Hardest piece you know?

As of now, for me at least, it is Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, because of the key changes and the rapid wrist movements. But it's still amazing to analyze and pick away at.

The Piano on Leonard Bernstein's 'Age of Anxiety' Symphony #2.

have you heard the two versions of the ending of Age of Anxiety? I was lucky that my college (way back when) happened to have a recording of the original version...
I like the re-write he did more though.
That piece is one of those that is guaranteed to bring tears to my eyes.

have you heard the two versions of the ending of Age of Anxiety? I was lucky that my college (way back when) happened to have a recording of the original version...
I like the re-write he did more though.
That piece is one of those that is guaranteed to bring tears to my eyes.

My Uncle has heard both endings... he said it was very cool. But, he heard it a LONG time ago. I think he heard it during the 80s. Before I was born.

I have only heard the rewrite ending. But, if i ever get the chance...

[i]I think one of the hardest pieces for an ensemble to perform is a piece known as summer dances. It does not look too tough at first glance- being in 6/8, though it is tough and one reason is because articulation and such is just wierd. Also Lincolnshire Posy. I am in symphonic band though my wind ensemble is doing it, my friend told me it is like impossibly hard- the guy who wrote it was insane.

My college's Commencement Band put together parts 1, 2, and 5 of Lincolnshire Posy in like a week. That was one concert item out of like 15 or so. It was a crazy ball-busting program - I'll see if I can find it and then post it all.

Recently:

1- "The Summer" from "The Four Seasons", III mov. for Violin (A. Vivaldi)
2- "Fantasie Impromptu" (F. Chopin)
3- "The Sugar Plum Fairy" (piano arrangement) (P.I.Tchaikovski)
4- "Darth Vader's Theme" (piano arrangement) (J. Williams)

They have a heck of speed or the keys hinder don't let me push the right note. The piano concerto was a bit of a disaster with "Fantasie Impromptu". Not too much, but I disliked it.

Variations Sur Un Theme De Paganini - Maurice Allard

These variations (based on the famous 24th caprice by Paganini), for Bassoon, are fiendish.

Wow, everybody seems to appreiciate Paganini here (I'm in Paradise!)

Well the hardest piece I know right now is

Swing Low Sweet Chariot; Arranged by Rick Foster (guitar)
and the hardest pieces I'm working on right now are

Dreaming (I think it's called that) Piano and violin duet by Liszt (I play violin, but not very well)

Paganini's 24th caprice (Dang it's hard, and I haven't even reached the part with all the Pizzicato yet, sheesh)

and Variations on a Theme of Mozart by Fernando Sor (guitar)

Mozart's Concert Rondo (K. 371) is tough (for horn), but Mendelssohn's Midsummer Night's Dream has killer high notes, and you have two transpose half a step, but at least its slow. Haydn did some painfully slow and high pieces that just kill your lip after a while (but they sound great). I'm sure there are other horn pieces harder than this, I just can't think of any.

I was trying to play "Giga" (Handel). I don't manage to move my fingers so fast. It's in a Vivace speed. Horrifying speed, beautiful sound.

Besides, my voice is trying to sing "Hallellujah" from "The Messiah". I can't sing the right notes well. Gotta practice more.