[Classical] A collection of piano pieces with cool arpeggios
Are you familiar with the musical term arpeggio?
It refers to playing the individual notes that make up a chord—what we commonly call a chord or code—one by one, and if you play guitar, it’s a familiar term.
On piano, arpeggios are basically the same and are a technique you can use for accompaniment in singing and playing, but they’re also something you can’t avoid when performing classical piano pieces.
In this article, we introduce a selection of classical piano works that use arpeggios strikingly—whether in the right hand’s main melody or the left hand’s accompaniment.
Focusing primarily on solo piano pieces, but also including piano concertos, we invite you to savor the intense, cool, and beautiful appeal of arpeggios!
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[Classical] A Collection of Piano Pieces with Cool Arpeggios (11–20)
12 Etudes for Piano, Book II: No. 11, Etude for Combined ArpeggiosClaude Debussy
Twelve Études for Piano is a collection of piano studies composed by Claude Debussy in his later years.
It is divided into two books: the first focuses on finger flexibility and technique, while the second emphasizes the exploration of sonority and rhythm.
The Étude for Combined Arpeggios is included in the second book.
Amid its shimmering character, arpeggios featuring Debussy’s characteristically blurred harmonic progressions provide accents, creating a beautiful work that evokes a mysterious feeling, as if one has wandered into the world of a painting.
Piano Sonata in C major, K. 545, 1st movementWolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Included in collections such as the Sonata Album and Sonatina Album, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Piano Sonata in C major, K.
545 is so widely studied that it’s no exaggeration to say many piano learners practice it at least once.
In particular, the first movement is very popular among children who take piano lessons and is frequently performed at recitals.
The arpeggios are used in the first of the three sections—Exposition, Development, and Recapitulation—namely, the Exposition.
The ascending left-hand arpeggio followed by the descending right-hand arpeggio adds a beautiful sense of flow to the lively character of the piece.
Three Concert Études No. 3 “Un Sospiro”Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt’s Three Concert Études, comprising Sorrow, Lightness, and Sigh, is a collection of highly artistic works that stand out not only for their technical difficulty but also for their lyrical beauty.
Among them, the third piece, Sigh, is a poetic and beautiful work in which a gentle, serene melody—shaped as if carefully weaving words one by one—floats over a quietly undulating arpeggiated accompaniment.
It is one of Liszt’s most popular pieces and is frequently performed in concert.
Moreover, the smooth hand-crossings create a visually striking effect, making it a piece of high visual impact as well.
Spanish Rhapsody, S.254Franz Liszt
Among the works of Franz Liszt, who left behind numerous pieces requiring transcendental virtuosity, the Spanish Rhapsody is considered one of the most technically demanding.
It is often performed at international competitions, yet it is said that not many pianists can truly master it.
The piece is filled with elements that contribute to its difficulty—rapid scales, powerful chords, and relentless octaves—and the arpeggios that appear throughout are one such element.
From thunderous arpeggios to soft, shimmering ones, the piece offers a rich variety of textures, making it a highly engaging work to listen to.
Those Who FightUematsu Nobuo
This is the battle theme from Final Fantasy VII, composed by Nobuo Uematsu, a master of game music.
It abandons the traditional battle-intro motif used from I through VI and was created as a new experiment.
Characterized by a grand, tense atmosphere, it is used primarily as the standard battle theme.
The music of Final Fantasy VII is highly regarded within the series, and there are many arrangements and covers.
The Piano Collections version produced in 2004 was released alongside a CD and sheet music, and the pieces included became recommended not only for fans of game music but also for lovers of classical music.
The arrangement is highly virtuosic, requiring solid technique in rhythm, leaps and octaves, and arpeggios, but with practice it can become a performance that will impress everyone around you.