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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!

Playlist

Baroque Music on the Piano: A Curated Selection of Masterpieces Perfect for Recitals and Concerts
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastSonata in B minor, K. 27, L. 449Domenico Scarlatti
Sonata in B minor, K. 27, L. 449Domenico Scarlattiplay_arrow
Introducing Scarlatti’s masterful sonatas
2eastMinuet BWV Anh. 114Christian Petzold
Minuet BWV Anh. 114Christian Petzoldplay_arrow
Petzold’s Minuet had been mistakenly attributed to Bach.
3easttambourineJean-Philippe Rameau
tambourineJean-Philippe Rameauplay_arrow
Rameau's Tambourin, elegant Baroque music
4eastThe Lucky BlacksmithGeorg Friedrich Händel
The Lucky BlacksmithGeorg Friedrich Händelplay_arrow
Handel's 'The Harmonious Blacksmith' is a brilliant suite.
5eastGoldberg VariationsJ.S.Bach
Goldberg VariationsJ.S.Bachplay_arrow
Bach’s masterpiece, the Aria with 30 Variations
6eastInvention No. 1, BWV 772 in C majorJ.S.Bach
Invention No. 1, BWV 772 in C majorJ.S.Bachplay_arrow
Educational practice pieces for music composed by Bach
7eastGigue in G majorGeorg Philipp Telemann
Gigue in G majorGeorg Philipp Telemannplay_arrow
Telemann’s gigue, a captivating work brimming with dynamism
8eastChromatic Fantasia and Fugue in D minorJ.S.Bach
Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue in D minorJ.S.Bachplay_arrow
Bach’s masterpiece, the Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue
9eastHarpsichord Pieces, Book I, Suite No. 1, No. 14: Gavotte “The Woman of the House of Bourbon”François Couperin
Harpsichord Pieces, Book I, Suite No. 1, No. 14: Gavotte “The Woman of the House of Bourbon”François Couperinplay_arrow
Introductory Gavotte by Couperin
10eastItalian Concerto in F major, BWV 971J.S.Bach
Italian Concerto in F major, BWV 971J.S.Bachplay_arrow
Characteristics of Bach's harpsichord concertos
11eastcuckooLouis-Claude Daquin
cuckooLouis-Claude Daquinplay_arrow
Daquin’s representative work “The Cuckoo” is an elegant piece that depicts nature.
12eastThe Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I, No. 1 in C major, BWV 846–BWV 869J.S.Bach
The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I, No. 1 in C major, BWV 846–BWV 869J.S.Bachplay_arrow
Bach’s The Well-Tempered Clavier is an innovative masterpiece
13eastPartita, BWV 826J.S.Bach
Partita, BWV 826J.S.Bachplay_arrow
Bach’s church music, a fast-paced masterpiece
14eastFrench Suite No. 5, BWV 816J.S.Bach
French Suite No. 5, BWV 816J.S.Bachplay_arrow
Bach’s refined suites, the French Suites
15eastPartita No. 1, BWV 1043J.S.Bach
Partita No. 1, BWV 1043J.S.Bachplay_arrow
Bach's Partita No. 1 is a masterpiece
16eastFrench Suite No. 1, BWV 812 – Menuet IJ.S.Bach
French Suite No. 1, BWV 812 – Menuet IJ.S.Bachplay_arrow
An elegant triple-meter piece from the Baroque era
17eastFrench Suite No. 1, BWV 812: Minuet IIJ.S.Bach
French Suite No. 1, BWV 812: Minuet IIJ.S.Bachplay_arrow
Bach’s elegant dances, performed at home
18eastPolonaise in G minor (BWV Anh. 119)J.S.Bach
Polonaise in G minor (BWV Anh. 119)J.S.Bachplay_arrow
Loving music for Bach’s wife
19eastFrench Suite No. 5, BWV 816: SarabandeJ.S.Bach
French Suite No. 5, BWV 816: SarabandeJ.S.Bachplay_arrow
Classical music, the sarabande of the Baroque era is captivating.
20eastInvention No. 2 in C minor, BWV 773J.S.Bach
Invention No. 2 in C minor, BWV 773J.S.Bachplay_arrow
The Appeal of Bach’s Invention in C Minor
21eastFrench Suite No. 2, BWV 813 – CouranteJ.S.Bach
French Suite No. 2, BWV 813 – CouranteJ.S.Bachplay_arrow
Elegant dance works of Baroque music
22eastFrench Suite No. 2, BWV 813: GigueJ.S.Bach
French Suite No. 2, BWV 813: GigueJ.S.Bachplay_arrow
A light 3/8-time dance by Bach
23eastFrench Suite No. 6, BWV 817 – GavotteJ.S.Bach
French Suite No. 6, BWV 817 – GavotteJ.S.Bachplay_arrow
An educational masterpiece of Baroque suites for beginners
24eastFrench Suite No. 2, BWV 813: Menuet IJ.S.Bach
French Suite No. 2, BWV 813: Menuet IJ.S.Bachplay_arrow
Bach’s elegant triple-meter dance
25eastFrench Suite No. 2, BWV 813 – Minuet IIJ.S.Bach
French Suite No. 2, BWV 813 – Minuet IIJ.S.Bachplay_arrow
Bach’s Minuet: elegant and profound music
26eastFrench Suite No. 3, BWV 814, MinuetJ.S.Bach
French Suite No. 3, BWV 814, MinuetJ.S.Bachplay_arrow
An elegant baroque-style dance suite
27eastFrench Suite No. 6, BWV 817: SarabandeJ.S.Bach
French Suite No. 6, BWV 817: SarabandeJ.S.Bachplay_arrow
A dance imbued with Bach’s profound spirituality
28eastMusette in D majorJ.S.Bach
Musette in D majorJ.S.Bachplay_arrow
An approachable piece born from Bach’s music notebook
29eastSymphonia No. 1 in C majorJ.S.Bach
Symphonia No. 1 in C majorJ.S.Bachplay_arrow
A children’s piano piece from 1720 characterized by counterpoint
30eastInvention No. 8, BWV 779J.S.Bach
Invention No. 8, BWV 779J.S.Bachplay_arrow
A lively, upbeat piece perfect for improving your technique.
31eastPassacaglia Harpsichord Suite No. 7 (HWV 432)Georg Friedrich Händel
Passacaglia Harpsichord Suite No. 7 (HWV 432)Georg Friedrich Händelplay_arrow
A masterpiece that distills the charm of Baroque music