Expert: Jim Frimmer - 5/23/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hi,

I happen to love a variety of types/periods for classical music but the piano is by far my favorite, and modern composition is all I really know.
More specifically, I adore Ludovico Einaudi, Michael Nyman and Erik Satie. Their emotive style of play really connects with me.
That said, I would like to try some of the greats (Chopin, Rach, etc.) but have no idea where to start. Further, I feel like I need to be eased into b/c what I have heard this far (albeit very little) is far more complex than anything I have mentioned above.

So being that I enjoy this ceratin type of "accessible" style, where should I start? I do have "Nocturnes" by Chopin and although I can appreciate the music, its not doing it for me.

happy to take recommendations for some other modern players too!

Thanks very much,

Avi

ANSWER: Avi,

The Nocturnes of Chopin are beautiful music but listening to all of them at once can be tiresome.  Usually, when I check out a new composer, I take it in small doses.  It helps me as a listener digest the music a little better.  As far as Chopin goes, check out the Ballades, particularly the 4th one, but I like all of them.  They are very dramatic and passionate pieces.  Also check out the Mazurkas and Polonaises.  The 2nd and 3rd Sonatas are also great pieces (but they are long at 30 minutes each).  However each Sonata has 4 separate movements so you can take it in small doses

For Rachmaninoff, the best pieces to check out are the Preludes for Piano (There are two sets of preludes, Op 23 and Op 32).  They are all wonderful and all very different from each other, but most of them have beautiful, nostalgic sounding melodies.

For something slightly more modern, take a look at Maurice Ravel.  His Sonatine and Pavane for a Dead Princess are his most immediately accessible works.  But also check out his Gaspard de la Nuit (particularly the Ondine piece in that set) Jeux'deau (a piece depicting the movement of water fountains) and Le Tombeau de Couperin. There is much in the way of beautiful writing for the piano, particularly his melodies.

Also, if you like Satie, you might try Frederico Mompou, a 20th century Spanish composer who actually resembles Satie in many ways. His Cancion and Dance series are very interesting.  Each starts with a slow melodic section followed by a faster dance-like section.

Anyway, this is just a start.  There is much much more to explore with regards to piano music.  Let me know if you have any questions about these composers or anyone else.

Jim

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks so much for your replies.
Theres alot here; considering my desire to find somewhat more accessible/emotive music, where would you go first?
What about Debussy? I love Claire de Lune.

Regards.

Answer
Try one of the Chopin Ballades first, although they are a little longer in duration than the Nocturnes.  Also, the Rachmaninoff Preludes are beautiful shorter pieces (I think the longest one is probably about 5-6 minutes long).  Most of them are very lyrical pieces.

As far as Debussy goes, we are on much different ground. Clair de Lune is one of his earlier, less representative works (although I do love it!)  Debussy was the father of impressionistic music and he broke new ground on writing a new and different piano sonority. L'isle joyeuse is a great piece.  Also, the Children's Corner and Reflets dan'leau (Reflections in the Water) are worth listening to. His Preludes and Etudes contain some of his greatest music but you have to pick and choose between them. He really extended piano technique and sound in these pieces.  For me, he is one of the greatest composers in the early part of the 20th century.