[Classical Piano Masterpieces] A carefully selected collection of moving pieces that will bring you to tears
Have you ever had a musical experience where a beautiful melody or harmony moved you to your core?
In this article, we introduce classic piano masterpieces that can bring tears to your eyes just by listening—and that become even more moving when you play them yourself.
Naturally, works written for the piano do not have lyrics.
However, the composers’ thoughts and wishes are undoubtedly embedded in each note.
By learning about the background of the pieces and the lives of the composers, your performance will gain greater depth.
When you take on these pieces, be sure to deepen your understanding of the composers and the works—including the anecdotes shared in each piece’s commentary here—before you begin practicing.
- Masterpieces of classical piano that are too beautiful for words. A gathering of delicate tones that cleanse the soul.
- Poignant and beautiful! A collection of recommended piano pieces
- [Piano × J-POP] Tearjerker! A Selection of Moving/Touching Songs
- [Advanced] Super cool if you can play it! Selection of famous piano pieces
- [Intermediate Level] Cool Piano Pieces You Can Play [Great for Recitals Too]
- For Advanced Players: Showstopping Classics to Play at a Piano Recital
- [Masterpiece Classics] A special showcase of gem-like masterpieces so beautiful they’ll move you to tears
- [Classical] Famous Piano Works | Gem-like Masterpieces You’ll Want to Play at Least Once in Your Lifetime
- Piano × Dark Pieces: Classic Masterworks to Sink Deep into Sorrow
- [For Adults] Recommended for Piano Recitals! A Curated Selection of Impressively Sounding Masterpieces
- [Intermediate Level] A curated selection of piano masterpieces featuring strikingly brilliant melodies!
- [Calming Classics] Soothing masterpieces whose piano melodies gently touch the heart
- [Classical Music] All pieces under 3 minutes! A collection of short and cool piano pieces
[Classical Piano Masterpieces] Carefully Selected Tear-Jerking, Moving Pieces (11–20)
La CampanellaFranz Liszt
The delicate melody, modeled after the sound of bells, is striking, with beautiful leaps and ornaments in the high register resonating throughout.
The piano piece, revised in 1851, is characterized by passionate expressiveness that embodies the essence of Romantic music and by virtuosic performance demands.
Inspired by Niccolò Paganini’s playing in 1831, Franz Liszt arranged the theme of a violin concerto for piano.
Frequently used as background music in films and television shows, it has captivated many listeners.
This work is recommended for those who want to study in a quiet environment with focus.
Its bell-like, transparent timbre will calm the mind while maintaining a moderate sense of tension.
Nocturne No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 9 No. 2Frederic Chopin
There’s a gem of a piano piece by Frédéric Chopin that will make you forget the summer heat.
Composed between 1830 and 1832, it’s included in the renowned collection Nocturnes, Op.
9, and is praised for its exquisitely sweet and wistful melody.
The singing right-hand line sparkles like stars in the night sky, gently supported by the left-hand accompaniment.
Listening to it feels purifying to the soul.
It has been memorably used in the film 127 Hours (2010) and the anime Girls’ Last Tour (2017), so many of you may already know it.
This work is a perfect choice for anyone who wants to feel a cool, tranquil mood through the beautiful tones of the piano on a quiet night.
Melody Op. 4-2Fanny Mendelssohn
A short piece in C-sharp minor, notable for its melody that sings as if it were a song.
This work is included in Fanny Mendelssohn’s piano collection “6 Melodies, Op.
4,” in which she explored a distinctive pianistic style different from her brother Felix’s.
The dense harmonies layered over the delicate melody are quintessentially Fanny Mendelssohn, conveying a nuanced emotional sensitivity; even the slightest misjudgment in expression can risk diminishing the piece’s introspective allure.
Published under her own name in 1846, it quietly yet unmistakably reveals her firm resolve.
It is a piece one would especially want to savor alone on a night when one wishes to sink deeply into sorrow.
When performing it, the paramount key is how you make the melody sing.
Sonatine in F-sharp minor, M. 40: II. MenuetMaurice Ravel
A piece I recommend for times when you want to quietly face your inner self is one from Maurice Ravel’s piano work Sonatine.
While it takes the elegant form of a classical minuet, this movement blends a hidden melancholy with refined sonorities, making it exquisitely beautiful.
As you listen to the melody, you can almost see a scene that maintains dignified grace even amid sorrow.
The work as a whole, including this piece, was choreographed as a ballet in 1975, and its narrative quality stimulates the listener’s imagination.
Rather than stirring intense emotions, it will surely stay close to your heart when you wish to surrender yourself gently to the piano’s delicate timbre.
Three Romances, Op. 11 No. 1Clara Schumann
A piano piece that conceals profound lyricism within restrained expression.
Opening a set of three romantic miniatures, this work was written in 1839, when the composer was nineteen, imbued with feelings for her fiancé, Robert Schumann.
The theme, sung over extended arpeggios, seems to delicately reflect a love and longing kept within.
The piece also appears in the film “Geliebte Clara,” serving as a crucial key to portraying Clara Schumann’s inner world.
It is an ideal piece for a quiet, contemplative night, when you want to listen to the singing tone of the piano and take time to face your own heart.