Learning a concerto

[Nocturneguy]

I am going to be a senior, and my teacher demands of all her seniors a concerto (sort of a farewell...how cute ). So, what concerto is good for a first one? Nothing like Rach 3 or Tchai 1, please, too hard...I was thinking of the Chopin 2 because i love it so much...

[Goldberg]

Chopin 2nd is a good choice, for sure, but I'll make a few more suggestions of things you really should look into as well:

First thing that pops into my mind is Sauer's e minor concerto, which is not entirely different from the Chopin, you might find, and its finale is absolutely impossible to beat for upbeat Romanticism. I mean, it's one of the few pieces that makes me smile all the way through, if not laugh out loud (at least, as played by Hough). It's also a dignified piece throughout, maintaining a fair amount of technical difficulties while not nearing a Rach or Tchaik or Prok or something, at least as far as I know (I haven't played it, but have seen the score).

Though, having said that, the Rachs 1 and 4 are also good choices, 1 especially, although I prefer the 4th myself. If you don't believe me, get Michelangeli's recording of the 4th concerto. It's a real masterpiece, albeit a poorly written one...

There's always the Grieg, as well, which is truly a fantastic concerto, and one of the few that can be overplayed without irritating me.

Given that you are on the Chopin concerto, I don't suppose you'd consider a classical one? Baroque? The Bach A major concerto is an excellent choice, for instance, and if not Mozart's 2Xth concerto, I might also recommend Beethoven's first two concerti...

Or, there's the Chopin Fantasy for piano/orchestra, which imo ranks above the concerti, and my final suggestion will be Moszkowski's...

[Debussy]

I did a concerto this year; Mozart's Concerto No.13 in C Major, movement III. I know it's not the full thing and it's an easy concerto at that, but hey.

I was supposed to do Haydn's Concerto in D Major last year the first movement and I had the whole thing memorized, but my piano teacher took a heart attack two weeks before the festival, so he couldn't perform it. Because of his heart, he had to stop teaching me, thus me switching teachers this year.

Next year I'm doing Mozart's Concerto No.20 in D Minor, Movement II as my final concerto.

[Max]

You should try the Mendelsohn G minor, its not too bad and its a great piece.

[Chozart]

You should try the Mendelsohn G minor, its not too bad and its a great piece.

indeed



Mozart's 9th in E-flat XD (goooorgeous 2nd movement)
or 17th..
or, as Debussy mentioned, the 20th ~ gotta love late Mozart ~ dramatic
.. or 23 (yet another fabulous 2nd mov.)

[Nocturneguy]

Goldberg, because i am thinking Chopin i might also try mozart. after all, Chopin idolized him. These r all good sugestions, thanks guys! btw...the beet 3rd is not too hard is it? i read in a biography of horowitz by schoenberg that it is usually the first concerto students learn because it is not too difficult. how hard is the Chopin 2? is it harder or easier than the first?

[Nocturneguy]

OH OH OH, I just thoght of a concerto i loved when heard it. Its the one by Bach played by Gould in the Art of the piano...which is it?

[Debussy]

OH OH OH, I just thoght of a concerto i loved when heard it. Its the one by Bach played by Gould in the Art of the piano...which is it?

Perhaps the Brandenburg Concerti?

[Brewtality]

D minor i think, it sounds great. I've never heard the whole thing

[Goldberg]

No kidding?? Yes, Nocturneguy, the D minor Bach concerto is phenomenal. It was probably Gould's favourite of the set (I think he played several "debut" concerts with it)--I would have recommended it myself in my first post but, since it seems to be the "only" Bach concerto that first-timers learn these days, I thought I'd throw in the A major and F minor (which is also very popular, of course, if only for the Largo) for something different.

But it doesn't really matter, I guess. The Bach D minor is a fabulous work.

Chopin's 2nd concerto is on a higher difficulty plane than anything else mentioned so far, with the possible exception of the Rachs 1 and 4. The Chopin is very awkward, technically and musically, and it really would be quite a challenge...which is why I also tossed in Chopin's Fantasy in A major, which is an excellent piece and, as far as I can tell, not nearly as difficult as the concerti (though it finishes in a pretty wicked Polish rondo movement). His variations on "La ci darem la mano" are also very good but I hear that's actually one of his most difficult pieces.

[Fryderyk]

A very popular piece among piano students is Beethovens third concerto, but I assume it is too popular for your taste. I would suggest his second concerto, if not the third. They are not demanding if you have the typical Beethoven technique, I´m sure you understand what I mean.

The Mendelsohn G minor is an excellent suggestion if you´re not into Beethoven.

[tony]

what concerto do you recomend for a student of 6 years? whether it be Chopin, mozart ,betthoven? I am working on Chopin nocturne in g minor op.27 .also finished last month clair de lune. please dont lauph Iknow much more but those just mentioned with the teacher(lol)

[Nocturneguy]

Lol, I gotta play a concerto and I have been studying the piano for only 11 months...

[tony]

no way?? is tyhat teacher of yours crazyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! are u joking cuz that is like impossible unless your mozart?!!

[Nocturneguy]

lol, its not impossible, my teacher IS crazy, but she is the best teacher I have ever met because she makes u work like MAD! lol, thats why i asked for an easy concerto, nothing virtuosic. The hardest piece my fingers can take is Ballade 1 and Scherzo 2...its the result of a lot of hard work: 6 hours practice everyday...go figure...