does anyone know of a really difficult piano duet that's good and is of equal difficulty for both parts?

I think the piano duet transcription of Beethoven's Große Fuge would fit these requirements.

thank you - ill try it!

Rimsky-Korsakovs wife wrote a transcription of his orchestral work "Capriccio Espagnole."

It is one of the hardest duets out there

By really difficult, exactly how difficult do you mean? What grade?

Diploma standard

Oh, OK... I have some lovely grade 6/7 standard ones, but I don't know any that difficult I'm afraid!

It's fine - I've been looking for over a year and haven't found a single 1!! I'm desperate!

The Rimsky-Korsakov is very very hard. I dont know about its equivalence to any benchmark, its hard to say....but you would probably have to be a good professional to play it well.

I have a copy of the Carnival of the Animals for piano duet (4 hands 1 piano) rather than the 2 piano version which is fairly challenging. Schubert's F minor Fantasy is also fairly tricky in places, and you can also get duet arrangements of the various symphonies which are great fun. Poulenc' s sonata for piano duet is also quite good fun. I presume you've done Dvorak Hungarian Dances. Not too difficult compared to some but nice pieces all the same.

I've been looking at it on the internet and it looks good - thanks!!!

For classical alternatives, the Mozart sonata duets are superb.

Steve

Have a look at the Debussy 6 epigraphs antique, less well known than some of his others and certainly makes sure you know how to count.

The Hindemith Sonata for four hands, Sonata for two pianos sound challenging on the CD, but I've never seen the music so I can't really grade it.

Why do they have to be hard?
Surely you could enjoy playing anything up to as wel as including the level you are at. As an advanced player you can play simpler things more beautifully.

My duet partner and I really need a challenge. It's also for competing in things such as eisteddfods, festivals etc. As we live in quite a small community where there are a lot of piano duetists we really need something v. special!

Hi

I'm not sure exaclty what grade it is, but the Hungarian Dance no.5 by Brahms is great fun for both hands, and is quite challening too. Once you've learnt it and get into it it's a fantastic piece to play. I especially like the LH part - you can really get your body into it.

Joy