Topic by jandecaluwe

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  • jandecaluwe
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  • From: Leuven, Belgium
  • Registered: 01-01-2022
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Topic: Pieces that are technically undemanding but musically captivating...

Recently I received a "special request" from someone who wants to start playing the piano again after a long time. Did I know any nice pieces that are "easy"?

The question intrigued me and I started looking for pieces that are technically undemanding, but musically captivating - to my taste of course. I think this means a nice melody, but especially an interesting harmony (presumably using tension notes) and rhythm.

So far I came up with 2 pieces from Bartók "For Children" and "Andantino" by Aram Khachaturian. Always interested to hear about other suggestions :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdeeuDLtVoU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzR0M7gttQo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yEZJ-i5Fb0

Reply by dazric

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  • dazric
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  • Registered: 16-09-2016
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Re: Pieces that are technically undemanding but musically captivating...

For me, the music of Cornelius Gurlitt is a great gift to students and teachers. He wrote a large volume of very attractive easy pieces. For example, 'Night Journey' (op.82 no.65) is very good. Here are a couple of free editions: https://s9.imslp.org/files/imglnks/usim..._minor.pdf https://michaelkravchuk.com/wp-content/...ourney.pdf

There are many more attractive easy pieces - I'll update this thread when I think of some more! At the moment I'm working on some of my own compositions (easy to intermediate) for eventual publication. Here's a freebie which I did a couple of years ago. If you like it, I'd love to hear your interpretation! https://youtu.be/jgY_Aa7rDbY

Reply by shiihs

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  • shiihs
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  • Registered: 29-05-2022
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Re: Pieces that are technically undemanding but musically captivating...

I don't know if it is appropriate to mention my own work here, but last year I wrote a whole series of "easy piano" pieces with free scores,
many of which (I, obviously, think) sound quite nice. Below I add a link to a youtube playlist with my own recordings (which, unfortunately, predate my usage of pianoteq).

The very first entries are so easy that they perhaps sacrifice some musicality, but I've always tried to make something that sounds interesting in one way or another.

Some of my personal favorites (in case you want to check out some of the pieces but don't feel like checking out everything ) include "misty fields", "humoresque", "searching", "morning walk", "spring time" and "rorate caeli".

Edited to add: best click the link instead of the embedded video, or you will only hear the first (and simplest) piece.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2Nhgfe...NHkVhsz9kn

Last edited by shiihs (03-07-2022 22:20)
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Reply by dazric

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Re: Pieces that are technically undemanding but musically captivating...

@shiihs: I don't see any reason why you shouldn't plug your own work - I did! I haven't listened to all of your pieces yet, but I particularly like Misty Fields.