Repetoire, what to play?!?!?!? Options

[harryjamespotter]

I'm auditioning for a music sixth form scholarship, and have absolutely no idea what to play. At the moment I'm working on 2 (well sort of 3) pieces. Violin by the way.
Beethoven romances opus 40 and opus 50
Bach E major

The problem with these I've been playing the Beethoven for so long, i'm sick of it! even though they are gorgeous. ANd the bach is nice but it doesn't really so off much and so I don't know if either are really appropriate.

Can anyone suggest anything, flashy enough for an audition but that I'll be able to learn to a good standard by the Feb? I'll be asking my tecaher as well, but its always nice to be armed with a few good suggestions! : D

[Katie]

2 contrasting pieces is usually the requirement for an audition.
Is the Bach E major, the concerto or solo sonata. Have a look at all the syllabus, past and present and try to pick something you like from List C. There are lots of Kriesler pieces which are a delight, Bartok Romanian Folk Dances, Svensden Romance, Hindemith from list C (current syllabus) although I wouldn't necessarily choose 2 unaccompanied pieces.
I am sure your teacher will guide you.

Good Luck

Katie

[bohemian]

Hey,

I just got a full 6th form music scholarship so maybe I could help a little...
I played one of the Weiniawski Marurkas, a hard unaccompanied piece and some Vivaldi. They apparently like to hear something unaccompanied and something from a concerto/sonata. The reason for the concerto is to see whether you would perform in an orchestra, either as a soloist or as a member. Make sure you involve a modern(ish) piece whenever possible, as this demonstrates versatility.

They don't base the scholarship entirely on the prepared pieces by any means. Interview plays a very major part, because they are essentially giving you money to come and pla music and for that you need to be enthusiastic about ensemble playing and A level music, which contribute to the school in a larger way. Try and sound really interested too, if they explain something to you ask questions and so on. You will most likely have to sight-read an orchestral part and do some simple aural tests.

How about a Bach Partita? Couple of movements of that and maybe a Romantic concerto movement or something similar.

Good luck!

[IrisH - LoonY]

Paganini Caprices/Sonatas?

IrisH - LoonY

[bohemian]

Paganini Caprices

If you can do that the school probably would never let you leave!

[IrisH - LoonY]

Paganini Caprices

If you can do that the school probably would never let you leave!

Whyso?

[Crazy Musician]

Why don't you do two contrasting pieces? Maybe a classical piece and a jazzy piece. By doing this you can show how well you play different repetoires.

[metro_bug]

If you have enjoyed the Beethoven, why not try his Spring sonata. The first and fouth movements are of a similar standard to the Romances, and both are great show pieces (although you will need access to a really good pianist).

[bohemian]

Whyso?

Because the Caprices are amoungst the very hardest pieces for violin ever written...they were considered unplayable when written until Paganini himself proved everyone wrong by performing them. I know only one person who has attempted them...even he has only tried 5 and he's played in top professional orchestras. Imagine a 15/16 year old turning up and demonstrating that kind of technical ability.


Spring Sonata is a good one! I'm just starting that, 1st movement is cool and everyone knows what sort of standard it is.

[IrisH - LoonY]

Whyso?

Because the Caprices are amoungst the very hardest pieces for violin ever written...they were considered unplayable when written until Paganini himself proved everyone wrong by performing them. I know only one person who has attempted them...even he has only tried 5 and he's played in top professional orchestras. Imagine a 15/16 year old turning up and demonstrating that kind of technical ability.


Spring Sonata is a good one! I'm just starting that, 1st movement is cool and everyone knows what sort of standard it is.

Oh I've been thinking of Kreisler all this time XD Whoops! Not Paganini!

Nah Paganini is just *scream*

Although, No.11,12 and 24 don't seem *too* bad...I think

Wouldn't the Violin Concerti be more challenging? In fact, a friend of mine who moved to Liverpool told me that a girl played the Paganini 1, aged only TWELVE!!!!

IrisH - LoonY

[bohemian]

Oh I've been thinking of Kreisler all this time XD Whoops! Not Paganini!
Nah Paganini is just *scream*
Although, No.11,12 and 24 don't seem *too* bad...I think

Whoops...Kreisler is much nicer!! I love some of his pieces, and they tend to sound a lot harder than they are.
Part of no 24 (the theme and an adapted variation) was in grade 3 back in the day when I did it...the 1997 syllabus I suppose. I played it! I would love to play that before I leave school but...nah. No5 is meant to be OK too.

Wouldn't the Violin Concerti be more challenging? In fact, a friend of mine who moved to Liverpool told me that a girl played the Paganini 1, aged only TWELVE!!!!

Sorry, but if someone is 12 can they really understand the Paganini properly? They would have to be amazingly mature, not just musically, to understsand what's going on emotionally and harmonically. It's one thing to play the notes how your teacher tells you but it doesn't necessarily make a performance. How can ANYONE claim to play Paganini 1 at 12, unless the intended outcome was increased technical ability? I would never attempt a huge concerto like the Mendelssohn/Tchaik/Paganini/Weiniawski until I'm a lot more mature mentally, never mind my technical standard. Otherwise if I carry on and improve, I'll see how badly I played it and probably never play it as well as possible...sorry about the rant but that kind of thing gets me.

As to the matter of the difficulty of caprices vs concerti, the concerti and technically not easy, nothing impossible though, but also have emotional content which requires a lot from a violinist, whereas the caprices are technically extremely hard but it is basically a matter of playing the right notes at the right time (makes it sound so simple). Depends on your style. The concerti must be more enjoyable though...

*End thread hijack*

[IrisH - LoonY]

Well I may have the girl's age wrong, but it was actually in the paper!!! Yes I was bowled over also but you know.

As far as other repertoire is concerned
Weiniawski Scherzo Tarentelle/Legende in G minor?
Tartini Devil's Trill Sonata?
Vaughn Williams The Lark Ascending? (mammoth work!)

IrisH - LoonY

[bohemian]

Well I may have the girl's age wrong, but it was actually in the paper!!! Yes I was bowled over also but you know.

As far as other repertoire is concerned
Weiniawski Scherzo Tarentelle/Legende in G minor?
Tartini Devil's Trill Sonata?
Vaughn Williams The Lark Ascending? (mammoth work!)

IrisH - LoonY

Since you mention it, a really important thing is easy piano parts for auditions since you don't get much rehersal, so a big concerto or orchestral thing is useless as the pianist will never play in time with a 5 minute run-through. It's really annoying, I had problems with a really hard arrangement of a concerto for piano - bad idea to try it. Another pro for the unaccompanied option.

[IrisH - LoonY]

Well I may have the girl's age wrong, but it was actually in the paper!!! Yes I was bowled over also but you know.

As far as other repertoire is concerned
Weiniawski Scherzo Tarentelle/Legende in G minor?
Tartini Devil's Trill Sonata?
Vaughn Williams The Lark Ascending? (mammoth work!)

IrisH - LoonY

Since you mention it, a really important thing is easy piano parts for auditions since you don't get much rehersal, so a big concerto or orchestral thing is useless as the pianist will never play in time with a 5 minute run-through. It's really annoying, I had problems with a really hard arrangement of a concerto for piano - bad idea to try it. Another pro for the unaccompanied option.

Hmmm, most of the concerto arrangements I've done haven't been bad actually! I tried to do a runthrough with a friend taking DipABRSM Sax playing the Creston Rapsodie and the Binge Concerto oh god the finale to the Binge was far too fast! and the Creston was just *scream*

In fact! Try one of my favourite pieces! Grieg's Violin Sonata in C minor Op.45, I'd LOVE to do the 1st movement!

IrisH - LoonY

[kenm]

Wouldn't the Violin Concerti be more challenging? In fact, a friend of mine who moved to Liverpool told me that a girl played the Paganini 1, aged only TWELVE!!!!

Sorry, but if someone is 12 can they really understand the Paganini properly? They would have to be amazingly mature, not just musically, to understsand what's going on emotionally and harmonically.

Did you hear Jennifer Pike in the (2002?) BBC Young Musician, aged 12? I heard her play the Debussy Sonata on Radio 3, in a part of the competition that was not televised. This is a work I know fairly well, and every time I thought, "It would be nice if she did this [rubato, accent, etc.]" she did, plus several others I had not thought of. On the basis of that extremely mature performance of a very subtle and demanding piece, I thought, "I shall be pleased and not surprised if she wins this year", which she duly did.