When they say contrasting pieces, I’m sure they want pieces that demonstrate different technical skills, expressive creativity, all the rest… but especially different technical skills. My question is do the pieces have to be completely distinct styles (e.g. Bach mixed with Liszt or Beethoven with Prokofiev), or would it be perfectly fine to pick say, two pieces from composers of the late 19th/early 20th centuries?
I’ve picked La Campanella as one of my pieces, any suggestions on a 2nd piece?
Generally students do audition with composers from different periods and contrasting works that demonstrate lyric and technical ability. Bach all but stands alone as a “category”.
What do you mean exactly by “Bach all but stand alone as a category”?
And you would say an audition composed of a song from Liszt, Rachmaninoff, and Scriabin wouldn’t be the best idea? (with none of the pieces coming from a period before 1851 or after 1903)
When the audition asks for “two contrasting” pieces, as @Momofadult pointed out, it usually means pieces from two different music era, say Baroque and Romantic, but when it doesn’t specifically tell you “from two different music era,” then you can submit your pieces from the same era. However, these two contrasting pieces should be “contrasting.” Again, as Momofadult pointed out, a lyrical and technical should be submitted. Whenever we were in such situation, we played safe by submitting a lyrical piece from one music era and a technical piece from another era. Nothing can go wrong here!
When I applied to Stanford I submitted an arts supplement for music as well. By contrasting pieces they almost certainly mean pieces of different musical eras and styles. For example, some Bach and some Chopin.
I think you should be careful not to pick a lyrical piece that is too easy. They both should be difficult pieces, although one can sound more “lyrical” and one more “technical” (I don’t like using those terms, even the most “technical” etudes can be extremely poetic).
I think it is not extremely important, as long as your pieces are not all by the same composers. I think its fine if the pieces are from the same era. “Contrasting pieces” could also mean different types of pieces, for example a movement from a Bach suite and then a sonatina. Regardless, you will be fine as long as there is some distinction between the pieces.
Good luck! One word of advice: its better to play technically easier pieces really well then it is to play more technically impressive pieces worse. Make music! don’t try and show off
These tips are very helpful, thank you! The hardest part is determining what songs are “technical” and “lyrical”, because most songs all sound lyrical to me haha
These are the songs I’m considering doing, what do you guys think of them as choices? I know takes time to listen but they’re a treat to hear! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4A0mN2p_Ms0 Scriabin Etude https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpfbDLFSZb4 Liszt La Campanella https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJMIIxm1bGo Chopin “Winter Wind” Etude
Honest truth I have no idea whether these are either lyrical or technical pieces, not sure how to make that call
I wouldn’t worry so much about this. Pick pieces of sufficient difficulty that show your ability, that don’t sound too much alike. I would also ask them if they want you to cue the best three minutes in each piece. Stanford is not a conservatory, but a high level academic institution with a BA in music, and where many musicians don’t major in music… They want candidates who can contribute to musical organizations on campus. The audition in performance is one factor among many factors, unlike a conservatory where audition is the most important thing. It’s called a supplement for a reason.
Difficulty is one thing but what you are aiming for is for whoever evaluates it to say “yes this is one of the very best I heard this year.” Being in the “pretty good but as good as other people” category does not help the way you want. So play what you are best at in terms of interpretation not just technically. And I’d also say avoid old chestnuts unless you are super confident that your version will outshine.
Having said that, my daughter was admitted having submitted a vocal portfolio that included “O mio bambino caro,” which is a real warhorse piece that everyone does, so I am not sure she practiced what I’m preaching here. Her two other songs were operetta and broadway so her range was at least broad good luck
Also an important note: please be alert to the fact that the arts supplement is due a couple of weeks BEFORE the main application, whether REA or regular deadline. This trips a lot of people up.
@caesarcreek that’s not quite accurate: if you are submitting an arts supplelemt, both the supplement AND the application are due earlier. Transcripts and letters of rec can be sent in at the normal deadline.
OHH. Well thank you very much, I was under the impression that only the supplement was due in October, with the rest due November. Now I know to pick up my pace a bit #:-S
