I love solo piano music and don’t own any on CD*, but listening to samples from an album doesn’t always tell me whether there are other instruments on the recording (for instance, I could have just heard 30 seconds of the 40-second piano solo in a 4-minute song). I have a tape of Gershwin playing his “Rhapsody In Blue” that I just love, and recently found a CD that I believe contains the same recording as well as some of his other songs: that’s the kind of thing I want more of. Gershwin, Porter, classical music (especially any Bach), etc. – my only “requirement” is that the piano be unaccompanied. Oh, and no new-age stuff, please; it’s just not my thing.
Any recommendations?
This 50 Most Loved Piano Classics seems promising … anyone have it, and can confirm that there are no sudden strings or horns?
*I used to: once upon a time, my mother gave me a Reader’s Digest compilation called Starlight Piano. Great idea, but it was all so Muzak-y that it was unlistenable. The poor violins were so overused that it made me wish there were a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Stringed Instruments.
You could check out Erik Satie. He was a 20th Century composer; it’s very spare music, without the full arrangements you find on a lot of piano music (like Rhapsody in Blue), but definitely worth a listen. This recording by Aldo Ciccolini is the one I’ve got; it’s terrific. The first nine tracks, the Gymnopedies and the Gnossiennes, are his best known. (There are 38 tracks on the disk.)
If you’re at all fond of jazz, might I suggest Art Tatum? I have several albums of his and love them in small doses. Caveat: if you don’t like heavily embellished piano (lots of trills, runs, etc.), then no Art Tatum for you!
Just about an hour ago I heard an excerpt on my favorite local NPR station music show New Sounds with John Schaeffer which I think might be what you’re looking for:
The show was the DJ’s top ten new music releases of 2005, and this was high on that list, and for good reason based on what I heard along with the reviews on amazon.
I’m not a fan of solo piano, but Prokofiev’s solo piano works get me every time. I have Gould’s Goldman; I have a Chopin box; but when I put them on it still feels like homework sometimes. Prokofiev gets me.
When looking at classical works, here’s a general guideline. If the piece is a piano concerto, it means that a piano is the lead instrument but it will be backed up by an orchestra (or, as is sometimes the case, competing with an orchestra). A piano sonata, on the other hand, is usually just the piano.
The 50 Most Loved Piano Classics you linked to does look like it’s all solo piano, though I can’t guarantee it. It looks like quite a few of those “classics” are individual pieces or movements taken from longer works—I guess that means if you hear some you particularly like, you can track down the longer work or collection it came from.
Right. Or just see if there’s anyone credited on the CD besides the pianist (i.e. do they mention an orchestra or conductor?).
If you buy any Bach CDs, be aware that his solo keyboard works are sometimes played/recorded on piano and sometimes on something else, like a harpsichord.
When it comes to solo piano music, it doesn’t get much better than Beethoven’s piano sonatas. I particularly like the “Waldstein” and, if you want something short and sweet, his Op. 79
Well… you could check out my music. While most of my work is piano accompanied by orchestra, I do have a few piano solos. My style is similar to that of Jim Brickman’s, so it’s not really classical but certainly not New Age (I hate that term).
My website is in my profile… if you fish around enough you’ll find some free downloads, but of course I always appreciate a CD purchase!
Chopin is a good bet. You can’t really go wrong with his nocturnes, etudes, and preludes. His sonatas and other works are good too.
In addition to the Beethoven “Waldstein” sonata, other well-known sontatas are the “Pathetique”, the “Appassionata”, and the “Moonlight” (the part usually heard is only the first movement).
You said no new age stuff, but I’m going to recommend Debussy and Ravel. New age music resembles their externally, but they are to new age music as filet mignon is to hamburger.
A couple of specific Debussy recommendations: Suite Bergamesque (includes Claire de lune) and his preludes.
No like about it. Bach’s keyboard works were written for the harpsichord. The piano as we know it wasn’t around in his day (though I think there’s some crossover with the earlier pianoforte and the end of his life.)
Incidentally, Gould’s recording of Bach’s Goldberg Variations should be near the top of the list for most lovers of solo piano/Bach/amazing performances/great music.
I find it so strange that that’s how they’re marketed. I once went into a CD store to get some Debussy and there were about seven or eight different recordings, each friggin’ one titled something like “Debussy for relaxation” or “Ocean Sounds and Debussy”.
You’re right, but I was allowing for the possibility of them being played on the clavichord instead.
You’re also right about the crossover; I’ve read that Bach got to try out a pianoforte near the end of his life, but he never wrote any music specifically for it.
My heart gave a lurch upon seeing Debussy and Ravel mentioned in the same sentence as “New Age.” :eek:
But seriously, they wrote some very, very beautiful music for the piano. Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major (particularly the second movement) and the Gaspard de la Nuit are incredible – “L’Ondine” (which is a name for a water fairy) really does sound like little waterfalls.
Wow, thanks to everyone for all of the great recommendations! I’ve added several albums to my “to buy soon” list. Good stuff.
As the thread seems to have strayed a little into concerto land, I’ll restate that right now I am deliberately looking for solo piano artists/albums. I have my reasons.
Funny you should mention jazz and Tatum: I realized after I posted the OP that I lied, I actually do have one good piano album. It’s called Classic Jazz Piano (1927-1957), and IMO one of the best tracks is Tatum’s performance of “Out Of Nowhere.” It has a lot of great performances, including tracks by Jelly Roll Morton, Earl Hines, Fats Waller, and Duke Ellington, but not all of them are solo piano: for example, “Where Or When” by Teddy Wilson features a clarinet. And, of course, there are several classic jazz piano/bass/drums arrangements (which I love, but just aren’t what I’m looking for right now).
Thanks! I actually knew that (I’m a pianist, myself), but for some reason it hadn’t occurred to me to look for an album of sonatas. :smack:
Same here! Ravel’s “Bolero” is one of my favorite pieces of music to listen to, and Debussy’s “Claire de Lune” is one of my favorite pieces to play (or, sometimes, try to play ;)).
You know, an easy way to avoid having to use the awkward “he/she” is to refrain from making condescending conditional statements.
