Solo Piano Pieces

like this?

Rachmaninov Preludes

Chopin, erm, everything

Beethoven Sonatas (and don't look down your nose at the famous ones just because they're famous)

Bach 48 Preludes and Fugues

And not actually solo, but the Beethoven Piano Concerto no 4 is fantastic - the first movement has a surprisingly modern subtlety to it, the second is deep and then the third just breaks out the full on classical bouncy twiddly joy.

Generally don't be afraid to go into specialist classical shops and ask them for advice as well, particularly if there's a piece you like and you're baffled by the array of recordings of it. They'll normally have a massive classical recordings guide, a few personal opinions, and if you're lucky and it's a quiet afternoon you might end up spending half an hour or so comparing the relative merits of half a dozen different versions on the shop stereo...

If you like stuff that you can't whistle, even after repeated listening, I recommend Schoenberg's piano pieces. They opened classical music for me! Some nice Berg:

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old blokes

rachmaninov definitely.

seems like the best pianists were russian, sviatoslav richter

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i like this video of georges cziffra warming up for a tv spot. he's hungarian though.

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for more 20th century stuff try debussy i suppose. pre modern (post) impressionism

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then it goes modernism, its not really minor chords at all any more by this point though.

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If it doesn't have to be classical, why not try some Cecil Taylor?

Charlemagne Palestine's - Strumming Music.

Amazing mimimal tranced out shit.

This clip doesn't help you get an idea at all:

Get some Erik Satie

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the man asked for MINOR KEYS people. some of the recommendations, while lovely, do not fit the request.

what you are looking for is THE WELL TUNED PIANO.

and look the price is just right:


(if you can't find download PM me)

also:

Toru Takemitsu : The Complete Solo Piano Music

tons of solo piano by Morton Feldman - if you like it melancholic and sssssllllloooooowwwwwww... the one to start is "For Bunita Marcus". it is amazing.

Harold Budd's last or before last record is solo piano, and gorgeous.

and this is a very enjoyable record, played by Herbert Henck:

Hans Otte - Das Buch der Klange





on jazz tip does Mal Waldron have many solo albums? don't remember... there must be quite a few.

does Misha Mengelberg have many or any solo outings? i'm not sure...

John Tilbury has some pretty amazing solo records out but *may* be slightly "difficult" for non initiates

can't recommend Cecil Taylor because i don't get that stuff at ALL.

and if you were to ask for solo clarinet i would recommend this with out any hessitation:

There's this really beautiful Popol Vuh piece called Spirit Of Peace that can be found on the end of the original 1992 reissue of In Den Garten Pharoas. It's just piano. I don't think it's the same as the album called Spirit Of Peace but I'm not sure.

slackk said:

I don't really know what I'm asking for here, but I've got a real urge to listen to just a load of minor chord piano. I however, have none, or any idea where to start.

"Classical" I guess, but more abstract modern stuff as well.

Any recommendations/am I even making sense?

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try these:

Chopin - Preludes / Nocturnes
Brahms - Intermezzi
Satie - Pieces Froides / Gnossiennes
Scriabin - Sonata No.9 (Black Mass)

zhao said:

the man asked for MINOR KEYS people. some of the recommendations, while lovely, do not fit the request.

what you are looking for is THE WELL TUNED PIANO.

and look the price is just right:

Click to expand...

If we're talking Young, do the Piano Pieces for David Tudor count as well?

Slothrop said:

If we're talking Young, do the Piano Pieces for David Tudor count as well?

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i don't know these??? more info please.

zhao said:

i don't know these??? more info please.

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Not an entirely serious suggestion - the score for the first one reads:
"Bring a bale of hay and a bucket of water onto the stage for the piano to eat and drink. The performer may then feed the piano or leave it to eat by itself. If the former, the piece is over after the piano has been fed. If the latter, it is over after the piano eats or decides not to."

Dunninger said:

Get some Erik Satie

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Good call

Slothrop said:

Not an entirely serious suggestion - the score for the first one reads:
"Bring a bale of hay and a bucket of water onto the stage for the piano to eat and drink. The performer may then feed the piano or leave it to eat by itself. If the former, the piece is over after the piano has been fed. If the latter, it is over after the piano eats or decides not to."

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that SOUNDS great but can i get buck to it?!?!

also, might be a good idea to follow players rather than composers because some of the best ones choose very carefully what they play, and i've discovered a lot of music by paying attention to what they include in the repertoire. like the afore mentioned Henck and also people like Aki Takahashi.

For Bunita Marcus is so good i just listened to all 3 recordings i have of it back to back. that's 220 minutes of solo piano and i was sad when it was over.

hey look what do you know, links for the $1000+ box set are still alive:

http://differentwaters.blogspot.com/2007/10/tune-that-piano.html