Suggestions for repertoire on COLLEGE Sr. piano recital?

Question

I'm having my first College senior piano recital in the fall - only a half hour program, but need a solid bunch of solo selections - along the lines of Chopin's Ballades or Scherzos, Bach's Partitas, etc. I need lots of suggestions! What would YOU want to hear on a program? This isn't a competition, and I really want to give an enjoyable performance, not just out to impress. I'm not a performance emphasis, so my career isn't on the line. Pedagogy and theory emphases, so I'm looking for solid, well-written pieces that will suggest I have good taste. lol - in that case, I should probably just pick out my own stuff without asking for help, but I'm looking for some pieces that I may be overlooking.

let me clarify - I'm looking for ADVANCED repertoire that is interesting. No Mozart or Haydn sonatas, probably not a Beethoven Sonata..

and please don't lecture me for saying I'm not planning on playing a Beethoven or Mozart sonata! I know that B's later period sonatas are incredibly hard.. but they're also experiemental and hard for normal audiences to listen to. if you want to discuss this, email me at [e-mail]. Otherwise... thanks to those who have already given suggestions! Keep 'em coming - I appreciate the help.

Answer 1

The last Beethoven Sonata, in Cminor, is great. Two movements, both incredible. It takes great talent -- and not just the finger dexterity kind -- to play either movement to its fullest, much less both.

Any of the Liszt Etudes would be great. They're difficult to learn. My favorite is "Etudes de concert" S. 144 No. 3, "Un Sospiro." Your audience will appreciate a performance of this piece, especially if they're not familiar with it. Also under the category of my favorite Liszt are the Annees de Pelerinage, the last piece of book one ('Les Cloches de Geneve') and the first piece of book two ('Sposalizio'). Great little gems.

The Chopin Ballades are great pieces (especially, in my opinion, the Gminor and F minor), but the Barcarolle is not performed often yet is one of his most beautiful pieces. The Berceuse is also a wonderful Chopin piece that doesn't get played as much as it deserves.

To combine genres you might look up the Busoni transacription of the Bach D minor toccata and fugue. Very virtuoso but true to the original.

Speaking of toccatas, I attended a recital recently where the performer scheduled the Debussy toccata and it made a great impression. A real showpiece but terrific to listen to.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Beethoven Sonatas are NOT ADVANCED?!?!?!? Try playing Op. 106 or Op. 111 on your senior recital, and then tell me that you want a more advanced piece! While these may be more sophisticated musically than most of the rest of the piano repertoire (in addition to being technically difficult), many audiences find sublime beauty in these pieces, especially the first movement of Op. 109 and the last movement of Op. 111

My advice would be to play a varied program consisting of a Bach suite (Partita, Eng. Suite, Fr. Suite, or whatever) or Prelude and Fugue; an advanced classical sonata (probably by Beethoven, but there are some amazing Mozart sonatas you could play--try, for example, No. 18 in D major, "The Hunt", also there are several quite beautiful Haydn Sonatas that are also no piece of cake to play); an advanced Chopin Mazurka, Polonaise, or Etude, (or perhaps a Liszt piece from Years of Pilgrimage); and a 20th-century or contemporary work (like one of the shorter Prokofiev sonatas or a standalone program piece).

Or, if the faculty at your school will allow you to do it, you could play a single 30-minute multi-movement piece, like Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, or one of the longer piano sonatas (one of the Prokofiev "War" Sonatas, etc.).

Most importantly, find at least one piece that is a little off the beaten path (such as a woman composer or a pre-baroque piece), or is something to which you can contribute uniquely in order to give the recital just a little hint of your own personal flavoring. Have fun, and enjoy your moment to shine!

Answer 3

Piano Recital Ideas

Answer 4

Well... I am taking a course on women composers and there are actually some good things I've heard. It will be different and unexpected (which is a good thing) for those members of the audience who know a lot about music. And for those members of the audience that are just there to kind of listen it will be a nice piece to hear. The piece I suggest is Air Russe Varié, Op.17 by Louise Farrenc. Of all of the women I have studied in my class she is probably my top favorite. She has good melodies and her stuff is well-written. The piece I recommended you is Bach fugual like with some variations. If you might be interested I will get the recording from school so you can listen. Just e-mail me [e-mail]

Answer 5

Focus on who is your audience. Then assess your technical abilities. Professors might like a nice round of Bach, but a general audience doesn't warm up to him as readily.

30 minutes? D. Scarlotti, Chopin Nocturne, Liszt Consolation D flat, Rachmanioff Prelude. Add items as needed to fill up the time.

And how about Granados? He was a big teacher, wrote stuff for them to play to be rated. And it would be a bit on the different side. Spice it up a bit.

Answer 6

I am a ten-year piano student as well, and for my recital I did Grieg's Norwegian Concerto (piano concerto in A minor). It was a little too easy, but at ten years, you don't really have many options. It is a spectacular and dramatic piece.

Answer 7

Regardless of what some people might think, it is imperative to balance the program and, yes, challenge the audience at least a little bit. A 20th century work fits this criteria nicely. Perhaps a Scriabin sonata...

Answer 8

Advanced? Try the Sonata by Carl Vine. Amazing piece of music. There is a fine, fine recording of it by Sergei Babayan.
What about the Italian Concerto of JS Bach? (sorry pianists, guitarist here, I may have mangled that title - the Italian sonata/concerto whatever by JSB. )

Answer 9

Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven.

Answer 10

something by liszt to close the program.