Prokofiev's Piano Sonatas

Listen to all of them, they're awesome

Especially the "War Sonatas", 5-7 I believe. You can find many on youtube

YouTube - Prokofiev piano sonata No.7 3rd Mov. Sheet & Music

Sonata No. 7 - Mvt. 3

That's a good start

hehehe that has ALWAYS been one of my favourite Prokoviev pieces to play!

That and the Toccata and Suggestions Diabolique.

For that movement I tend to prefer this particular interpretation. Much slower, but somehow much more exciting!

Anyway, yeah, Prokofiev sonatas are awesome. I like the 6th a lot.

Originally Posted by QcCowboy

hehehe that has ALWAYS been one of my favourite Prokoviev pieces to play!

That and the Toccata and Suggestions Diabolique.

You've played this?

Well then I have a question, where would this lie on the difficulty scale for piano? I'm currently working on a trumpet and piano piece, one of the movements I'm imaging to be very very much in that sort of style, driving and rhythmic (almost sort of like the Finale of the Barber Piano Concerto). However, I'm always kind of wary of writing something that might be too much of a problem at the tempos and gestures I want. I'm of course writing all this at the piano and being pretty methodical, but I'm sure you get where I'm coming from with this. I don't want to write something that in my mind sounds good, take it to a player and then they're like, "Woah this is way too hard". For us other instrumentalists the piano can definitely be a monster to write for, even though I have written for it before (but that was a slow piece).

BTW: That Toccata is friggin insane

Originally Posted by gms5287

You've played this?

Well then I have a question, where would this lie on the difficulty scale for piano? I'm currently working on a trumpet and piano piece, one of the movements I'm imaging to be very very much in that sort of style, driving and rhythmic (almost sort of like the Finale of the Barber Piano Concerto). However, I'm always kind of wary of writing something that might be too much of a problem at the tempos and gestures I want. I'm of course writing all this at the piano and being pretty methodical, but I'm sure you get where I'm coming from with this. I don't want to write something that in my mind sounds good, take it to a player and then they're like, "Woah this is way too hard". For us other instrumentalists the piano can definitely be a monster to write for, even though I have written for it before (but that was a slow piece).

BTW: That Toccata is friggin insane

This is "up there" in difficulty.

Although, I must say that Prokoviev was an excellent pianist, and his music - while extremely difficult - falls very well under the fingers. Rachmaninov is another composer whose music jsut seems to "fit" no matter how hard it really is.

However, if I compare to the music of Hindemith, who was NOT a pianist, which is difficult and also does not really fall naturally under the hand. I love playing Hindemith, but I don't take as much pleasure from its technical difficulties.

The best thing is, if you are writing music that will be very challenging, be sure to bring it regularly to a pianist to double-check it and see where things could be awkward or even impossible.

Originally Posted by QcCowboy

This is "up there" in difficulty.

Although, I must say that Prokoviev was an excellent pianist, and his music - while extremely difficult - falls very well under the fingers. Rachmaninov is another composer whose music jsut seems to "fit" no matter how hard it really is.

However, if I compare to the music of Hindemith, who was NOT a pianist, which is difficult and also does not really fall naturally under the hand. I love playing Hindemith, but I don't take as much pleasure from its technical difficulties.

The best thing is, if you are writing music that will be very challenging, be sure to bring it regularly to a pianist to double-check it and see where things could be awkward or even impossible.

Yeah I'm always making sure to double check myself with fingering issues.

And you're definitely right about Hindemith, I can only tell from the many awkward performances I've heard (or been a part of) of his Sonata for Trumpet and Piano. Piano music that's harder than it sounds, the Brahms concerto is like that too apparently (I think it's the 2nd one?) Great pieces nonetheless.

I prefer the Sokolov interpretation too.

Originally Posted by Daniel

I prefer the Sokolov interpretation too.

I'm in that camp as well, but I wanted to link to a video that had the score

I actually prefer largely the Sonata No.8 1st movement. Amazing sonata!

and the tocatta is very very difficult, but yes, it comes natural for a pianist. It just shows that it was composed by a pianist. Other pieces are just hellishly difficult!