A bit of a difficult question to answer, as we a) don't know the time limit for the piece you have to play and b) what's a "piano degree" (an advanced exam? an end-of-year conservatoire recital?)
Anyway, some stuff I played as a student, presumably around the same age as you:
Berg - Piano Sonata:
https://youtu.be/aqE5By_69OY?si=jkXpxgoyJgeUPe9B
Ravel - Alborado del Gracioso from Miroirs:
https://youtu.be/0A4Lxm3IpvY?si=pBg-63FLgSHf4VO3
Messiaen's Vingt Regards. I performed XI a few times, and learned a few of the others...
https://youtu.be/ovMnmIoZh74?si=QOpWd22rlWCPa3Zy
Hindemith Piano Sonata No. 2:
https://youtu.be/s5gAk4f592c?si=QfWyYW73ZCChkxdn
Ligeti Etudes (I learned Nos. 8 and 11, which aren't *too* tricky in comparison to the rest):
https://youtu.be/XHhZ2TzHlow?si=CA1q5mPVIcNDxAJZ
a) my time limit would be around 3-20 mins and b) I don't what it's called in English but it's basically like a diploma that makes you a piano teacher. Also thank you for the recommendations!!!
Shostakovich wrote 24 preludes and fugues (op. 87). And a separate set of preludes (op. 34) as well. That’s many hours of most-definitely-20th-century piano music.
Couple of others for you that fit the bill:
* Bartok, [Piano Sonata](https://youtu.be/OQ44z_ZqzXk?si=ppICSmMmJDOy28RK) - short but super energetic
* Janacek, [Piano Sonata](https://youtu.be/1bikxc0tALk?si=f7Gs__0tOGZ3A_xR) - hypnotic and very mysterious sounding, programmatic
There are thousands upon thousands of them, with the widest range of stylistic expression and technical requirements of any repertoire in the history of music anywhere in the world at any time. So, it would be helpful if you'd share what sort of thing you're looking for.
Was about to comment that. It varies from something like [In a Landscape](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQeNHAjC6ro) to the (in)famous [Lemma-Icon-Epigram](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYMXbM0RCeU).
[This piece](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EIuekJOhaA) was written three years after Lemma (which, for me, is one of the great piano pieces of the second half of the century, though I imagine it's not quite what the poster is after) and less than 70 km away.
I really like neoclassical music but I'm open to any stylistic expression tbh. My only burden is that it needs to be considered contemporary (written in the 20th century)
Given that pieces by Xenakis and Ferneyhough are, as *contemporary* as they are, quite impossible to learn in under a year and almost unplayable, I'd suggest perhaps Schönberg opp. 11, 25, Berg op. 1 or Webern op. 27
Not knowing what your program consists of makes it a difficult call but Herman Galynin has a wonderful Suite for Piano that encompasses various styles!
Leonard Bernstein's Piano Sonata is overlooked but there's the option of selecting a set of his Anniversaries, or Touches.
Rautavaara's Etudes or Pelimannit? Again very varied.
Richard Rodney Bennett's Piano Sonata is worth looking into as well.
Simply take some time and decide on what will best support the rest of your program.
Piano Sonatas by George Walker
Piano Sonatas by Leo Ornstein. Ornstein Suicide in an Airplane
Julia Wolfe Compassion *21st century*
Piano Sonatas by Alberto Ginastera
Piano Sonatas by Carlos Chávez
Piano music of George Gershwin
Piano music of Ruth Crawford-Seeger
Piano music by Heitor Villa-Lobos
Piano music by Margaret Bonds
Piano music by Aaron Copland
Prepared piano music by George Crumb
Prepared piano music by John Cage
Piano Sonatas by Alexander Glazunov *he may not count, for the Rachmaninoff reason*
Piano music by Grażyna Bacewicz
Piano music by Tōru Takemitsu
Piano Sonatas by Stephen Hough *21st century*
Piano music of Amy Beach
Try *Gaspard de la Nuit* and let us know how it went.
Can a comment be tried for attempted murder?
Hah!
For sure one of the greatest masterpieces (in terms of piano works) in the 20th century…but also incredibly difficult hehe
Yup to both. I'm hoping the OP can see it as a challenge.
Yeah
A bit of a difficult question to answer, as we a) don't know the time limit for the piece you have to play and b) what's a "piano degree" (an advanced exam? an end-of-year conservatoire recital?) Anyway, some stuff I played as a student, presumably around the same age as you: Berg - Piano Sonata: https://youtu.be/aqE5By_69OY?si=jkXpxgoyJgeUPe9B Ravel - Alborado del Gracioso from Miroirs: https://youtu.be/0A4Lxm3IpvY?si=pBg-63FLgSHf4VO3 Messiaen's Vingt Regards. I performed XI a few times, and learned a few of the others... https://youtu.be/ovMnmIoZh74?si=QOpWd22rlWCPa3Zy Hindemith Piano Sonata No. 2: https://youtu.be/s5gAk4f592c?si=QfWyYW73ZCChkxdn Ligeti Etudes (I learned Nos. 8 and 11, which aren't *too* tricky in comparison to the rest): https://youtu.be/XHhZ2TzHlow?si=CA1q5mPVIcNDxAJZ
I prefer the Hindemith #3, but he's a great suggestion. The Berg sonata is also wonderful. I'm not a pianist btw.
a) my time limit would be around 3-20 mins and b) I don't what it's called in English but it's basically like a diploma that makes you a piano teacher. Also thank you for the recommendations!!!
Oooh, thanks for the links! That's very generous
Alberto Ginastera, Piano Sonata No. 1 (1952) https://youtu.be/hT3XiVsH64g?feature=shared
Prokofiev's piano sonatas are great. Some are quite difficult, others are more accessible. His Vision Fugitives are also cool.
Shostakovich wrote 24 preludes and fugues (op. 87). And a separate set of preludes (op. 34) as well. That’s many hours of most-definitely-20th-century piano music.
These are very good, I think op. 87 better than op. 34. They sound modern while also being quite tonal.
Couple of others for you that fit the bill: * Bartok, [Piano Sonata](https://youtu.be/OQ44z_ZqzXk?si=ppICSmMmJDOy28RK) - short but super energetic * Janacek, [Piano Sonata](https://youtu.be/1bikxc0tALk?si=f7Gs__0tOGZ3A_xR) - hypnotic and very mysterious sounding, programmatic
There are thousands upon thousands of them, with the widest range of stylistic expression and technical requirements of any repertoire in the history of music anywhere in the world at any time. So, it would be helpful if you'd share what sort of thing you're looking for.
Was about to comment that. It varies from something like [In a Landscape](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQeNHAjC6ro) to the (in)famous [Lemma-Icon-Epigram](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYMXbM0RCeU).
[This piece](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EIuekJOhaA) was written three years after Lemma (which, for me, is one of the great piano pieces of the second half of the century, though I imagine it's not quite what the poster is after) and less than 70 km away.
I really like neoclassical music but I'm open to any stylistic expression tbh. My only burden is that it needs to be considered contemporary (written in the 20th century)
Given that pieces by Xenakis and Ferneyhough are, as *contemporary* as they are, quite impossible to learn in under a year and almost unplayable, I'd suggest perhaps Schönberg opp. 11, 25, Berg op. 1 or Webern op. 27
How about something like middle-late Scriabin? Sonata no4? Or sonata 9 for something truly 20th century.
Xenakis, *Evryali*.
Stockhausen - Klavierstück XI
In a Landscape by John Cage
An etude by H. Leslie Adams
Not knowing what your program consists of makes it a difficult call but Herman Galynin has a wonderful Suite for Piano that encompasses various styles! Leonard Bernstein's Piano Sonata is overlooked but there's the option of selecting a set of his Anniversaries, or Touches. Rautavaara's Etudes or Pelimannit? Again very varied. Richard Rodney Bennett's Piano Sonata is worth looking into as well. Simply take some time and decide on what will best support the rest of your program.
[Antón García Abril: Preludio de Mirambel No 1](https://youtu.be/LEglKr3OIWU)
Charles Tournemire 12 poems for piano Very impressionistic, with a touch of jazz.
Cyril Scott, "Lotus Land" Basically a non mainstream Claire de Lune.
You don’t like anything by Rachmaninoff?
I adore him but my teacher thinks hes in the romantic era not the contemporary...
Ah, okay. Maybe Prokofiev’s Suggestion Diabolique?
What about Bartok's Allegro barbaro?
Piano Sonatas by George Walker Piano Sonatas by Leo Ornstein. Ornstein Suicide in an Airplane Julia Wolfe Compassion *21st century* Piano Sonatas by Alberto Ginastera Piano Sonatas by Carlos Chávez Piano music of George Gershwin Piano music of Ruth Crawford-Seeger Piano music by Heitor Villa-Lobos Piano music by Margaret Bonds Piano music by Aaron Copland Prepared piano music by George Crumb Prepared piano music by John Cage Piano Sonatas by Alexander Glazunov *he may not count, for the Rachmaninoff reason* Piano music by Grażyna Bacewicz Piano music by Tōru Takemitsu Piano Sonatas by Stephen Hough *21st century* Piano music of Amy Beach