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What's Your Favorite Piano Music?

17K views 95 replies 66 participants last post by  Sequentia 
#1 ·
What is your favorite piano music? I like most of Mozart's Piano Sonatas,a few of Beethoven's (MOonlight, Sonata 20 in G, the Pathetique Sonata--just that one movement--the Sonata in G minor), and some of Mendelssohn's Songs Without Words. Also Tchaikovsky's June from "The Seasons", some of Handel's Keyboard Sonatas, Chopin's first G minor Nocturne, and Bach's Goldberg Variations (I like the Goldberg Variations played fast, like Vladimir Ashkenzy--I got that last name all wrong!)
 
#2 ·
....I like the Goldberg Variations played fast, like Vladimir Ashkenzy--I got that last name all wrong!) .....
U mean Ashkenazy?
Ashkenazy's great! I love his complete recordings of Chopin etudes...Must be some kind of 'super' human to record all of Chopin's etudes...
My fav..ummm... I think Chopin's Berceuse. It's really relaxing, and an all occasion work. I can play it for recitals, in hotels...in casual gatherings etc. :)
 
#3 ·
I am addicted to the Goldbergvariations! Besides the wonderful Gould recordings, there is the new one with Perahia to mention. I did like them really. In last time it is too soft for me :rolleyes: . I don't know the one with Ashkenazy. *one more CD to look for is on my list*

Other most loved pieces of me: Oh there are so many. Beethoven sonatas, Mozart c-minor sonata and F-major KV 332 and B-major KV 333. His d-minor fantasie is awesome.

I do love the first partita most, Welltempered clavier, i couldnt decide one fugue or prelude.

C.Ph.E. Bach sonatas i really enjoy.

Rameau i adore, and play much in last time.

Haydn sonatas shouldnt be forgot, and then this romantic pieces like Rachmaninov, especially his preludes, and also Schubert sonatas. He is only wonderful. Besides his last three sonatas there are so many to look for. Specials are always his minor sonatas. (I played his a-minor sonata not long ago)

Schumann is ok, but not my best loved. Mendelssohn did write charming youth pieces for piano, and later on great fugues.

So many to mention....
 
#8 ·
The 1955's Recording of Gould is very fast, yup, (i don't know whether the fastest or not), but his 1981's is rather one of the slowest ones (38 min vs. 51 min).
I wondered what struck him. One must have came to a sudden realisation or awakening of some sort to make such drastic changes. But I agree wif u. The music's so mush reflective in the slower version. Gould should reflect more...he'll be alot better. And More people would LOVE him! :p
 
#12 ·
My favourite piano work...but I've only plunked at it and played a kindergarten version (I don't think it's difficult...but you definately need to be a pianist to play it)...is Waldteufels 'Dolores'...anyone familiar with it?
 
#13 ·
is it a waltz? I only listened to his Ice skaters and Espana. Good stuff :D
Did yr book about Glenn mention anything regarding his re-interpretations? Daniel?
Oh i can't remember that in particular by himself (though i am not done with it yet, i am in a part about recording culture....)
But read about it in a Gould biographie. He rather variats in his tempi :eek:
 
#15 ·
My favourite piano work...but I've only plunked at it and played a kindergarten version (I don't think it's difficult...but you definately need to be a pianist to play it)...is Waldteufels 'Dolores'...anyone familiar with it?
Yes. They have big notes arrangements for this piece, with Bom-cha cha accompaniment for the Left hand. Is this the version u played yrs ago? Or is it the version with the arpeggios? :lol:
 
#16 ·
I have a copy of the original (never get there to play it) and the Kindergarten version was very easy but not a Big Notes type arrangement...so I guess the answer is neither...

...but definatley no Bom-cha cha...to be seen...

..er, does that make it better than the original?... :blink:
 
#19 ·
:p hello friends,

I guess my favourite pianomusic isnt very original either, after the reading the above...

Bach's first partita in B-flat, BWV 835, played by... Glenn Gould, especially the gigue... gives me the shivers every time..

A good "second" is Bach's third toccata in D-major, BWV 912, played by... Glenn Gould...

I dont dare to play them myself, i would consider that blasphemy..

Andantegorgonzola :wub:
 
#22 ·
An impossible question it is true, but if a gun was pressed to my head (a situation that would doubtless please many) I would say B's Diabelli Variations is the greatest piece ever for piano. I believe Brendel to name but one thinks the same.
 
#23 ·
For me, the 2 pinnacles of the piano literature would come down to two names, Ravel's Gaspard de la nuit and Prokofiev's Sonata No. 6 in A Major.

In my opinion, the 6th Sonata's brilliant and absolutely genius 1st movement has always been overshadowed by the popularity of the 4th movement (even though that movement, I feel, does not deserve enough attention still.)

Another fabulous composer is Charles Valentin Alkan. The little attention he receives is probably due to the difficulty of his works. I just listened to his Symphony for the Solo Piano, which is an incredible thrill ride, with a complexity and creativity that really matches that of great symphonies.
 
#25 ·
Well, my favourite piano pieces are the last handful of sonatas by Beethoven, and also his two late sets of Bagatelles (which are much more profound than their title or length would suggest). Also I love the music of Alkan - a contemporary of Chopin and Liszt but a nineteenth-century composer with a twentieth-century aesthetic.
 
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