[Advanced] Piano Duet Works | Exquisite Masterpieces to Savor the Rich, Weighty Sonorities of Four Hands

Piano Sonata in B-flat major, K. 381, for four handsWolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Mozart: Sonata in D for 4 hands, KV 381 – Lucas & Arthur Jussen

Mozart has created countless masterpieces, and of course he also wrote some gems for piano four hands.

This time, I’d like to introduce his Piano Sonata for Four Hands in B-flat major, K.

381.

Its difficulty is very high: both the main melody and the accompaniment contain many rapid passages that demand solid technique.

There are also frequent octave passages and many leaps, so precision in performance is crucial.

All the more reason to check it out, though—it’s a piece that really makes an impact when heard.

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Ryo

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Hungarian Dance No. 5Johannes Brahms

[Piano Duet] Hungarian Dance No. 5 / Brahms / Piano Duo Lumière / Ungarische Tänze Nr. 5 / Hungarian Dances No. 5 / Brahms / 4 Hands Piano

When someone asks, “What comes to mind for classic piano four-hand pieces?” many people will think of this one! Johannes Brahms’s Hungarian Dances is a collection of 21 pieces in four books for piano four hands.

Based on the music of the Hungarian Roma, it is also widely loved in its orchestral versions.

Among them, No.

5 from Book I is especially famous and popular, and is frequently performed in concerts.

A hallmark—and challenge—of this piece is its flexible tempo, reflecting the freedom of Romani music.

Feel your partner’s breathing closely and align your timing perfectly as you play.

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yuri

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Slavonic Dances, Book I, Op. 46, No. 7Antonin Dvořák

PTNA 2021 National Final Competition, Advanced Duet No. 15, Gold Prize: Nana Shibata & Kazuhiro Sato

Slavonic Dances, composed by Czech composer Antonín Dvořák, are staple pieces for piano four hands! Each of the First Series and the Second Series contains eight pieces for piano duet, and the works are also frequently performed in the orchestral versions arranged by Dvořák himself.

Though they are widely beloved, playing them beautifully in perfect coordination is extremely challenging! “Series I, Op.

46 No.

7” also demands advanced technique, and it takes a great deal of practice to internalize its distinctive, strongly folkloric rhythms.

That said, the groove is irresistible, and the exhilaration when you play it cleanly to the end is second to none!

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The Fairy Garden, No. 5 from the suite “Ma mère l’Oye”Maurice Ravel

M. Ravel – 5. Le jardin féerique – Ma Mère l’Oye

The world of timbres woven by four hands shines even more beautifully in Maurice Ravel’s works for piano four hands.

Premiered in Paris in April 1910, this fairy-tale-themed suite was written for children yet conceals profound musicality.

Its graceful triple-meter waltz unfolds a fantastical atmosphere, captivating listeners with the rich sonority and expressive power unique to piano duet.

Amid the majestic and beautiful melodies, passages evoke the delicate colors of harp and celesta, offering the sensation of being led into a dreamlike realm.

While synchronizing breath and timing with a duet partner can be challenging, the joy of achieving a unified performance is unparalleled.

This is a highly recommended piece for those who wish to fully savor the essence of piano four-hand playing.

“Grand Ritornello” from The Eccentric BeautyÉric Satie

Satie: Grand Ritornello [05_Recommended Classical Piano Pieces with Duet Sheet Music]

A four-hand piano piece sprinkled with satirical humor beneath its elegance.

Its light, dance-like rhythms and memorable, recurring melodies evoke a glimpse into Parisian high society.

Premiered in 1920, the work breathed fresh air into the musical world with a novel approach unconstrained by traditional forms.

The melodic lines—glittering yet tinged with irony—showcase Erik Satie’s unmistakable individuality.

Recommended for those who wish to explore the rich sonority and expressive possibilities unique to piano four-hands, as well as listeners seeking a charm distinct from conventional classical music.

From the suite ‘Ma mère l’Oye’: No. 1 Pavane of the Sleeping BeautyMaurice Ravel

[Piano Four Hands] Ravel — Ma Mère l’Oye, No. 1: Pavane of the Sleeping Beauty

An elegant piano duet inspired by the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty.

Written for two children, it is considerate in its technical demands and not overly difficult.

Its gentle melody in A minor conveys a dreamlike sense of comfort.

Although it lasts only about a minute and a half, it unfolds a delicate world built on the classical pavane dance form.

The layered chords and richly colored sonorities produced by four hands offer a depth of musical experience unattainable in a solo performance.

Composed in 1908, it was later arranged for orchestra and ballet.

This piece is recommended for those who wish to leave a dazzling impression at recitals or concerts.

From the suite “Ma mère l’Oye,” No. 3: “Laideronnette, Empress of the Pagodas”Maurice Ravel

From 'Ma mère l’Oye' III. Laideronnette, Empress of the Pagodas — Ravel (piano four hands)

This is a masterpiece that unfolds a fairytale world imbued with an Oriental atmosphere.

It vividly portrays, through the unique four-hand resonance of piano duet, the tale of a beautiful princess cursed and transformed.

The piece is one of the five movements in a piano duet suite composed by Maurice Ravel between 1908 and 1910 for the children of his friends.

In this work, the sounds of Chinese instruments—such as xylophone and percussion—are brilliantly evoked using two pianos.

Amid its light and bright character, the timbre brims with exotic color, as if the distant toll of a gong were resounding.

Demanding rich expression across the piano’s high and low registers and close ensemble coordination, it is an ideal work for concerts and recitals.