Aug 10, 2012
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  5. pianoman342

    pianoman342 Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    Thanks a lot, Chris! :x if you're right, I wasted my time. :( But it wasn't something anybody could do, I had to do some research, ya know! :lol:

    I think it is subjective. I think these pieces allow somebody to hold the "proverbial mirror" up. After an player practices these pieces for a month or two you probably realize one of four things:

    1. These pieces are actually not that hard (you are a gifted pianist who is one in a million)

    2. These pieces are for people who have put in their 10,000 hours and still struggle to play them well.

    3. In order to play these pieces you will have to a. put in your 10,000 hours, b. you will have to go back to square one and truly master your technique (scales hands together, parallel, contrary motion (as Eddy quotes, literally know the keys backwards and forwards" :) )

    4. You simply cannot play it. The piece is out of your skill range and you don't have the time required to master the technique this piece requires.

    That's right play to the crowd.. :roll: Though if you are playing piano at a concert hall, I guess you're playing for the crowd! :lol:
     
    pianoman342, Aug 10, 2012
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  6. andrew

    andrew Administrator Staff Member Piano Society Artist

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    For public performance purposes, it would probably be wise for a professional pianist to have at least some of the following in their repertoire:

    Bach: various P&F, Italian concerto, various partitas.
    Beethoven: various sonatas, especially Pathetique, Moonlight, Waldstein, Appassionata.
    Chopin: various preludes, something from the Ballades or Scherzi. Either sonata.

    Additionally, though less imperative:

    Liszt: B min or Dante sonata, a couple from the TEs or HRs.
    Rachmaninov: various preludes or etudes-tableaux.
    Debussy: Images.
    Ravel: Jeux d'eaux, Miroirs.
    Prokofiev: various sonatas.
    Scarlatti: various sonatas.
     
    andrew, Aug 11, 2012
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  7. pianoman342

    pianoman342 Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    :shock: No transcriptions?? :lol:
     
    pianoman342, Aug 12, 2012
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  8. musical-md

    musical-md Active Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    Of course. For me, the Bach-Busoni Chaconne, and the Stravinsky-Raphling Rite of Spring!
     
    musical-md, Aug 12, 2012
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  9. andrew

    andrew Administrator Staff Member Piano Society Artist

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    No. The Bach-Busoni Chaconne is probably the closest to an essential that I can think of. I'm neither wise nor professional, so I can do whatever I want!
     
    andrew, Aug 12, 2012
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  10. tinklekeys235

    tinklekeys235 New Member

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    Arguably, no, not pointless.

    point·less/ˈpointlis/
    Adjective:
    Having little or no sense, use, or purpose.

    The purpose, sense and use of this topic was for public opinion on the general matter. Of course it would be 'so subjective and personal'!

    If pointless, why then waste your time to reply with a recommendation - wouldn't that be, might I say, 'ultimately pointless'?

    Just saying...
     
    tinklekeys235, Aug 16, 2012
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  11. pianoman342

    pianoman342 Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    pianoman342, Mar 12, 2013
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  12. andrew

    andrew Administrator Staff Member Piano Society Artist

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    Balakirev's Islamey and Liszt's Don Juan Fantasy conspicuous by their absence from the list of works.
     
    andrew, Mar 13, 2013
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  13. pianoman342

    pianoman342 Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    Balakirev's Islamey and Liszt's Don Juan Fantasy conspicuous by their absence from the list of works.

    The author didn't even mention transcriptions. Save for Godowsky's transcription of the Chopin Etudes, which I'd say hardly count as bonafide "transcriptions" :roll:
     
    pianoman342, Mar 13, 2013
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