Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum New Themed Recital suggestions

@Morodiene, what about Op. 18 Arabesque? To me it is quite musical? Or something from Kinderszenen? That's about kids, not for kids

I wouldn't say Schumann lacks musicality. Mainly there are 3 reasons why I don't like to play him:
I do not care for "program music"
I don't like music that is overly dramatic, sentimental or too literal
He's music is often very awkward to play, at least for my hands.

He was a fine composer, just not someone for my taste.

It's ironic because it took me an entire month to learn Schumann's easiest piece, Melody - I couldn't memorize it for the life of me, and my reading was too slow. And sometimes harder pieces seem to stick more easily, it's all so subjective.

As for Chopin, I still don't understand how some beginners can learn some of his pieces and play them quite well too... I've only managed to learn the first page of Waltz in A minor on my third attempt in a year and now I'm stuck in the middle and have to put it aside for a few more months. And the preludes... not easy either. Also, although I love almost all of Chopin's work, I find many pieces upsetting, unbearably deep and emotional.

Haydn?

Chiming in again -----I don't like Bartok and Beethoven somehow throws me for a loop every time I try him......I'd love to do Chopin if I were able

I've still got Schumann at the top of my list, out of the new ones that have cropped up Haydn caught my eye.

What about Schubert? I don't know much about his music (but then I knew little about Other composers chosen for themed recitals)

I'd vote no to a themed recital of all one type of music - meaning all lullabies or all nocturnes amd so on.....It is hard to listen to a lot of music that is so similar. (The Joplin recital was wonderful but speaking for myself, it was a bit too much of a good think in one dose.)

On the other hand, a theme of Nature, water, animals --- that could be amusing and might bring up a lot of obscure music that could be really interesting.


But ....Schumann.....

Now what's the obsession with all these Germans? I must admit I am less inclined to like German composers in general...

If we will expand the list I think Scarlatti is still a great choice for such various skill and taste levels.

John Field?

Many of his nocturnes and rondos are really nice. Also, I've never played a piece of his.

Haydn has some beginner stuff but Schubert?
I only know him from the most complex (but o so beautiful) pieces..

I think that (in alphabetic order)
-Bach
-Bartok
-Beethoven
-Prokofiev
-Scarlatti
-Schumann

Have the most accessible repertoire.

For me out of these Schumann is a favourite. His music is so human. Every piece seems to tell a story.

@outo, I don't think there is an obsession with the Germans, there are just so much brilliant German (and Austrian) composers (And even with accessible repertoire).

I would love to try something different though. I just don't know very much composers with easy repertoire.

@Noobpianist, not too much (available) repertoire I'm afraid?

Very well said!

Sorry that I'm spamming

There are many brilliant non-German/Austrian composers as well and also with accessible repertoire. I think the German tradition is just often over represented in classical piano when it comes to choosing teaching literature, so the others are undeservingly left in the shadows

More names with lovely music and accessible pieces:

Purcell
Handel (maybe he was already mentioned?)
Franck
Diabelli
Hummel
Satie
Casella

Hey, I even got a German and an Austrian in there!

I really like his Nocturnes (and I am in fact working on one now) but I don't think there's enough variation and easy pieces there...

Satie was already done - his Gnossiennes and Gymnopedies at least.

And personally, if it had to be a Baroque composer I would choose Bach over all the others. Tons of material for every level - maybe even too much!

OK



And I very respectfully disagree and vote for Scarlatti! More variation in musical style there. Bach is always so...Bach

There is one Bach piece I will definitely want to learn, just not sure if it's too early...

I think Handel is a great suggestion..

How about a self composition themed recital?

I can see us having multiple recitals going on at once. . mind you, it's hard to motivate myself without them. . . I've been going over some old Beethoven, and I find it boring (shrug).

Guess the recital is next best to playing in public. . . I suppose it IS playing in public really. It's been good.

So many interesting comments on the various composers. Maybe we can have a poll to decide what the next themed recital will be?

My vote goes to:
-Scarlatti (more than 500 sonatas!!)
-John Field (beautiful nocturnes)
-Schumann

Ok, let's vote Please add your vote to the below (only one vote per person ):

Schumann - I
Bach
Beethoven
Chopin
Clementi
Schubert
Heller
Prokofiev
Bartok
Handel
Kabalevsky
Kachaturian
Shostakovich
Mozart
Ravel
Debussy
Great American Song Book
Bartok
Scriabin
Haydn
Scarlatti
John Field
Purcell
Franck
Diabelli
Hummel
Satie
Casella