SEEMINGLY EASY PIANO PIECES

There is a trend in the pianism today – to play the most complicated, fast paced, technically demanding piano pieces. To impress rather than express.

We can see young pianists cram all four of Rachmaninoff's dizzyingly difficult piano concertos in one evening, play all 27 technically exceptionally complex Chopin’s études in one go, try to dazzle with the most demanding Liszt’s works, etc.

And often feelings, depth of emotion, refinement, subtlety and expression get lost in all that race for technical achievement, speed, and glamour.

So how about making an attempt to reverse that process ? How about going back to those “easy” piano pieces, full of melody and atmosphere, those heart-warming lyrical pieces that some of us played when we were children or young teenagers, and include them in our repertoires ?

For me, those seemingly easy piano pieces are a joy to re-discover and re-interpret after life long experience behind me. Besides, they feel completely different to me now. I can give them more depth, more insight, more careful attention to detail, and feel more profound involvement when I play them and share them with others.

Besides, those pieces are only seemingly easy. To play and express what is simple, is often the most difficult achievement. When there is no speed, or flashing technique to dazzle with, there should be clarity and refinement of sound, depth and complexity of emotion, careful attention to phrasing, lyricism, and poetry.

It is where intention to express is a priority, rather than intention to impress.

And what is the most important – everyone can connect to those pieces easily, they are always so warmly received from any audience. From those that have thorough music education and frequent music halls, to those much less educated and much less privileged.

Everyone enjoys them equally.

So let’s list some of those piano pieces (I will keep adding to this list):

1. Johann Sebastian Bach: The Well Tempered Clavier: Book I: Prelude No. 1 in C major BWV846

2. Johann Sebastian Bach: Prelude No. 2 in C minor from the Six Short Preludes BWV 933-938

3. Johann Sebastian Bach: Prelude in B minor BWV 855a (arr. A. Siloti)

4. Domenico Scarlatti: Sonata K. 32 in D minor 'Aria'

5. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: ‘Facile’ Sonata, No. 16 in C major, K. 545

6. Ludwig van Beethoven 'Für Elise', Bagatelle No. 25 WoO 59 in A minor

7. Ludwig van Beethoven: Bagatelle, No. 5 Op. 126

8. Ludwig van Beethoven: ‘Moonlight’ Sonata, No. 14 in C-sharp minor Op. 27, No. 2, 1st movement

9. Ludwig van Beethoven: ‘Pathétique’ Sonata, No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13, 2nd movement

10. John Field: Nocturne No. 5 in B Flat Major, H.37

11. Robert Schumann: Scenes of Childhood: From Foreign Countries and People / Revery / Child Falling Asleep / The Poet speaks

12. Robert Schumann: Bunte Blätter, Op. 99, No. 1

13. Claude Debussy: "Clair de Lune", third movement of the Suite Bergamasque, L. 75

14. Erik Satie: Gymnopédie No. 1

(Feel free to add to my list by posting your suggestions in the comment)

Listen to Maria João Pires play Beethoven's Bagatelle No.5 op.126: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JD7w0twFZQ

Listen to Maria Tipo play Scarlatti's Sonata K. 32 in D minor 'Aria' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=br5WruZptLY