Pick up Beethoven’s famous and representative works!
Ludwig van Beethoven created innovative music that served as a bridge from the Classical to the Romantic era, leaving a profound influence on later generations.
His music is passionate yet rich in beautiful melodies, and it conveys a sense of essential depth, as if pursuing things to their very core.
There are many masterpieces that everyone has heard at least once, such as “Fate” (Symphony No.
5) and “Für Elise.”
In this article, we’ve picked out some of Beethoven’s famous and representative works.
Why not immerse yourself in the music of Beethoven, one of the great composers?
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[Beethoven] A Selection of Famous and Representative Works (111–120)
Seven Bagatelles, Op. 33 No. 1Ludwig van Beethoven
Beethoven’s masterpiece, Seven Bagatelles Op.
33 No.
1.
Although it contains some slightly challenging passages because it was originally conceived as a candidate movement for a piano sonata, overall it has been shaped into a simple piece that beginners can approach with ease.
Written in E-flat major, the work maintains a generally relaxed tempo, allowing ample time before each subsequent phrase.
While it is somewhat minor within Beethoven’s oeuvre, many pianists perform it, so do consider using their interpretations as references.
[Beethoven] A Selection of Masterpieces and Signature Works! (121–130)
Farewell, pianoLudwig van Beethoven
The piece said to be Beethoven’s last work, Farewell to the Piano.
There’s a theory that it was actually invented by its publisher, Boosey & Co., but for now I’ll introduce it as a Beethoven composition.
Its difficulty is A—easy enough for beginners to play.
While there are a few tricky spots in the main melody, with repeated practice you should be able to master it quickly.
If you’ve just started learning, be sure to check it out.
Ode to JoyLudwig van Beethoven
Ode to Joy, a piece included in the masterpiece Symphony No.
9 by the great composer Ludwig van Beethoven, is known in Japan as Yorokobi no Uta.
It is also a representative piece often played by beginners who have just started learning piano.
For children who have only just begun, coordinating different movements with both hands is extremely challenging, but this piece is structured to be easy even for them to perform.
If you follow the arrangement shown in the video, it becomes even easier to play, so be sure to check it out.
Ode to Joy (from Symphony No. 9, Fourth Movement)Ludwig van Beethoven
The “Song of Joy,” which many Japanese associate with New Year’s, is also known as the “Ode to Joy.” This piece is originally extracted from the first main theme of the fourth movement of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No.
9—the famous choral melody.
Because it’s well known and familiar to many, there are numerous published piano arrangements, making it easy to find a version suited to your playing level—one of the piece’s key attractions.
If you’re just starting to tackle two-handed playing, why not try a simple arrangement with a left hand centered on basic bass notes and a right hand playing single-note melody?
EcosseLudwig van Beethoven
Among Ludwig van Beethoven’s piano works, the Six Ecossaises are well-loved as pieces suitable for beginners.
The composition features a single recurring theme with five short themes inserted between its repetitions, making it perfect for learning to switch moods and sharpen musical expression.
It’s packed with basic techniques such as staccato, legato, and turns, so careful practice will help you level up.
With many repetitions that make it easy to memorize, it’s also recommended for recital pieces!
Écossaises, WoO 23Ludwig van Beethoven
During Beethoven’s lifetime, duple-time dances were all the rage.
His Ecossaises, WoO 23, are performed in such duple meter and vividly reflect the cultural backdrop of the era.
The piece follows the form A–B–A–B′, C–C–D–B′, with the trickiest sections being parts A and C.
Part A begins on the offbeat, which can be challenging if you’re not used to it.
In part C, the right-hand slurs are crucial and call for a gentle touch.
Neither section is particularly difficult once you’re accustomed to them, making this a piece that’s approachable even for beginners.
Für Elise, WoO 59Ludwig van Beethoven
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven in 1810, this work is one of his representative miniatures.
It is characterized by a simple, elegant melody and is structured in rondo form, with the main theme in A minor recurring throughout.
Along the way, it modulates to C major and G major, bringing changes in mood.
While not technically demanding, it contains many passages that require delicate expression, and deep emotion is embedded within its simple melody.
This is a piece everyone knows, and anyone studying piano will likely want to try playing it at least once.
Because its simplicity allows for a wide range of interpretive approaches, playing it again as an adult can lead to a different expressive outcome; if you try it once in elementary school, it may become a particularly meaningful piece for you.
Be sure to give it a place in your repertoire.