Masterpieces of classical piano that are too beautiful for words. A gathering of delicate tones that cleanse the soul.

24 Preludes in G major, Op. 28 – No. 3Frederic Chopin

Seong-Jin Cho – Prelude in G major Op. 28 No. 3 (third stage)

An album by Frédéric Chopin comprising twenty-four very short pieces, the 24 Preludes.

Among the many works included, the one I’d like to introduce as evoking the sparkle of spring is No.

3 in G major.

A letter written in January 1839 reported the completion of the set, and this piece was also finished around that time.

In less than a minute of performance time, the flowing left-hand accompaniment, like melting snow water, and the lightly dancing right-hand melody are beautifully distilled.

Its crisp, well-defined touch makes it a challenging piece for performers, but for listeners it is a wonderful work that conveys a calm and bright spring atmosphere.

Three Concert Études No. 3 in D-flat major “Un sospiro”Franz Liszt

Liszt “Un Sospiro” VERSION 1 – Paul Barton, FEURICH 218 piano

This piece is distinguished by flowing arpeggios that evoke a gentle spring breeze.

As the third of Franz Liszt’s Three Concert Études, it is known for possessing an exceptionally beautiful melody among the works published in early 1849.

The technique in which the left and right hands cross smoothly while successively singing the melody is visually very elegant and lulls the listener into a dreamlike state.

The soft sonority of D-flat major conveys the warmth of the season shifting from winter to spring.

Although Liszt is renowned for his transcendental virtuosity, this work demands poetic expressiveness more than sheer technique.

It is a piece I would especially recommend to those seeking peace of mind or wishing to immerse themselves in a romantic musical atmosphere.

18 Pieces, Op. 72: No. 5, ‘Meditation’Pyotr Tchaikovsky

Yukine Kuroki / Tchaikovsky: 18 Pieces, Op. 72 – No. 5 “Meditation” (2019 PTNA Competition, Special Grade Semifinal) Tchaikovsky – “Meditation,” Op. 72 No. 5

This is a work composed in the very last years of the great Russian composer Tchaikovsky.

He himself may have been becoming aware of his approaching death, but in any case, this piece is simply beautiful.

You can also sense a feeling of lingering attachment to this world.

dreamClaude Debussy

Debussy 'Reverie' Haneda Kentaro

It’s a solo piano piece composed by Debussy, also known in Japanese as “Musō” (“Reverie”).

Although originally for solo piano, overseas it is sometimes performed with added lyrics based on this piece.

As the title suggests, it gives you a pleasant feeling as if you were dreaming.

Debussy’s unique emotions and worldview are beautifully expressed in this work, and it resonates deeply with the heart.

DedicationRobert Schumann=Franz Liszt

Miyuji Kaneko – Dedication (Schumann/Liszt arrangement) S.566

Composer Robert Schumann, who inherited the genes of Beethoven and Schubert in bold relief.

He was a great German composer with overwhelming talent for piano works and song cycles.

Among his pieces, one I especially recommend is Widmung (Dedication).

This piece has a profoundly romantic background: it was not composed as a formal opus at first, but was a song Schumann sent to his wife on the eve of their wedding.

With that background, you can feel the overflowing emotion in the melody.

Although it is part of a song cycle, there is also a version arranged for solo piano.

The solo piano version has an even more fantastical atmosphere, so I encourage you to listen to both and compare.

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Ryo

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Play of WaterMaurice Ravel

Ravel: Jeux d’eau, M. 30

Maurice Ravel is one of the most famous composers of the modern classical era.

He is known for bringing diversity to classical music, creating numerous works that incorporated elements of jazz and blues—styles that had rarely been part of classical music before.

One of his representative pieces is Jeux d’eau (Fountains).

Although it strictly adheres to 4/4 time, the piece exhibits a wide range of changes throughout.

Like a water surface irregularly stirred by the wind, its rapidly shifting melodies evoke a sense of beauty while also setting the heart slightly on edge.

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Maiden’s PrayerTekla Bądarzewska

Tomoharu Ushida – Badarzewska: A Maiden’s Prayer

A masterpiece by Tekla Bądarzewska, distinguished by its graceful and approachable melody.

This piano piece captivates with a delicate, sentimental atmosphere, as if offering a prayer in the gentle sunshine of spring.

Its structure repeats the theme in variations, employing plentiful sparkling ornaments and octave melodies that demand fine fingertip control, yet resonate all the more brilliantly as a result.

Many will recognize it from its use in the “It’s Tough Being a Man” (Otoko wa Tsurai yo) film series.

First published as a supplement in a Parisian music magazine in 1859, the work became a worldwide hit and tenderly loosens the listener’s heart.

It’s a highly recommended piece for anyone looking to add a sparkling selection to their repertoire with the arrival of spring.