On a previous thread I was looking for a Sarabande for piano written outside the context of a Suite. Now I'm looking for typical Baroque Suite movements written for piano, specifically in the 20th century.

Ultimately, what I'm seeking is a programme of movements from suites so that I can play a movement by a Baroque composer, coupled with one of the same name composed by someone in the 20th century, essentially paying homage to the Baroque form. Planning on an illustrated talk to a Y12 AS/A2 set.

Looking at possibilities this afternoon, so far I have:


Bach: Prelude from English Suite No.1 or No.2 coupled with that of Hengeveld's Partita Rhythmique

Bach: Allemande from English Suite No.4 coupled with that of Kapustin's Suite in the Old Style

Handel: Passacaglia from Suite in G minor coupled with that of Geoffrey Bush's Suite Champetre

Bach: Gavotte from French Suite No.5 coupled with that of Prokofiev's Op.12 set

Bach: Sarabande from Partita No.1 coupled with that from Grieg's Holberg Suite or Debussy's Pour le Piano


I'm fine for Baroque suites by Bach, Handel, Buxtehude, Couperin, Purcell etc What I really need are ideas for possible 20th century counterparts.

Have a look at Ravel's 'Le Tombeau de Couperin'.

There is a large number of preludes and fugues for piano by Shostakovich.

Yes the Ravel is a good idea (The Minuet is manageable at Grade 8 ish standard, the Fugue has also been at for Gr 8 , but isnt really a good movement to perform). Ravel also wrote a piece called 'Minuet Antique', also been set for Grade 8 , but I find it quite tricky. Please look also at Poulenc's 'Suite Francaise' for piano, a bit less demanding technically.

But of course! Why didn't I think of that? I even own a copy of the sheet music!

Thanks Invidia.

Any more suggestions out there?

They're great favorites of mine Ken, but I think Clavi is looking for a typical type of 'Baroque Dance Suite' movement. See also Shostakovich 'Dances of the Dolls' , some of the movements are rather easy, but Gavotte may be a ####ibility.
I was just about to suggest the Prokofiev Gavotte , but you already had it.

..................Later edit, Oops I misspelled 'Possibility' !

Of the movements from 'Tombeau' the Minuet would be my choice too I think, although it would be the Toccata, if I could get anywhere near it that is! I also very much like the Minuet Antique and likewise I find it on the tricky side (I bought it as a separate copy many moons ago, when for me it was expensive, years later purchasing a similarly-priced volume of Ravel in which it was contained!).

I must have had a mental block yesterday, for I play the Poulenc too, although it uses 16th Century movements! I have a transcription of Warlock's Capriol Suite that would sit well side by side with the Poulenc, but I'd rather stick with works composed with the piano in mind and preferrably 17th/18th movements (sorry to be so particular!).

Schoenberg Suite op.25 - if I remember correctly, this includes a prelude, a gavotte, a minuet and a gigue.

Ooooooo... now that would be different (I presume)! I'll have to investigate. Thanks Panthera.

(It'll mean buying something new, which I haven't done for a while. I haven't tried any Schoenberg yet - should be fun!)

This is a long shot, but you could also try Ludus Tonalis by Hindemith, which draws heavily on the Well-Tempered Clavier by J.S. Bach. I'm not sure how relevant it is to your suite requirement, though.

Regards,
Tom

Not so much for my suite theme I'm afraid. I did however, refer to it last year with the then Y12 set, when I played my Grade 8 pieces to them within the framework of an illustrated talk. I was describing the main features of the three lists for graded exams, how list A was composed not so much of Baroque works as contrapuntal ones. I cited the Shostakovich P&Fs, their order, unlike the WTC following the cycle of fifths and then went on to explain how that cycle was used by Hindemith to link his Interludes & Fugues. I also brought to their attention the retrograde inversion employed in the opening and closing pages of that work.

This time around, since I'm playing parts of my proposed Dip' for performance practice, I was looking for a way to involve the Debussy Sarabande. I had been working on a session dwelling purely upon the sarabande as a musical form and might still go ahead with it, but that piece is no longer a set piece this year, so thought that dealing with matters of the Suite in general might be of more use to them.

Shame the Holberg Suite is too early then. There's the Menuet Antique (sp?) in Ravel's Sonatine if that's 'suite'enough for you? I really like the idea of this programme by the way.

Thanks for that and also for reminding me that the Grieg is too early! I'll use the Debussy instead (phew!) but composed in 1901 that only just sneaks in itself!

I think I'll use the Minuet/Menuet from Tombeau in the end, but first I've to take a look at the Schoenberg to see if I'll be able to play any of the movements from that suite. I hope the idea of Schoenberg sounds worse than music will be to tackle!