I have entered a piano compeition and have just realised that not only will I not have one of my pieces ready in time, but that even if I do pull out a miracle, my programme will exceed the platform limit!

Help!

I would really appreciate it if anyone could suggest a piece that is fairly short (no more than 2 minutes) and contrasts with the 'finale' 3rd movement of Beethoven's piano sonata (op.10 no.1).

So preferably, something romantic or modern, or at least something fairly calm or "pretty" to counterbalance the beethoven, which is loud, fast and makes me feel very frenetic! Also, the standard would have to be around grade 8 standard so I have a chance of learning it quickly. Slightly more advanced is fine, but it would have to be shorter!

I would be so grateful if anyone has a good idea!!

Haha, sorry I'm not laughing at you, but I know the situation - I'm learning a concerto for a competition entray deadline that if far too close for comfort! But that doesn't help you.

I know some of the Lyric Pieces by Grieg are fairly short and "pretty".

But I'm not very familiar with them - I just have a lovely CD with some of them on. The shorter ones are Brooklet, Puck, Little Bird, Solitary Traveller, Wedding Day at Troldhaven, Butterfly and Erotikon, but I have no idea what standard they are or how long they are in terms of pages, only that they are all around 1 minute 30/1 minute 45.

Butterfly is beautiful though.

Maybe someone will be able to advise you on whether these are suitable standards.

One of the shorter Preludes from WTC

Try a couple of the Skryabin 24 preludes Opus 11 - I think they are/have been on the Dip list but they fall fairly easily under the fingers and are great for expressive playing.

Yes, a nice suggestion, many are quite easy - but a few are anything but.

Thank you for your help!

I've looked at the Scryabin preludes and have identified a couple that are short.

Would very much like your opinions, as I'm not sure what they're like to learn/play:

Op. 11 - No. 1, 4, 5, 9, 10 (looks a bit like a Chopin piece), 12, 13, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23

Wow, now I've written that, it's actually about half of them. Maybe I should just ask which ones are good to play, because I don't know anything about Scriabin and have never played his music!

It was suggested to me by someone to play a coupl of Sergei Prokofiev's 'Visions Fugitives' - what do you think of that idea? This might be quite good actually, because I'm familiar with these and I already know one (No. 1) that's quite short and calm, and I could off-set it with a ferocious one like maybe no. 15?

Scriabin Op 11 Nos 4, 5 and 21 are easy enough, but rather slow and beautiful.
I'd go for No 2, which is at a moderate pace, and has plenty to sort out in terms of dynamics. I think its been set for Grade 7 in the past in one of the boards.

The 'Vision Fugitives' would be good also. I actually find most of them a bit tricky.

Another suggestion, would be a Shostakovich Prelude from Op34, Maybe No 2 (in A min), or 3 (in G) or the famous No 15 (In D flat)- used as a theme tune for 'Ever Decreasing Circles' . Indeed several of them would do. - I enjoy the whole set.

Thanks so much for the suggestions!

I almost chose 1 of the Scryabin preludes, but in the end, as I already konw one, I settled on the programme of:

Beethoven: "Finale" - 3rd movement from Sonata in C Minor, opus 10, No. 1
S. Prokofiev: No. 1 "Lentamente" and No. 15 "Inquieto" from Visions Fugitives, Opus 22

I think it is good because the Beethoven is very frantic, then the first visions fugitives will be like a breath of fresh air and clear the palette, so to speak. Then to finish, the final Visions Fugitives is really punchy and has a great ending.

Do you think it sounds ok?

Only a couple of weeks to get it all up to scratch!! Argh ... !