Our school's young musician of the year competition auditions are coming up on the 23rd february (first day back after half term), and i need a piece to play!
I will have the whole of half term to practise, and i learn quickly, so anything thats grade 7-8+, and i'd rather not play my exam pieces.
I'm not really into baroque music, but i love music from the romantic era, especially rachmaninov, schumann, brahms, beethoven, grieg and chopin, but i also like later composers like Debussy.

I also need something to play if i get through to the final (we don't have to play what we did for the audition), which is on the 31st march. It doesn't matter if i get through to the final or not, i'll still learn the piece.

At the minute, i'm thinking of doing Rachmaninov's prelude in C# minor, but i'm also learning other rachmaninov preludes like the G# minor, which is a possibility.
I could also do Debussy's "la cathedrale engloutie", or schumann's Aufschwung from Die fantasiestucke, but i'd rather not play the schumann, because i've already performed it a few times, and i don't want to overplay it.

I would be playing a digital piano, and although it's a very nice one, it's not capable to play a lot of things convincingly like some of the Debussy because of pedalling etc.

Any other sugestions would be great, i'm open to trying other composers and styles, but nothing horribly difficult!

Thankyou in advance!

Jacob.

A piece I really love to play, sounds beautiful and full and is really not too hard (although I think it was on the grade 8 syllabus a couple of years ago) is Schumann's Intermezzo, No.4 from "Fassingswank aus Wien".

It's good for a competition as it requires strength in the fingers but softness and flexibility in the wrists and you need to have a feel for the melody coming out in the top line.

A couple of years ago I played Liszt's 'Gnommenreigen' and it's now one of my favourite pieces! (I'm not sure what standard it is though) If you can listen to it, I alway find it draws me right into the playfulness.

If you like Chopin, you could try the Nocturne Op.9, No. 2 - its easy to learn in a short space of time.

A really nice piece, which isn't too difficult and impressive is, Kabalevsky's Sonatina No.1 or No.2. They have nice changes of tempos and mood, and are quick to learn and fun to play.

Thanks for the replies

I really like the sound of the Schumann and the liszt pieces, and the chopin is quite nice, but i'm not overly keen on the Kaberlevsky, it's a little too modern for me, but thanks for the sugestion.

Does anyone know what standard the Rachmaninov prelude in C# minor is, because if i chose to do it, i will need to let them know. Looking at it, i'd say higher than grade 8, but is it diploma, or more post grade 8?

Thanks,

Jacob.

Hi Jacob

I am also performing in my schools music competition this year.
I have decided to go with Chopin's Nocturne in C sharp minor as my piece, as its a really beatiful and expressive piece of music.

Other Nocturnes by Chopin are very good as well as his preludes, though some are very difficult.
May i suggest a slightly more obscure composer and piece which is "The heart asks pleasure first" by Michael Nyman. A minimalist piece, though beautiful, its the theme tune to the film, "the piano"

Good Luck

Although way out of my league - at the moment - I really love this piece

I would say it is about Grade 8 - although some would say it is post Grade 8. Definitely not diploma level though.

As some advice - I wouldn't play this prelude for a competition. (of course others may disagree ... !)
I'd always choose something that shows off your talent ostentaciously and really grips the attention of the judges; this Rach prelude, whilst beautiful and very popular, is not (for me) a showcase piece and rather more something for a concert.

Play something beautiful an show-offy really well and win them over!

Thank you for all your replies!

I get what you're saying about the rachmaninov, but I love the piece and if the audience don't like it- tough!!!

I think I will go with the Rachmaninov C# minor!

Thank you, i'll post the outcome at a later date!

Jacob.

Sorry, i'm digging up old threads, but just to say I got through to the final, and the final is in 2 weeks, and i'm playing the rachmaninov.

Jacob.

Congratulations!

Good Luck in the next rounds.

C x

Well done, Jacob! Hope the final goes brilliantly for you.

Congratulations and fingers crossed

ARGHH! The final is in 2 and a half hours! I heard the rest of the competitors this afternoon in the rehearsal, and theres a LOT of strong compeition!

The pianist for this evening couldn't make the practise, so I ended up playing most of the accompaniments for everyone else which was rather stressful!

I have to play a distgusting Roland digital piano that's touch is so light it's like playing a keyboard, and it's awful!

Jacob.

In that case it is worth browsing through the whole book of Preludes because they are all lovely and many of them are not too difficult.

You can probably play all the notes at Grade 7, but to play it really well you need to be a Horowitz or a Hofmann. The big dramatic chords at the start and finish are the easiest part of the piece. It is the bit in-between that needs a classy pianist to play it as it should be played.

I find that Baroque and classical (Haydn, Mozart, Clementi, early Beethoven) work better on a digital piano than later stuff. They are OK for working on Romantic pieces, but in performance they really need a real piano with strings that vibrate in sympathy and genuine dampers - at least until Yamaha learns how to emulate the pedal effects of an acoustic piano.

Good Luck Jacob!!!

Well, I came third! I thought I played awfully, and was shocked to get into the top three.
My head teacher was rather cross though, he told me I should have won, as did most of the audience afterwards, which was a little irratating that the judge didn't think so as well, but thats life!
I'm still pleased to have got 3rd place, and theres always next year!

Jacob.

I think 3rd is highly commendable! Good for you!! And, if you have any reservations about your performance, think how 'instrumental' (terrible pun, I know) this experience has been at improving your standard of playing in public!

Well done, Jacob! There are always differences of opinion over competitions; you just have to make the most of the performing experience and realise that even if you'd won someone in the audience would have thought the honours should have gone elsewhere.

The performing is the prize at the stage you're at; there aren't many opportunities to play to an audience for any length of time, and it's great you were able to make the most of it. I bet next year you'll be better pleased with your own playing too.