ATCL help and opinions please? Options

[JimM]

Hi guys and gals

This is my first ever post - please be gentle .....

I've been doing some early work on an ATCL performance programme, to take the exam perhaps later in 2012 or at the start of 2013.

But neither I nor my teacher have any informed idea of what might be acceptable to the examiners, as meeting the performance guidelines. So she asked someone (who I don't like very much!), who said that he didn't think my intended programme was sufficiently demonstrative of my pianistic skills. Because of my antipathy to the guy, I don't know whether to take his comments seriously, or to ignore them and do the pieces my teacher and I think will suffice.

So here's my thought of the pieces to play - can anyone out there make some constructive comments please?

JS Bach WTC Book 1 Prelude and Fugue no 17 in A flat BWV 862
Haydn - Piano Sonata No.59 Hob.XVI:49, E-flat major
Debussy - La Plus que Lente (would I be better by replacing this with e.g. Brahms Intermezzo Op 117 no 2, or a Schubert Impromptu, for example?)
Martinu - Prelude in the form of a Foxtrot (from 8 Preludes)

Thanks

[fsharpminor]

To me that looks like a good well balanced programme. Although there isnt a mainstream romantic work, the pieces are all different styles and periods and should serve you well. I do enjoy that particular Haydn Sonata, though I dont know that Martinu piece, I do know some others by him.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/goodLuck.gif)

[Louise H]

I also think it is quite well balanced with possibly the same reservation as F#m. I don't know the Martinu at all.

It is very similar to the program I'm preparing as I'm doing the same Haydn sonata and also the same Debussy but I have the Schubert Eflat impromptu from Op. 90.

[ansatz496]

I think it's a good programme with plenty of variety (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I found a recording of the Martinu and it seems to be acceptable. My only reservation is the timing - it seems a bit short, with Martinu at 1.5 min, Debussy 5 min, Bach 4 min, and Haydn 17 min. You need at least 32 min for ATCL, and it's better to overestimate than underestimate. If you were considering a Brahms or Schubert piece, adding one might solve the timing problem.

[JimM]

I also think it is quite well balanced with possibly the same reservation as F#m. I don't know the Martinu at all.

It is very similar to the program I'm preparing as I'm doing the same Haydn sonata and also the same Debussy but I have the Schubert Eflat impromptu from Op. 90.

Thanks for that Louise. But if your programme is pretty much the same as mine we'd better be careful we don't take the exam at the same session and location!!
Judging from some of the other comments perhaps I might be better going for a Beethoven Sonata (more 'orchestral' perhaps) and or/a Brahms!

I think it's a good programme with plenty of variety (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I found a recording of the Martinu and it seems to be acceptable. My only reservation is the timing - it seems a bit short, with Martinu at 1.5 min, Debussy 5 min, Bach 4 min, and Haydn 17 min. You need at least 32 min for ATCL, and it's better to overestimate than underestimate. If you were considering a Brahms or Schubert piece, adding one might solve the timing problem.

Thanks ansatz496 for reminding me about the timing issue. Difficult enough to pass the performance part of the exam without being penalised for shortness of programme as well (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[fsharpminor]

Yes even with say the E flat Impromptu as well , you'd still be within limits, though Im not sure Id want to have 5 pieces, 4 is enough.

[ansatz496]

As far as a Schubert or Brahms piece goes, I think you want something that is at least 5 min long. Schubert op. 90 no. 3 or Brahms op. 118 no. 2 might work... alternatively, there are any number of suitable Chopin nocturnes or the any of the Liszt sonettos. I don't think you need to switch to a Beethoven sonata because there are plenty of other solutions to the timing problem, but I have to admit I despise that particular Haydn (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) Have you considered a Schubert sonata? D. 537 and D. 664 are great (I have played both, but used the latter for DipABRSM). D. 845 is wonderful but absolutely ridiculous for ATCL in my opinion, not just for its difficulty but also because it is 30 min long and would overwhelm the program.

[fsharpminor]

As far as a Schubert or Brahms piece goes, I think you want something that is at least 5 min long. Schubert op. 90 no. 3 or Brahms op. 118 no. 2 might work... alternatively, there are any number of suitable Chopin nocturnes or the any of the Liszt sonettos. I don't think you need to switch to a Beethoven sonata because there are plenty of other solutions to the timing problem, but I have to admit I despise that particular Haydn (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) Have you considered a Schubert sonata? D. 537 and D. 664 are great (I have played both, but used the latter for DipABRSM). D. 845 is wonderful but absolutely ridiculous for ATCL in my opinion, not just for its difficulty but also because it is 30 min long and would overwhelm the program.

Yes I concur with D537 or D664. Actually I played Beethoven Op 10 no 2 for ALCM.

[JimM]

As far as a Schubert or Brahms piece goes, I think you want something that is at least 5 min long. Schubert op. 90 no. 3 or Brahms op. 118 no. 2 might work... alternatively, there are any number of suitable Chopin nocturnes or the any of the Liszt sonettos. I don't think you need to switch to a Beethoven sonata because there are plenty of other solutions to the timing problem, but I have to admit I despise that particular Haydn (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) Have you considered a Schubert sonata? D. 537 and D. 664 are great (I have played both, but used the latter for DipABRSM). D. 845 is wonderful but absolutely ridiculous for ATCL in my opinion, not just for its difficulty but also because it is 30 min long and would overwhelm the program.

Now there are some worthwhile suggestions - Schubert sonata perhaps (I tend not to like Brahms!) to get into the romantic repertoire. I also wondered about keeping the Haydn and adding in some Schumann (Grillen or Op 21 no 1), to meet the Romantic challenge. In which case I might drop the Debussy ........

Decisions, decisions (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[fsharpminor]

Grillen is 3 min 30, but the Novellete Op21 No 1 is 5 min, and I actually find that relatively easy to play, more of a Grade 8 piece , if that!

[lorraineliyanage]

The Novelette is lovely!