So, I'm preparing a piano recital with the following pieces, and I've (tentatively) arranged them in this order:
PROGRAM
Gran Sonata No. 3 .... Nicolás Ledesma
I. Allegro
II. Andante
III. Tema con Variaciones
Barcarolle .... Jacques Offenbach (transcr. Josef Wöss)
from The Tales of Hoffman
Danza Española 9 (Mazurka Romántica) .... Enrique Granados
INTERMISSION
Country Gardens .... Percy Grainger
Prelude, Op. 32, No. 5 .... Sergei Rachmaninoff
Chaconne, BWV 1004 .... Johann Sebastian Bach (transcr. Ferruccio Busoni)
from Violin Partita in D Minor
What I'm wondering is whether this is a good arrangement of these pieces, or if I should change the ordering. Specifically, should the Chaconne be at the very end, or just before intermission, or should it be the first piece on the program? I haven't done many recitals, so I'm not too experienced in this. I have thought about swapping the two halves, so I start the first half with Country Gardens, and end it with the Chaconne; then begin the second half with Ledesma and end with Granados. What do y'all think? Thank you.
Recital Arrangement Ideas
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StephanW
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HullandHellandHalifax
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Re: Recital Arrangement Ideas
Hi Stephan,
Nice to see an imaginative recital programme that doesn't rely on "Standards" but is prepared to give the listeners something that they too must actively listen to.
There are certain rules of thumb (or so I have been told) one is to do with stamina, in other words you don't want the Bach-Busoni at the end, better at the beginnning of the second half when you are fresh and in the groove. The Grainger is a real last work on the programme piece for me, an encore piece if you like. Another rule which makes sense is to program for your first item something you could play in your sleep, that always goes well, the audience feel your confidence and pleasure in playing something you love and can play well. I don't know the Ledesma so you will know what piece to begin with that gives you a great start to the recital. It may be the Rachmaninov or the Granados though my preference would be for the Rachmaninov. It is always a hit with the public, then maybe put the Ledesma as the last item in the first half. Just a few thoughts.
Good luck with the programme and the recital.
regards
Brian
Nice to see an imaginative recital programme that doesn't rely on "Standards" but is prepared to give the listeners something that they too must actively listen to.
There are certain rules of thumb (or so I have been told) one is to do with stamina, in other words you don't want the Bach-Busoni at the end, better at the beginnning of the second half when you are fresh and in the groove. The Grainger is a real last work on the programme piece for me, an encore piece if you like. Another rule which makes sense is to program for your first item something you could play in your sleep, that always goes well, the audience feel your confidence and pleasure in playing something you love and can play well. I don't know the Ledesma so you will know what piece to begin with that gives you a great start to the recital. It may be the Rachmaninov or the Granados though my preference would be for the Rachmaninov. It is always a hit with the public, then maybe put the Ledesma as the last item in the first half. Just a few thoughts.
Good luck with the programme and the recital.
regards
Brian
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fredbucket
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Re: Recital Arrangement Ideas
Brian, as usual, makes eminent sense.
From my perspective, I would query the need for an Intermission since I doubt that the overall length of the recital would be much greater than an hour.
My own order would be...
Barcarolle
Ledesma
Granados
Rachmaninoff
Bach/Busoni
Grainger
This spaces out what I feel would the two main works (Ledesma / Bach) while providing contrast between them and (as Brian quite correctly points out) leaves the Grainger as a 'popular' finale. Applause, applause...
I hope this helps
Regards
Fred
From my perspective, I would query the need for an Intermission since I doubt that the overall length of the recital would be much greater than an hour.
My own order would be...
Barcarolle
Ledesma
Granados
Rachmaninoff
Bach/Busoni
Grainger
This spaces out what I feel would the two main works (Ledesma / Bach) while providing contrast between them and (as Brian quite correctly points out) leaves the Grainger as a 'popular' finale. Applause, applause...
I hope this helps
Regards
Fred