Play ballet music on the piano! A curated selection of exquisite masterpieces that color iconic scenes
Ballet, with its dancers in beautiful costumes and their dazzling, elegant movements, is truly captivating.
Beyond the dance itself, the music—essential to the unfolding of each story—is also incredibly appealing, filled with melodies that linger in the memory.
This time, we’ve selected only the most famous pieces from the world of ballet music—masterworks that even those not familiar with ballet have likely heard somewhere.
Alongside piano performance videos, we’ll share the background and allure of each piece.
While ballet music is typically performed by an orchestra, some of the works we’ll introduce here include arrangements for solo piano based on the original ballet scores.
Enjoy exploring the world of ballet while appreciating the differences from the originals!
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Let's Play Ballet Music on the Piano! A Selection of Exquisite Masterpieces That Illuminate Iconic Scenes (11–20)
Kitri’s Variation from the ballet Don QuixoteLéon Minkus
Ludwig Minkus, a composer born in Austria who was active in Russia.
His most famous works include ballet scores such as Don Quixote, La Bayadère, and Paquita.
From Don Quixote, Kitri’s Variation is a striking piece characterized by Spanish-style rhythms and melodies, expressing the courage and passion of the heroine Kitri.
The piece is also known for placing high technical demands on the ballerina, brilliantly portraying Kitri’s distinctive character and story through music and dance.
It is a recommended piece not only for ballet fans but also for classical music enthusiasts.
The Rite of SpringIgor Stravinsky
This work, depicting a pagan ritual celebrating the arrival of spring, revolutionized 20th-century music.
Characterized by complex rhythms and bold use of dissonance, it unfolds with primal, powerful energy.
In the orchestra, the opening bassoon solo employs the instrument’s upper register, creating a distinctive sense of tension.
Although its premiere in May 1913 caused a major uproar among the audience, there also exists a two-piano version by the composer, Igor Stravinsky.
Because it is his own arrangement, the mechanisms of polytonality, harmonic structure, and other architectural elements of each movement become strikingly clear, and today it is widely performed as an important addition to the piano repertoire.
It is highly recommended for those interested in innovations that overturn the conventions of classical music.
Noble and Sentimental Waltzes: No. 1, Modéré (Moderato), G majorMaurice Ravel
The suite Valses nobles et sentimentales fuses traditional waltz forms with Maurice Ravel’s characteristically modern sonorities.
Its opening piece is graceful yet tinged with melancholy, evoking a curious, elusive mood.
At its premiere in May 1911, the composer’s name was withheld, and the work astonished audiences with its originality.
One can almost picture a glittering ballroom where, amid the dancing, a secret, fleeting thought crosses the heart.
The work is also known in its ballet incarnation as Adélaïde, ou le langage des fleurs.
It’s perfect for those who want to experience the intriguing rhythms and harmonies that overturn conventional images of the waltz.
Aim for a rounded, gentle tone to convey the wistfulness that lies beneath the brilliance.
In conclusion
This time, we featured ballet music that is also popular in piano performance.
Many of these pieces are frequently heard on television, in commercials, and at restaurants, so I imagine quite a few sounded familiar.
Be sure to enjoy playing them on the piano while savoring the differences from the original orchestral versions.