Difficult piano music

[Sequentia]

Sorabji frequently gets mentioned in threads such as this, but specifics are rarely mentioned.

If length is considered, his hardest piano pieces are (in my opinion):

Symphonic Variations for Piano
Piano Sonata V (Opus archimagicum)
Sequentia cyclica
Piano Symphony No. 2
Opus clavicembalisticum
Études transcendantes (100) (if you are willing to consider them a single work)

Length not considered, his Concerto da suonare da me solo, Piano Sonata No. 3 and Études Nos. 75 & 100 win (also in my opinion).

Among works by other composers Alkan's Comme le vent, Godowsky's extension of Chopin's Op. 25 No. 11 Étude, Liszt's original version of his Transcendental Études and his piano transcription of Beethoven's 9th Symphony, Barrett's Tract, Finnissy's 4th Piano Concerto for Solo Piano and Xenakis' Synaphaï are works which clearly stand out as being the most difficult things they wrote. I saw Jonathan Powell perform Finnissy's 4th Piano Concerto a year ago, and consider the experience of hearing and seeing that piece done live one of the most thrilling experiences in my life.

[Kontrapunctus]

It's easy to write music that is virtually unplayable by most people (I'm not sure there'd be any point to writing utterly unplayable music), but it's a little trickier to make it also listenable! 

[PaulSC]

Among works by other composers Alkan's Comme le vent, Godowsky's extension of Chopin's Op. 25 No. 11 Étude, Liszt's original version of his Transcendental Études and his piano transcription of Beethoven's 9th Symphony, Barrett's Tract, Finnissy's 4th Piano Concerto for Solo Piano and Xenakis' Synaphaï are works which clearly stand out as being the most difficult things they wrote. I saw Jonathan Powell perform Finnissy's 4th Piano Concerto a year ago, and consider the experience of hearing and seeing that piece done live one of the most thrilling experiences in my life.

I agree with those picks. Post-Partitions is probably the most difficult of Babbitt's solo pieces.

Clarence Barlow's Çogluotobüsisletmesi is another of the ultimate challenges based on difficulty and scope.

[snyprrr]

There's YT video of Finnissy playing!

[StephenC]

Length not considered, his Concerto da suonare da me solo, Piano Sonata No. 3 and Études Nos. 75 & 100 win (also in my opinion).

Among works by other composers Alkan's Comme le vent, Godowsky's extension of Chopin's Op. 25 No. 11 Étude, Liszt's original version of his Transcendental Études and his piano music lesson transcription of Beethoven's 9th Symphony, Barrett's Tract, Finnissy's 4th Piano Concerto for Solo Piano and Xenakis' Synaphaï are works which clearly stand out as being the most difficult things they wrote. I saw Jonathan Powell perform Finnissy's 4th Piano Concerto a year ago, and consider the experience of hearing and seeing that piece done live one of the most thrilling experiences in my life.

I agree with those picks. Post-Partitions is probably the most difficult of Babbitt's solo pieces.

Clarence Barlow's Çogluotobüsisletmesi is another of the ultimate challenges based on difficulty and scope.

Well those pieces are really difficult too. I just guess the only thing left to check is the length that is to be compared with Stockhausen's Klavierstuck 11.

[snyprrr]

'The Eleventh Finger' (Jenny Lin; Koch)

Check this disc out,... maybe not the mostest mostest, but super great knuckle busters throughout!

[Cogluotobusisletmesi]

I would have to say Clarence Barlow's "Cogluotobusisletmesi". Incidentally, it is one of my favorite pieces of music. I can't imagine a more complex solo  piece!

Has anyone ever seen a performance?

[snyprrr]

I just whizzed through the Barlow on YT. Mmm,... ok,... 30mins.,... everyone was scared at what happens at @14mins.,... I'd have to retry this later, not really doing it for me,... though, I can see the Turkish bus ride thing, that DOES make the music make sense.

[Cogluotobusisletmesi]

I just whizzed through the Barlow on YT. Mmm,... ok,... 30mins.,... everyone was scared at what happens at @14mins.,... I'd have to retry this later, not really doing it for me,... though, I can see the Turkish bus ride thing, that DOES make the music make sense.

It took me a while to really "get" the piece. Henck starts dropping notes from the score at around 14:00. Try to find the 4 piano recording if you can, then you will hear why it is almost impossible to play the complete piece solo! I don't know of anyone else who has recorded it, Ian Pace lists it on his planned repertoire. I'd love to hear his interpretation of it.

Zimmerman's Wustenwanderung is a similar piece.

[snyprrr]

It took me a while to really "get" the piece. Henck starts dropping notes from the score at around 14:00. Try to find the 4 piano recording if you can, then you will hear why it is almost impossible to play the complete piece solo! I don't know of anyone else who has recorded it, Ian Pace lists it on his planned repertoire. I'd love to hear his interpretation of it.

Zimmerman's Wustenwanderung is a similar piece.

But Zimmerman's is... uh... 'tone'-y,... I like that one better. I do think the de-tuned notes on the 'Bus Ride' are cool, it gives the piece a dirtiness, which I also translated to the 'Turkish' bus ride.

I almost pulled out 'Pour Clavier'.

[Cogluotobusisletmesi]

But Zimmerman's is... uh... 'tone'-y,... I like that one better. I do think the de-tuned notes on the 'Bus Ride' are cool, it gives the piece a dirtiness, which I also translated to the 'Turkish' bus ride.

I almost pulled out 'Pour Clavier'.

Cogluotobusisletmesi is "tone-y" too, I promise! It's a bit more subtle. Trying paying close attention to the first minute or so of exposition as this is where all of the themes and rhythms in the piece are found. PM me if you want to discuss it more. I responded to your guitar thread questions as well.