2. music
  3. 137464-109363

The Best Piano Works of the 20th Century

My nonimations are:

Vignt Regards sur L’Enfant Jesus by Olivier Messiaen, and

The People United Will Never be Defeated by Frederic Rzewski

How about you?
128x128phomchick
larryi
4,038 posts
 

Anyone up for Kaikhosru Sorabji’s "Opus Clavicembalisticum"? It is about 4.5 hours long and almost every minute is exhausting to listen to because of the complexity and changing rhythm. I particularly like the last two sections of the work (the fugue and the coda section).

I also agree that the Nancarro works are amazing. They are not conventional piano works and cannot possibly be played by a human.

newbee
4,767 posts
 
Ravel's - Gaspard de la nuit and Debussy' Preludes. Both are post 1900 as are most of these composers music for solo piano. Their music should not be missed. 
larryi
4,038 posts
 
I love "Gaspard" and the Debussy Preludes.  I think Satie is also worth looking into, although his most popular works were composed in the late 19th century.
tubegroover
2,320 posts
 
Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue", a uniquely American piece always has to be included in 20th century piano music. I agree with all of gregm's choices less  the Massiaen piece but will sure check it out! The impressionistic work Clair de lune by Debussy  would be on my list as well, less clear is when it was penned.
phomchick's avatar
phomchick OP
209 posts
 
I was looking for pieces for solo piano, but I wasn’t clear. Regardless, there are some great suggestions here. Nancarrow is an excellent suggestion. I’ll add Prokofiev’s Piano Sonatas. 
More to discover