Baroque Music on the Piano: A Curated Selection of Masterpieces Perfect for Recitals and Concerts
The Baroque era saw the flourishing of great composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach, known as the “Father of Music,” and George Frideric Handel, famed as the composer of Messiah.
Music born in Europe from the early 17th century to the mid-18th century is called “Baroque music,” and it continues to captivate people with its refined melodies and formal beauty.
In this article, we’ve selected famous pieces from the Baroque repertoire that are frequently performed on the piano.
We’ll introduce a wealth of works originally written for the keyboard instruments of the time!
- Beginner to Intermediate: Recommended Bach Pieces You’ll Want to Play on Piano
- [Handel's Piano Pieces] A selection of famous works by the Baroque master
- [Classical Piano Masterpieces] A comprehensive showcase of popular favorites for recitals and concerts!
- [Couperin’s Piano Works] Introducing Masterpieces Left by a Renowned Keyboard Virtuoso of the Baroque Era
- [Rameau’s Piano Pieces] A curated selection of harpsichord works by a Baroque master
- For Advanced Players: Showstopping Classics to Play at a Piano Recital
- Scarlatti’s Piano Pieces: Baroque Masterpieces Left by the Maestro of Keyboard Sonatas
- [Piano Recital] Recommended for Middle Schoolers! A Comprehensive Introduction to Classical Masterpieces
- [Piano Recital] Carefully Selected Classical Pieces Recommended for Upper Elementary School Students
- [For Advanced Players] A Curated Selection of Classical Masterpieces to Tackle at Piano Recitals
- [Piano Variations] A comprehensive showcase of gem-like masterpieces crafted by great composers!
- [Piano Duets] Guaranteed to get the crowd excited! A roundup of recommended pieces
- [For Adults] Recommended for Piano Recitals! A Curated Selection of Impressively Sounding Masterpieces
Baroque Music on Piano | A Curated Selection of Masterpieces Perfect for Recitals and Concerts (11–20)
cuckooLouis-Claude Daquin
Louis-Claude Daquin, an organist and composer who showed musical talent from childhood and was active at the Parisian court and at Notre-Dame Cathedral, was a composer of the French Baroque period.
His representative work “Le Coucou” (The Cuckoo) is a captivating piece with inventive melodies and rhythms, brilliantly evoking the call of a cuckoo as if blending into nature.
Noted for its lightness achieved through delicate touch and skillful articulation, this piece is perfect for moments when you want to be soothed by elegant tones or feel a longing for nature.
The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I, No. 1 in C major, BWV 846–BWV 869J.S.Bach
Completed in 1722 by Johann Sebastian Bach, who mastered counterpoint and harmony to establish the traditional German style, The Well-Tempered Clavier is an innovative collection that proposed the use of equal temperament in contrast to the unequal temperaments prevalent at the time.
The First Book, No.
1 in C major (BWV 846), a masterpiece originally created for the education of his son, later became known for its prelude being used by the French composer Charles Gounod as the accompaniment to his Ave Maria.
With its rich musicality and timeless beauty, this piece is recommended for all piano learners.
Partita, BWV 826J.S.Bach
“Partita BWV 826” is a famous piece composed by Bach.
It is richly infused with church music elements characteristic of Bach.
Though the melodic line is calm and somewhat repetitive, it has a sense of speed that draws you in.
If you listen with your eyes closed, you may feel as if you’re in a European church, as if you’ve slipped back to the Baroque era.
Please give it a listen.
French Suite No. 5, BWV 816J.S.Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach, who was active across Germany as a musician for clergy and courts, established his own refined style by grounding himself in traditional German music such as counterpoint and harmony while also incorporating Italian and French musical idioms.
The French Suites are collections for keyboard composed around 1722 during his time in Köthen, beautifully combining a variety of movements from a gentle Allemande to a brisk Gigue.
In particular, Suite No.
5 is a renowned piece that challenges performers, featuring dramatic changes in the number of voices and ornamentation that is difficult to reconstruct.
It is a work that distills Bach’s musical insight and creativity—perfect for a piano recital.
Partita No. 1, BWV 1043J.S.Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach, a composer emblematic of the Baroque era.
His Partita No.
1, BWV 1043, is included in a collection that can be considered the culmination of his series of clavier works.
This masterpiece is perfect for newcomers to classical music, yet it is a piece that everyone who loves music should listen to at least once.
Why not fully indulge in Bach’s refined music?