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I am considering starting play around with some Mendelssohn piece. Do you have any suggestion? I am an amateur, probably "early intermediate" is the proper description for my current level, so I am looking for suggestion on pieces that are easier technically.
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My suggestion, if you're limiting your choice to the Mendelssohn "Songs Without Words" is to play through them and find one that is at your level and that pleases you.
There are several among the 48 that could possibly interest you and be at your level; "early intermediate" is vague enough that I wouldn't want to suggest any particular ones.
Regards,
BruceD - - - - - Estonia 190
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Thanks Bruce, this is undoubtetly the best way. However I was looking for someone who has played them or few of them and have some particular one to recommend by being not too demanding. Then of course if it is still too demanding for me, I'll leave it aside and I'll try again in a year or two.
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Listening on Youtube is even better than playing through them IMO. Many pianists can't play through a work and get much idea of how it sounds like. It may also be true that some can't listen to a piece with the score in front of them and decide if the diffuclty level is appropriate, but I think in general more people can do that successfully.
Barenboim has Youtube recordings of all/most of them together with the music. See next post.
Last edited by pianoloverus; 12/04/10 08:49 AM.
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I am considering starting play around with some Mendelssohn piece. Do you have any suggestion? I am an amateur, probably "early intermediate" is the proper description for my current level, so I am looking for suggestion on pieces that are easier technically. In general, the slower ones are easier than the faster ones. Some I would recommend listening to(* = the easiest ones): The first one, Op. 19 No.1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYEggRrIH50Op. 19 No.2* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-n_wbCxabY&feature=relatedOp. 19 No.4* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4p-lnBD4uhM&feature=relatedOp. 19 No.6, Venetian Boat Song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPiFPbqRqo0&feature=relatedOp. 30 No.6, Venetian Boat Song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re-eu9q_yUUOp. 38 No.4* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAFrRuSaLiI&feature=relatedOp. 38 No.6, Duetto http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQtLgjZCEbQOp. 53 No.4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2n2kgiwu5k&feature=fvwOp. 62 No.1, May Breezes(can be played slower than Barenboim does) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSWPNty4uTcOp. 62 No.3, Funeral March http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsqyGJklR5I&feature=relatedOp. 85 No.4, Elegy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdD7l0VwmKcOp. 102 No.6* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7a47CkWxjoQ&feature=related
Last edited by pianoloverus; 12/03/10 04:11 PM.
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Op. 19 no. 1 is what I'd choose.
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Beautiful pieces all.......but at the risk of sounding fussy and pedantic, if your skill level is truly 'early intermediate,' and you really want to play some Mendelssohn, then I would suggest first trying out #'s 2 and 4 from 6 pieces for children, opus 72 (please don't take the title literally): http://216.129.110.22/files/imglnks...sohn_-_Op.72_-_6_Pieces_for_Children.pdfThe experience you gain by learning how to sustain the dynamic balance between melody and accompaniment will pay off when you are ready for the Songs....I hope that you have a teacher or someone who can help you.
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I'm not a great Mendelssohn fan, but my personal favorite in the "Lieder ohne Worte" is the Duetto, Op 38 #6. The very first one, Op 19 #1 is a charmer, and well known. The two "Venetian Boat Songs", Op 19 #, and Op 30 #6, are very effective, and I would say early intermediate in difficulty. The Op 38 #2 is a very familiar one.
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My favorite....opus 19 nr 2....
Played it this week about twelve times.....
Best regards, Johan B
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My plug would be for Mendelssohn Song without Words Opus 38-6 (“Duettoâ€) ... a gentle Andante con moto ... essentially a haunting single-note dialogue between the hands ... but growing more robust with octave chords latterly ... and yet maintaining a thematic duet right to the final chords ... 4 minutes plus to play.
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My plug would be for Mendelssohn Song without Words Opus 38-6 (“Duettoâ€) ... That's a nice little duet for Victorian lovers, though modern Anglicans are probably still trying to get a life after the smugly patronizing anthem Hear my prayer. Whatever, I love Mendelssohn's 'Songs', much like GBS in his exasperation, 'What do I care? Give me Cockaigne!' (An 'inside' reference here.)
Jason
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Composers manufacture a product that is universally deemed superfluous—at least until their music enters public consciousness, at which point people begin to say that they could not live without it. Alex Ross.
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Right-O. But what was the reference? Here it is: But if you say that Elgar's Cockaigne overture combines every classic quality of a concert overture with every lyrical and dramatic quality of the overture to Die Meistersinger, you are either uttering a platitude as safe as a compliment to Handel on the majesty of the "Hallelujah" Chorus, or else damning yourself to all critical posterity by uttering a gaffe that will make your grandson blush for you. Personally, I am prepared to take the risk. What do I care for my grandson? Give me Cockaigne.My basic attitude about the Mendelssohn 'Songs without words'. What do I care, especially when Charles Rosen says (to this affect): 'they aren't insipid, but they might as well be'. Fightin' words. Adorable stuff they are, and don't be messing with Mendelssohn, okay? I am going out this evening. Cheers!
Jason
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Thanks for all your suggestions. It really helped me expand my knowledge of these little jewels.
I will start with op 30 no.3. It seems very approachable, just one page long and several small sections which are easy to study separately. Yet it requires a strong sense of direction throughout the whole piece.
Last edited by PLV; 12/07/10 06:25 AM.
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Right-O. But what was the reference? Here it is: But if you say that Elgar's Cockaigne overture combines every classic quality of a concert overture with every lyrical and dramatic quality of the overture to Die Meistersinger, you are either uttering a platitude as safe as a compliment to Handel on the majesty of the "Hallelujah" Chorus, or else damning yourself to all critical posterity by uttering a gaffe that will make your grandson blush for you. Personally, I am prepared to take the risk. What do I care for my grandson? Give me Cockaigne.My basic attitude about the Mendelssohn 'Songs without words'. What do I care, especially when Charles Rosen says (to this affect): 'they aren't insipid, but they might as well be'. Fightin' words. Adorable stuff they are, and don't be messing with Mendelssohn, okay? I am going out this evening. Cheers! Thank you. I am enlightened! I couldn't believe their really was a Cockaigne overture, so I googled it. For playing I've really enjoyed Song Without Words opus 85 no.2, good for an agitato sort of mood. opus 85 no. 2
Composers manufacture a product that is universally deemed superfluous—at least until their music enters public consciousness, at which point people begin to say that they could not live without it. Alex Ross.
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Does anyone know the hymnn version of "We Would See Jesus" based on Mendelssohn's LOW (SWW), Op. 30, No. 3? Is it used in any churches these days?
We would see Jesus- for the shadows lengthen Across the little landscape of our life; We would see Jesus- our weak faith to strengthen For the last weariness, the final strife.
etc. ....
Regards,
BruceD - - - - - Estonia 190
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Does anyone know the hymnn version of "We Would See Jesus" based on Mendelssohn's LOW (SWW), Op. 30, No. 3? Is it used in any churches these days? Yes. It is hymn #174 in the Christian Science Hymnal to these words: Like as a mother, God comforteth His children; Comfort is calm, that bids all tumult cease;
Jason
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