I've been playing piano pretty much forever, but very recreationally. I figured, seeing as I'm a rather decent pianist, I ought to learn myself some pieces - because it's fun and satisfying to learn, because it's cool to have something impressive to pull off with an audience and so I don't forget everything I have learned.
What do I want from you? Well, these are the pieces I have practiced lately; I am looking for other nice songs of similar style and difficulty level. I am particularly looking for pieces which make people go Oh, isn't that ---.
Michael Nyman - The Heart Asks Pleasure First [Theme from The Piano] Yann Tiersen - Valse d'Amelie [Theme from Amelie] Yann Tiersen - Comptine d'Autre Ete (or whatever) [Theme from Amelie] Sad theme from Bleach Beethoven - The Moonlight Sonata (but I can't for the life of me learn this one by heart) ??? - Bella's Lullaby [Theme from Twilight]
I am planning on learning Cavatina [Theme From Deer Hunter] but can't find the sheet music for piano (though I know it exists) and Theme from Forrest Gump (but I have difficulty find a good piano-only version).
On April 22 2009 18:39 Navane wrote: Erik Satie - Three Gymnopedies
fits your theme
I like this call, and as having played both amelie tracks listed... It definitely fits, and personally, I find Satie to be easy to pick up. I love him. You could also try his Gnossiennes, number 1 is particularly awesome.
composers to look for- Bhrams, Chopin, Satie, Gershwin, and Rachmaninoff. all of them wrote great music and should provide you with tons of pieces to choose from.
On April 22 2009 21:17 Biff The Understudy wrote: Grieg lyric pieces!
Not very hard and sooo beautifull.
Agreed, I love Grieg, and it's not because my name is Greg. Some simple pieces that are just lovely would be Summer Evening, and his Piano Sonata in E Minor: 2nd Mvmt.
You're at a higher skill level than I am (Although i've only been playing a couple years...)
Here's what i've got memorized that you might like: To Zanarkand (Final Fantasy X 'Theme') except those scales at the end o.o Midna's Darkest Hour (The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess) Dire Dire Docks (From Super Mario :D) And plenty of others that are older but easier.
And here's my suggestions for you: Lecuona's Malaguena, but i'd pick an easier version (some of the finger work needed for the right hand is crazy haha) Anything by Debussy - It's not too difficult and it all sounds great. Final Fantasy VII - One winged Angel I noticed a couple already mentioned Chopin, and Satie -Both have great music.
As strange as this sounds, your best bet is going to youtube and finding a video you know (IE: l'apres midi) and then just click through the related videos a bunch, you'll probably find something you like eventually.
Debussy - claire de lune. That's the piece I picked when I was searching for the same things you are. It may be a little over done, but it's a relatively east piece that anyone can appreciate.
On April 22 2009 18:35 Zherak wrote: What do I want from you? Well, these are the pieces I have practiced lately; I am looking for other nice songs of similar style and difficulty level. I am particularly looking for pieces which make people go Oh, isn't that ---.
Man, I would go for I've never heard that before, but it sounds AMAZING! What is it?
On April 22 2009 18:35 Zherak wrote: What do I want from you? Well, these are the pieces I have practiced lately; I am looking for other nice songs of similar style and difficulty level. I am particularly looking for pieces which make people go Oh, isn't that ---.
Man, I would go for I've never heard that before, but it sounds AMAZING! What is it?
There's plenty of easy Chopin around; nocturnes (look for Arrau on Youtube) some preludes (op. 28, no.7 maybe) and etudes (op. 10, no. 3 in particular; perhaps Perahia here) are pretty, easy and popular enough.
Debussy's Prelude, La fille (search up Michelangeli's version on Youtube) has a particularly beautiful melody and doesn't suffer as much as most of his other pieces from an inability to color.
The Andante from Schubert's D960 (Richter here) might also be suitable, but while it seems easy, like most Schubert you need to be able to concentrate well to maintain the structure (even in a single movement) and bad tone can also really ruin the effect.
Schumann's Traumerei from his Kinderszenen is among his most famous pieces and quite simple (Horowitz's performances are pretty famous).
Some perhaps less immediately appealing/recognisable but relatively easy works include: early Chopin-esque Scriabin, some other Debussy like the Book II Prelude Bruyeres, some early Szymanoski preludes, and some Ravel like his Pavane.
It's not too difficult, and translates quite well to piano. Once you get the hang of the written music, you can add in some of the stuff that they didn't write down pretty easily.
EPT
