What works are you learning?

Well, Mozart's Requiem is hardly a piano piece, but most of his piano sonatas have slow movements which I'm sure would suit.

Mostly these are the second movements, for example of K279, 280, 281, 309, 310, 330, 332, 333, 457, 533, 545, and 576, in addition to K570 which Monica mentioned. Also the 1st movements of K282 and K331 (though the latter is only slow in places - these are the lovely variations in the sonata otherwise famous for the Turkish march).

My favourites from the above list are K280, 330, 331, 332 (but this has one bar containing a rather fast run, if you play the 1st edition version rather than the manuscript version), and of course the charmingly simple K545.

The thing to remember about Mozart is that although much of his stuff is fairly easy to play "correctly" (in a mechanical technical sense), it's not all that easy to play well (in a musical sense). There is much emotion lurking in there, dying to be let out. You just have to feel it deep inside you, it's something you either have or not, I don't know if it can really be "learned". It's so easy to play Mozart badly despite all the notes being in the right place.

 

This was the first Sonata I ever learned. I had a heart attack when my teacher told me I had to have it all memorized! It is beautiful Mozart.

 

I appreciate all of your input, and will check out Mozart's K.570.
Chris is correct, surveying the classical music repertoire is like drinking from a firehose.
There is so much to be heard, and really listened to, that it takes a lifetime.

Yes, playing "correctly" and "well" are two different things. I try to play "well" because note perfection seems to escape me.

Thank you all for your thoughts.

Mark

 

OK, I have found a Mozart piece, having just heard Eschenbach. K.333 has a "quiet beauty" to it that I'm looking for.
Will check out the performances of it on the Piano Society website, and maybe some day post a recording for it. (What am I saying??????)

LOL

Thanks

Mark

 

Take a look at his Adagio in b minor and rondo in a minor.
I learnt and performed the b minor adagio last year, it's a beautiful work!

 

Hello all! I'm not sure if there's an official place for introductions anywhere, so I figured this must be as good a place as any. I'm David, a wee college brat who plays piano for fun.

Right now I'm learning:

Ginastera- Danzas Argentinas #2, Danza de la moza donosa
Haydn- Sonata in A-major (xvi:30)

And more of a long term project:
Kapustin- Sonatina
I'm actively working on it, it's just quite difficult for poor old beginner David and is going to take a while to master.

For mark:

These might not be quite what you're looking for, but have you heard the Mozart fantasies in d-minor and c-minor? They're both lovely pieces and I would highly recommend them. Unfortunately, the c-minor is a bit beyond my ability to play at the moment :cry:

Cheers, everyone!
David

 

Hi David, welcome. Some interesting pieces you are working on ! The Kapustin has some tricky spots and it's not easy to blend its classicistic and jazzy features. But it's a fun and rewarding piece to work on. I'll be interested to see how you're getting on with it.