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Joined: Jun 2012
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Hey all 1) So how do you guys usually choose your next songs? I usually use youtube to find some nice classical songs. I love classical music (unlike most people my age). 2) How do you know if a song is within your level or just possible? I never thought I would be able to play some songs I've played perfectly. Sometimes it's hard to see if a song looks difficult or is difficult! My latest songs are: Rachmaninoff op 3 no 2 (prelude) & Schubert impromptu op 90 no 1. Do you think this song would be possible? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgcOhcEDBBo3) Any recommendations? I haven't found a song I really realy want to play (too hard or too easy or not nice..). The more I like the song, the nicer I'm able to play it. Thanks!
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I think the Brahms Rhapsody is doable based on the other pieces you listed.
As far as other suggestions, if you can give us an idea of what you like(composers or musical periods)this would help narrow down the field. At almost every level there are thousands of possible choices. Your point about liking a song contributing to learning it well is very important, so take your time finding one you really love.
Last edited by pianoloverus; 05/25/13 07:21 PM.
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I am not so sure that the Rhapsody in question is a piece that you might successfully attempt at the moment. You don't say how long it took you to learn the Rachmaninoff or the Schubert, nor how well you are able to play them. What criteria do you use to judge how well you can play these pieces?
If you think that you might like the works of Brahms, there are other, shorter works that you might think of looking at first. A couple of pieces from the Opp 117, 118 and 119 might be to your liking. The other Rhapsody from Op 79, the second one in G minor is perhaps more approachable for you than the B minor you referred to.
Other than that, without knowing your taste, your skills and your "learning curve" when approaching a new work, it's hard to choose among the hundreds - if not thousands - of possibilities. You may just have to sit down with YouTube and start going through piano selections from Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, etc., etc; the list is endless. There are a number of publications of piano music that include selections by various composers from different eras; they might be a source of inspiration for you if you can get access to them.
One friendly word of caution: Some people on this forum do get worked up when they hear/read all classical repertoire refer to as "songs." In classical music, one does not refer to works as "songs" unless they actually have been written to be sung. So many composers of what we call "classical" music composed in many genres including writing songs, so talking about "songs" of a given composer can lead to confusion. Unless there is a specific title of a work that you refer to, instrumental pieces (pieces that are not sung) are most commonly referred to as "compositions," or "pieces" or even "works."
Regards,
BruceD - - - - - Estonia 190
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3) Any recommendations? I haven't found a song I really realy want to play (too hard or too easy or not nice..). The more I like the song, the nicer I'm able to play it.
Thanks!
Here are a couple of songs that you might like: http://youtu.be/jZ2SDH13fd8http://youtu.be/6tkqdOB5bEw
If music be the food of love, play on!
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Hey all
So how do you guys usually choose your next songs?
I'm not sure why you're asking this question on a piano forum. Why not find a site devoted to singing and ask them?
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Polyphonist
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Pick a couple selections from Schumann's "Myrthen."
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Hey all
So how do you guys usually choose your next songs?
I'm not sure why you're asking this question on a piano forum. Why not find a site devoted to singing and ask them? Nothing against you Poly, but I hate when people get nit-picky about this. My friends and I jokingly call pieces "tracks" sometimes. I don't think it really matters if someone calls pieces "songs" because one could technically argue that you are 'singing' with the piano.
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[...] but I hate when people get nit-picky about this. My friends and I jokingly call pieces "tracks" sometimes. I don't think it really matters if someone calls pieces "songs" [...] Eventually, it does matter. What do you say to the person who asks if you can recommend a song by Schubert?
BruceD - - - - - Estonia 190
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[...] but I hate when people get nit-picky about this. My friends and I jokingly call pieces "tracks" sometimes. I don't think it really matters if someone calls pieces "songs" [...] Eventually, it does matter. What do you say to the person who asks if you can recommend a song by Schubert? Isn't that a little like coming to PW and asking for a "piece" by Mozart? What, a violin piece? A flute piece? An opera? I think it's pretty safe to assume that when someone comes to PIANO world and asks for a "song", they mean a "piano piece" unless they specificity otherwise. Wouldn't you agree? And even then, that has nothing to do with someone going to a piano video on YouTube and commenting "I love this song" only to have 30 people correct them for using the wrong term.
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Shadows - I recommend that you steer clear of the Opus 79 No. 1 for the time being. It is MUCH more difficult than the Rachmaninoff and Schubert pieces you already play. The Opus 79 No. 2 would be less of a stretch for you - but I'd advise against tackling that one now as well. Here are some pieces that might work. Grieg - Wedding Day at Troldhaugen http://youtu.be/MicFum-kWnUSchumann - Whims http://youtu.be/62f7s0PCHI8Chopin - Prelude #22 Opus 28 http://youtu.be/I0b22pp_knoChopin - Prelude #15 Opus 28 (Raindrop) http://youtu.be/6OFHXmiZP38
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I think it's pretty safe to assume that when someone comes to PIANO world and asks for a "song", they mean a "piano piece" unless they specificity otherwise. Wouldn't you agree? Yes, usually we can guess what a poster means. But as a collaborative pianist I spend such a great deal of my time playing Schubert songs, for example, (they do have piano parts, you know!) that it certainly can be confusing. And it's a bit tiresome having to say "a song by Schubert, that is, a vocal work" every time ... I do agree however, that corrections should be made gracefully, as Bruce's was, and not in a belittling way.
Du holde Kunst...
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I do agree however, that corrections should be made gracefully, as Bruce's was, and not in a belittling way. And no doubt the correction should be made. It's absurd when someone with nearly 20k posts here chooses instead to perpetuate incorrect usage.
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As has been mentioned at PW countless times in the past, usage determines meaning. At this point, I'd expect that the definition of "song" in some dictionaries already includes nonvocal music. Like it or not, that trend will only continue, and eventually I think every dictionary will include that definition of "song". Anyone who has worked with teenagers or 20 year olds knows this is standard usage for almost all of them.
Why some feel such a strong need to "correct" people about this I don't understand. Even done gently I think it's unnecessary. Done any other way it is just rude and arrogant and risks turning them off to classical music. If one is interested in trying to bring someone into the world of classical music, why not meet them half way?
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[...] but I hate when people get nit-picky about this. My friends and I jokingly call pieces "tracks" sometimes. I don't think it really matters if someone calls pieces "songs" [...] Eventually, it does matter. What do you say to the person who asks if you can recommend a song by Schubert? Often one can be sure of the question's intention if one knows the person asking it or the context of the question. That's one reason why correcting those asking this question on a piano forum isn't, I think, really necessary. If one isn't sure of the meaning of the question, one can always ask.
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From Wikipedia: "A song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing. But as a concession to the younger (note: I didn't say ignorant ) generation, I vote that in future, we refer to vocal songs as "vocal songs". For vocal songs in languages other than English, we can obviously use the terms in the appropriate languages - Schubert and Wolf wrote Lieder (never mind the art-(vocal) song connotation), Fauré and Duparc wrote mélodies or chansons, Bellini wrote canzoni (or arias if orchestral accompaniment), Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky wrote romancy, Stenhammer wrote sånger, Falla and Rodrigo wrote canciones. And so on. NB. In other languages, there is no need to append a qualifying 'vocal' to those terms. OK, now back to the discussion on (non-vocal) songs for the piano.
If music be the food of love, play on!
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.. "a song by Schubert" ... Hello, it is Schubertslieder, . I saw my display name being mentioned so I thought I drop by and say hello, Lieder is just plural of lied. Best
Charles Peck (American)--Metropolitan Debussy--various pieces Grieg--various pieces
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Lieder is just plural of lied.
Best
But is "Schuberts" the plural of Schubert?
If music be the food of love, play on!
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.. "a song by Schubert" ... Hello, it is Schubertslieder, . I saw my display name being mentioned so I thought I drop by and say hello, Lieder is just plural of lied. Best Songs of Schubert,
Last edited by Schubertslieder; 05/26/13 09:36 AM.
Charles Peck (American)--Metropolitan Debussy--various pieces Grieg--various pieces
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I thought Bruce's response was spot on. I hate to see language degrade. Specific words have specific meanings.What is wrong with trying to inform someone about the use of the words "song" and "piece"?
Private Piano Teacher MTNA/NJMTA/SJMTA
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JoelW, it is a trivial matter in the end, but I do like to have a little harmless fun behind the screen sometimes Sorry if it ever seems like I take it too far.
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Piano
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