Concert piece written after 1939

November 2, 2005 at 06:44 PM · Theme frome "Schindler's List"?

November 2, 2005 at 07:15 PM · How difficult? To what type of institution are you auditioning?

November 2, 2005 at 07:25 PM · Sometimes you can forgo that if you play a modern Concerto...

November 2, 2005 at 11:30 PM · Thanks for your replies so far!

I'm auditioning for Juilliard, which might be a bit of a stretch, but we'll see what happens!

For the concerto, I'm planning to do Brahms, so I think I need some other short "concert piece" that's modern. I was thinking the other day about modern concertos, and all of my favorites seem to be from the early 20th Century and not later! Oh well.

November 3, 2005 at 03:39 AM · Rodrigo's Capriccio for Solo Violin, amazing piece.

November 3, 2005 at 02:08 PM · Although they never asked for it when I auditioned at Juilliard, my modern piece was Aaron Jay Kernis's Air for Violin and Piano. Beautiful piece that isn't overly difficult.

November 3, 2005 at 03:11 PM · Sounds like a requirement for the Juilliard audition. I suggest the Prokofiev Solo Sonata. Gil Shaham has a recording out if you'd like to listen to it. Good luck!

November 3, 2005 at 04:54 PM · Jessica, the solo sonata is a fun piece but may not showcase enough technical strength...

November 3, 2005 at 08:04 PM · Not sure when he wrote the violin concerto, but Sibelius would probably fit in that window....

November 4, 2005 at 12:13 AM · Sibelius concerto was 1903-1905, I'm pretty sure...

November 4, 2005 at 12:13 AM · Sibelius concerto was 1903-1905, I'm pretty sure...

November 4, 2005 at 01:22 AM · Sibelius: Violin Concerto in D minor, op.47

Original 1903/04 version:

Willy Burmeister premiered the concerto in March 1904.

Final 1905 version:

The final version was unveiled and premiered by Karl Halir in Berlin with Richard Strauss conducting, in October 1905.

It remaining unknown until the 1930s when Heifetz dusted it off and showed the world what it had been missing.

Program notes:

http://www.inkpot.com/classical/sibvncon.html

http://www.musicweb-international.com/Programme_Notes/sibelius_vconc.htm

November 4, 2005 at 04:35 AM · The Sibelius would indeed be a stupid choice for a "concert piece" requirement for an audition anyways...to whoever brought this up, shame on you for considering this masterwork concerto a concert piece! :-)~

November 4, 2005 at 03:02 PM · i may be wrong,but i think that the Khachaturyan Concerto was written in 1940. if i'm mistaken,dont get angry:)

November 4, 2005 at 03:06 PM · Why these concerti keep popping up? I may be wrong but I'm pretty sure you won't classify a concerto as a "concert piece"??????

November 4, 2005 at 03:36 PM · AHHHH! The dreaded "Concert Piece." You could choose a movement (there are 4) from Bela Bartok's SOLO SONATA, 1944, which I presume would be classified as a "concert piece." Very difficult and demanding stuff, in toto, but the jury has to take notice of your presumed abilities. Bartok's SECOND RHAPSODY (revised in 1944 or there abouts) should also fit the time frame and it is not as difficult as the Sonata. If played "ala Tziganische," --as it was intended--, the Rhap 2 can be a very effectice audition piece. And you have a choice: the opening Lassu (1st mov.) or the closing Friss (2nd mov.)can be performed --as indicated by Mr.Bartok himself-- as seperate entities.

I would steer you in the direction of Bartok's First Rhap (my favorite of the two as I have recorded it) but it dates from 1928 and was never revised. So, that's that!

I have adjudicated auditions for all types of "events" over the years and have always

questioned the requirement for a "contemporary," "American," "modern," "new," etc., kind of piece. I know judges get pretty weary of hearing the same old "stuff" over and over again but, that is the "nature of the 'audition' beast!" As Harry Truman remarked for posterity to ruminate, "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen."

Summarily, it will be the dog-eared "same old stuff" that will get you in or keep you out of the running for what ever it is you are chasing.

Gratuitous amounts of Good Luck with your audition. And, if you will, kindly let me know how it goes/went.

Sincerely,

Vincent P. Skowronski

www.skowronskiplays.com

November 4, 2005 at 06:01 PM · Kenny... Juilliard lets you forgo the modern concert piece if your concerto is modern...

November 4, 2005 at 08:25 PM · hm... but why would people go for even a movement of concerto, but not to spend more time to... polish on a much shorter modern piece?

November 5, 2005 at 04:08 AM · Hmmm maybe because there are really good concertos written after 1939?

November 5, 2005 at 06:18 PM · Thanks everyone!

I think I'll go with the Prokofiev Solo Sonata- it looks like it would be a fun piece, and a nice contrast to the other pieces I'm preparing.

Now let's see if they actually give me an audition! lol

November 6, 2005 at 07:48 PM · Keuna: We hope you DO go ahead with the learning and assimilation of Prokofieff's Solo Sonata, regardless of your audition situation with Juilliard, etc., etc. It is a wonderful and exciting recital piece which lends itself to all types of programming. May we suggest the Skowronski recording of the sonata availbale on SKOWRONSKI PLAYS! Avec et Sans *Live in Concert* --S:CR,07-- which recently received a very supportive and complimentary review from American Record Guide: According to ARG's Mr. Joseph Magil (extract); "Vincent Skowronski's performance of Prokofieff's Sonata in D Major for SOLO VIOLIN is revelatory. I had never heard the opening movement played so slowly before, but when I checked the tempo marking, I noticed that it is indeed Moderato. I found that I prefer it at the correct tempo. The rest of the performance is also exemplary. The MARCH (from the opera, Love of Three Oranges) is also given a good turn."

We invite you to check out the complete program featured on Avec et Sans at --www.skowronskiplays.com -- plus other critically acclaimed items from the current SKOWRONSKI COLLECTION.

Good luck, as we are, sincerely,

Skowronski: Classical Recordings

Evanston, IL

December 10, 2005 at 09:22 PM · How about the final movement of the Bartok Solo Sonata? Listen to the Annar clip in my profile...there's lots that can be done with the piece.

December 11, 2005 at 10:24 AM · steve reich violin phase.

copland violin sonata.

shostakovitch violin sonata.

walton violin sonata.

then again, you could play the barber or shosty a minor concerto and skip the concert piece entirely.

December 11, 2005 at 09:16 PM · "May we suggest the Skowronski recording of the sonata availbale on SKOWRONSKI PLAYS!"

Nothing like a modest pat on the back.

December 11, 2005 at 10:54 PM · lol

December 11, 2005 at 10:56 PM · Greetings

>Nothing like a modest pat on the back.

Unless it`s from a cow,

Cheers,

Buri