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A friend of mine posted a link to Chopin's Nocturne in C# minor #20 by the great Grigory Sokolov. Here it is https://youtu.be/gPeZZKh-ye4
I love this piece and performance but it reminded me that there is so much absolutely gorgeous piano music out there that is accessible to anyone who is willing to learn the instrument. To play through a piece like this is immensely enjoyable and with a bit of consistent practice and a good teacher, pretty much anyone should be able to play this after a reasonable period of time. Add a few decades if you want to sound like Sokolov but that isn't the point!
What other great piano pieces do you folks enjoy that are within reach of most with a bit of time and effort?
Keith- I think your post is very important and I've made similar posts on the Pianist Corner. The literature of the piano is so rich and really does have countless complete masterpieces playable by those with less than virtuoso technique(around ABSRM 8). Taking Chopin for example I think almost all the Mazurkas, most of the Waltzes except Op. 42, about half the Preludes, about half the Nocturnes, half the Impromptus, etc. can be played quite well by someone with just good but nowhere near conservatory level technique.
Same for about half the Debussy Preludes, half of the Mendelssohn Songs Without Words, half the Mozart Sonatas, a handful Beethoven Sonatas, many of the Brahms Intermezzi, Schumann(Arabesque, much of Fantasy Pieces, Kinderscenen, Forest Scenes) etc, etc. One does not have to be a virtuoso to play really great music.
Keith- I think your post is very important and I've made similar posts on the Pianist Corner. The literature of the piano is so rich and really does have countless complete masterpieces playable by those with less than virtuoso technique(around ABSRM 8). Taking Chopin for example I think almost all the Mazurkas, most of the Waltzes except Op. 42, about half the Preludes, about half the Nocturnes, half the Impromptus, etc. can be played quite well by someone with just good but nowhere near conservatory level technique.
Same for about half the Debussy Preludes, half of the Mendelssohn Songs Without Words, half the Mozart Sonatas, a handful Beethoven Sonatas, many of the Brahms Intermezzi, Schumann(Arabesque, much of Fantasy Pieces, Kinderscenen, Forest Scenes) etc, etc. One does not have to be a virtuoso to play really great music.
It really is amazing how much terrific music can be enjoyed at the piano within a reasonable amount of time. I think one of the biggest mistakes pianists make is working on music that is too far beyond their ability when there is so much easily within their grasp that is great stuff.
And lets not only focus on Classical. There is so much pop, jazz, blues, ragtime, boogie woogie, new age etc etc that is not unreasonably difficult. I'd love to hear about the pieces that are great and not too hard from those genres as well!
And lets not only focus on Classical. There is so much pop, jazz, blues, ragtime, boogie woogie, new age etc etc that is not unreasonably difficult. I'd love to hear about the pieces that are great and not too hard from those genres as well!
All these pieces have scores for free or minimal cost on the internet. Many of these pianists or composers have many books of their transcriptions/compositions available.
Keith- I think your post is very important and I've made similar posts on the Pianist Corner. The literature of the piano is so rich and really does have countless complete masterpieces playable by those with less than virtuoso technique(around ABSRM 8). Taking Chopin for example I think almost all the Mazurkas, most of the Waltzes except Op. 42, about half the Preludes, about half the Nocturnes, half the Impromptus, etc. can be played quite well by someone with just good but nowhere near conservatory level technique.
Same for about half the Debussy Preludes, half of the Mendelssohn Songs Without Words, half the Mozart Sonatas, a handful Beethoven Sonatas, many of the Brahms Intermezzi, Schumann(Arabesque, much of Fantasy Pieces, Kinderscenen, Forest Scenes) etc, etc. One does not have to be a virtuoso to play really great music.
It really is amazing how much terrific music can be enjoyed at the piano within a reasonable amount of time. I think one of the biggest mistakes pianists make is working on music that is too far beyond their ability when there is so much easily within their grasp that is great stuff.
And lets not only focus on Classical. There is so much pop, jazz, blues, ragtime, boogie woogie, new age etc etc that is not unreasonably difficult. I'd love to hear about the pieces that are great and not too hard from those genres as well!
I think it is just a question of being selective. One can certainly work on music beyond one's ability but some people such as myself enjoy the challenge. I try to mix it up. A few very long and challenging pieces combined with easier pieces for variety.
I would avoid "half of those Mozart sonatas" unless one has a good finger technique ! There is nothing worse than a messy sounding Mozart or Haydn sonata. The slow movement's are more approachable by non serious players and are exquisite ! Little "Arias" Some of the Chopin Nocturnes demand a high level of playing.I think the Impromptus demand a certain technical skill. The Allegretto in C minor by Schubert is about gr 6 or 7.
"Discipline is more reliable than motivation." -by a contributor on Reddit r/piano "Success is 10% inspiration, and 90% perspiration." -by some other wise person "Pianoteq manages to keep it all together yet simultaneously also go in all directions; like a quantum particle entangled with an unknown and spooky parallel universe simply waiting to be discovered." -by Pete14
The Allegretto in C minor by Schubert is about gr 6 or 7.
But whose grading system? RCM, ABRSM, or another? They are not all equivalent.
Perhaps a good grade RCM 8 student would cope. In Canada RCM is the examining body.(usually ) Grade 10 RCM=Gr 8 (final)Associated Board.
I got it the wrong way around ! Associated Board (Royal Schools ) gr 6 would be equal to a gr 8 RCM Associated board final grade is GR8 .,RCM Final is GR10
Scriabin"s nocturne for the left hand is a well known gorgeous piece of music. Less well known but more playable is his prelude for the left hand (Op. 9).
Handel's keyboard suites from 1720 contain many absolutely gorgeous pieces that sound just as good on piano as they would have back in time they were written. Some require the technique of a Heidsieck to do justice to them but there are others that can be learnt by anyone with a little experience. You can find copyright free versions of the sheet music that have been transcribed by volunteers on IMSLP. Here are three of my favourites:
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