tip-toeing slowly in Piano Music

[Papy Oli]

Hi everyone

I know this is a very broad subject to start with but i wondered if you could possibly advise on some key piano works (solo works primarily) for listening beginners. I have always struggled with listening Piano until probably the last month where i have found myself more receptive than usual to it, and actually quite enjoying it now.

The only works i own so far are :

- Best of Satie - have been absolutely loving the Gymnopedies and Gnossiennes for ages (that was the exception to the previous rule to date)
- A couple of LvB sonatas which i have come to enjoy : Moonlight, Pathetique, Tempest, Appassionata
- complete Chopin Nocturnes - OK, but not gone into it as much as the above - still ok as a background music 
- Schubert Impromptus : the works that clicked well and proper and instigated this request  0:)
- Schubert D940 Fantasie in F - recommended by Opus106 today - quite like that too.

Otherwise, i only have a handful of Piano Concerti (Lvb, Grieg, Rachmaninoff) but never gone into those that much...

with that in mind, where would you go from there, ideally in the same vein please ?

As an indication, I have had the complete LvB sonatas Gulda boxset for ages in my wishlist, but always considered that would be overkill to get it and may have an adverse effect... for LvB, i have narrowed it down to get only Waldstein, Pastoral, Hammerklavier and Les Adieux sonatas.

what do you guys/ladies think ?

thank you.


PS : i was initially aiming at posting this in a thread started by MN Dave (i think...), where he had posted a link to some 140 greatest piano works (one of those lists  ) - I did save the list at the time but can't find the post/thread any more... if suitable, maybe a moderator can move my query there.

[WI Dan]

PS : i was initially aiming at posting this in a thread started by MN Dave (i think...), where he had posted a link to some 140 greatest piano works (one of those lists  ) - I did save the list at the time but can't find the post/thread any more... if suitable, maybe a moderator can move my query there.

140 Solo Keyboard Works

I'm just getting interested in these works, myself, so can't help you much.  
A few that I have and like:  

Beethoven's Late Piano Sonatas (27-32)
Schubert Sonatas D.959, D.960, & "Klavierstucke"
Grieg Lyric Pieces

[DavidW]

I struggle with solo keyboard works as well.  One I do like is Bach's Prelude and Fugue in E Minor from the Well Tempered Clavier Book I.

[Air]

I wouldn't just buy those Beethoven Sonatas you named, I would buy all of them, or if that is too much, at least the later ones.

Piano music is a broad genre and it is impossible to collect it all: I'm pretty sure there's a thread on "essential piano works" somewhere, so reference back to that.

I struggle with solo keyboard works as well.  One I do like is Bach's Prelude and Fugue in E Minor from the Well Tempered Clavier Book I.

Oh yes, that one gets pretty furious.

[Dana]

      If you like Satie, find some Debussy - Satie was the closest person Debussy ever had to a friend, and the two sort of joined forces to rebel against "the man." They influenced each other in the same sort of way that Wagner and Liszt influenced each other. Speaking of whom, Liszt's B-minor Piano Sonata is absolutely spell-binding - I guarantee you'll sit be sitting on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Some four-handed Brahms might also be in order, like this disc.

[Opus106]

Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsodies

Late-19th/early-20th: Rachmaninoff - try his preludes, Etudes-tableaux

Early 20th-century: Poulenc, Mompou.

Shostakovich's 24 Preludes and Fugues -- I call it "Bach Lite" -- were written after witnessing Tatiana Nikolayeva perform Bach (WTC) at a competition.

Some baroque music played on piano: Scarlatti's sonatas and of course Bach. (samples from WTC; Goldberg Variations; English and French suites; Italian concerto -- a concerto in the style of the Italians (mainly Vivaldi) played on a keyboard, not quite a transcription; Partitas.)


Most of these are basically "miniature" compositions, last for just a few minutes on average, but some of them can pack quite a punch in that short duration. (A favourite example: the C-sharp minor prelude and fugue from Book 1 of Bach's WTC.)

And don't hesitate getting a complete set of Beethoven's sonatas, for the are a cornerstone of the keyboard repertory. It's sad that only the named ones, for some reason, get all the attention, but there are others that are as beautiful as some of them. A couple of my non-named favourites are Op. 2 No. 1 (the first sonata) and Op. 22.

Those are just off the top of my head, I'm sure others will add to the list.

[Papy Oli]

thank you for the replies and the recommendations 

I had actually forgotten to put the Goldberg variations in the piano CDs that I have (Gould 1981), very enjoyable indeed.

Your replies also reminded me that, ahem,  I had the complete Bach Edition (i initially bought it for to discover the choral works and cantatas)  ... listening to a bit of the WTC now, but it is all on harpsichord, and i am not quite ready for that type of sound just yet...  but i'll explore that gently 

[Papy Oli]

I wouldn't just buy those Beethoven Sonatas you named, I would buy all of them

have bought the Jean Bernard Pommier complete set... will see how I get on with that 

[Dancing Divertimentian]

One of the masters of 20th century (or any century) piano music is Prokofiev. Highlights include his "war" sonatas - sonatas 6, 7, and 8 - but the rest of his sonatas are impeccably crafted gems in their own right.

He also wrote substantially in the realm of non-sonata piano music, composing many stand-alone pieces that are every bit as compelling as his sonatas, the best perhaps being his Visions Fugitives.

Dunno if you're looking for recordings at this time but Raekallio's set on Ondine is a dandy of an achievement (which is an understatement):
 

[Wanderer]

with that in mind, where would you go from there, ideally in the same vein please ?

First of all, do get a complete set of the Beethoven sonatas. The Amadeo Gulda set you had your eye on is a very good choice. Decca had it packaged with the piano concertos (Stein conducting) at the same price as the sonatas-only Brilliant box; I can't locate it now to show you a picture, but should you find it, I'd recommend it over the Brilliant issue.

Some other suggestions:

[Holden]

Your post indicates that you seem to like the lighter, program style piano works like the Schubert impromptus and the Satie. So my feeling is that you should branch out carefully from here. What nobody has mentioned is that the pianist performing the works is also a factor. Perfunctory performances can affect your attitude to a work negatively and vice versa for stellar playing. here are some recommendations to get started with.

If you like LvB then get a CD of some of his lesser known sonatas. Op 31 is a great place to start so can I recommend that you purchase



I also recommend the following

[Papy Oli]

Prokofiev - Visions Fugitives.

recommendation noted 

[Papy Oli]

First of all, do get a complete set of the Beethoven sonatas.

that's done, got the Pommier set 

thanks for the recommendations as well... I have seen Argerich often mentioned here, i'll look those up... never heard Alkan or Medtner before... i'll find sample of those.

[Papy Oli]

Your post indicates that you seem to like the lighter, program style piano works like the Schubert impromptus and the Satie. So my feeling is that you should branch out carefully from here. What nobody has mentioned is that the pianist performing the works is also a factor. Perfunctory performances can affect your attitude to a work negatively and vice versa for stellar playing. here are some recommendations to get started with.

no worries, i am tip-toeing after all  I'll go through the LvB set first and take it from there...thanks for the recommendations as well, that's added to the list 

[Air]

Prokofiev

Seconded. 

[Bulldog]

One of my most treasured discs is Marta Deyanova playing the Preludes of Shostakovich (Op. 34) and Scriabin (Op. 11).

[Opus106]

One of my most treasured discs is Marta Deyanova playing the Preludes of Shostakovich (Op. 34) and Scriabin (Op. 11).

Looks like a great combination (of works). Thanks the rec., Don.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Seconded. 

[jochanaan]

In addition to the above named , the Chopin and Debussy Preludes are essential repertoire.

[jowcol]

I have to echo on Debussy.  His Preludes are essential.   He truly wrote for the piano, and took advantage of is unique sound capabilities.  It seems to me like he managed to purge 300 years of keyboard tradition from his mind, sit down, and listen to what sounds the piano could make with a totally open mind.

Also, Mussorgksy's Pictures at an Exhibition on Piano I'd consider a must-have

If you find yourself going beyond the tiptoeing stage, Scriabin is a fascinating writer for the piano.  He started out like an ulra-romantic Liszt, and freaked out into a pscychedelic weirdo.  Listening to his sonatas in one sitting is like watching someone at a Timothy Leary party losing their coherence.  The 5th, however, is at the balance point, and a really enjoyable standalone work.