Audition Repertoire for the Intermediate Pianist, Book 3: Piano Book

Magrath has resisted the temptation to pad this collection with filler. Every piece earned its place because it genuinely displays intermediate mastery while offering real musical substance. Two complete recital programs means you can perform either one without compromise, and the arc across Bach, Classical, Romantic, and early Modern repertoire tells a coherent story about piano literature.

This book moves from the ordered counterpoint of Baroque masters into the lyrical warmth of the Romantic era, then ventures into the impressionistic shimmer of Debussy and the rhythmic vitality of early twentieth-century composers. The journey feels purposeful rather than scattered, with each piece deepening your command of keyboard technique and interpretive choice.

Pianists at the late intermediate level preparing for auditions, competitions, or recitals will find two polished programs that demonstrate range across centuries and styles. Teachers seeking curated collections that eliminate the guesswork of program building will appreciate having vetted pairings ready to perform.

• Balance the technical demands of the Bach works (Bourrée and Solfeggietto) with their clarity of voice; resist rushing the sixteenth-note passages in favor of articulate, singing lines.
• Use the Schumann and Debussy pieces to explore color and pedaling without losing structural definition; these works reward experimentation with timbre.
• Frame the Kuhlau Sonatina's first movement as your structural anchor; its Classical proportions and clear phrase architecture provide an excellent midpoint in either program.
• Let the Burgmüller and Casella pieces breathe as closing statements; they require less technical firepower but demand mature musicianship and confidence in execution.

Present one complete program at a studio recital to showcase the full arc of your student's musicianship, or extract individual pieces to anchor larger community concert programs. The Romantic and early Modern selections pair well with contemporary or folk arrangements, while the Bach works serve as anchor pieces for any classical-leaning festival or competition schedule.

• Baroque articulation and voice independence across multiple textural styles
• Romantic-era pedaling and rubato without disrupting metric clarity
• Impressionistic tone production and harmonic color awareness
• Audition program structure and pacing across contrasting character pieces
• Interpretation of unfamiliar works by composers across four centuries