[Piano Duets] Guaranteed to get the crowd excited! A roundup of recommended pieces
Piano duet is when two people sit side by side at the piano and, breathing together, perform with four hands.
With duets, you can enjoy a depth and opulence of sound that’s different from solo playing.
Another major attraction is the joy of ensemble—two people creating a single performance together.
This time, we’ve picked out guaranteed crowd-pleasing recommendations from among piano duet pieces!
We’ve gathered cool works that will captivate both players and listeners, so please enjoy to the end!
- [Intermediate] Recommended Piano Duets | A Curated Selection of Cool and Dazzling Pieces
- [Piano Duets] Perfect for recitals! A carefully curated selection of brilliant, crowd-pleasing works
- [Advanced] Piano Duet Works | Exquisite Masterpieces to Savor the Rich, Weighty Sonorities of Four Hands
- [Beginner] Recommended Piano Duets | A curated selection of pieces enjoyable for both adults and children
- [For Beginners] Enjoy Parent-Child Piano Duets! Recommended Songs Introduced
- [Piano Duet × J-POP] A showcase of insanely cool piano duet arrangements all at once
- [Intermediate Level] A curated selection of piano masterpieces featuring strikingly brilliant melodies!
- [Advanced] Super cool if you can play it! Selection of famous piano pieces
- [Piano Recital] Recommended for Boys! A Curated Selection of Cool, Impressive, and Popular Pieces
- [For Elementary School Students] Brilliant, Showy Masterpieces That Sound Impressive at Piano Recitals
- [Popular Piano] Capture the Audience’s Attention! Recommended Pop Songs That Shine at Piano Recitals
- [For Adults] Recommended for Piano Recitals! A Curated Selection of Impressively Sounding Masterpieces
- Piano Masterpieces: Surprisingly Easy Despite Sounding Difficult!? A Curated Selection Perfect for Recitals
Piano Duet Pieces: Guaranteed to Get the Crowd Going! A Roundup of Recommended Works (21–30)
Waltz of ParisCatherine Rollin
The famous American composer Catherine Rollin.
Many piano beginners likely practice her works.
Among Catherine Rollin’s pieces, the one I especially recommend is Waltz in Paris.
Since it was written as a duet, it’s packed with the fundamentals of duet playing for beginners.
It’s generally notated without ledger lines, so the octaves may be a bit tricky to read, but the technical difficulty is low—so by all means, give it a try!
Overture to the operetta ‘Orpheus in the Underworld’Jacques Offenbach
The overture to the operetta “Orpheus in the Underworld” is a piece extremely familiar to Japanese people.
It’s the tune you often hear during footraces at school sports festivals.
I think just about everyone in Japan has heard it at least once.
As for its difficulty, it’s roughly on par with Burgmüller.
It’s a piece that anyone who has moved from beginner to intermediate level can tackle.
Since it’s a fast-tempo piece, it can also be a good exercise for building finger stamina.
Give it a try!
[Piano Duets] Guaranteed to Get the Crowd Going! A Roundup of Recommended Works (31–40)
Overture to the stage production “Candide”Leonard Bernstein
Candide is a stage work based on French philosopher Voltaire’s Candide, or Optimism.
The music was composed by American conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein, and the opening overture is well loved and often performed as a piano duet.
Its bright, sparkling character, which heralds the rise of the curtain, boosts the energy of both performers and audience alike.
While it may feel a touch poppy to be classified strictly as classical, it’s a highly rewarding piece to play that instantly elevates the atmosphere of concerts and recitals.
Jupiter, from the suite “The Planets,” Op. 32Gustav Holst
For a piano duet at a recital, I recommend Gustav Holst’s orchestral suite The Planets.
Among the masterpieces of classical music, the most famous work within The Planets is probably Jupiter.
Compared to the other movements, its grandeur and easily recognizable melody make it appealing to many listeners.
Although the original is an orchestral suite, at the time of composition Holst completed piano sketches for two pianos for six of the movements (all except Neptune).
As a result, a duet version can be just as compelling as the orchestral one.
Performing the full piece will give a great sense of accomplishment, but if it feels too difficult, you can start by playing the famous melodic sections.
Racing into the NightYOASOBI
When it comes to songs that represent the popular music duo YOASOBI, “Racing into the Night” (Yoru ni Kakeru) is the one.
Formed on October 1, 2019 with the concept of turning novels from Sony Music’s novel & illustration posting site into music, YOASOBI debuted with this track.
Since the music video was released on November 16, its view count has kept climbing, making it a hit.
The song begins with just two parts—piano and vocals—and it packs an enormous punch even as a piano duet.
There are many arrangements out there, but the ultra-advanced jazz duet version of “Yoru ni Kakeru” is electrifying.
While recreating the original piano solo section, the stylish arrangement further brings out the song’s appeal.
After the high-speed passages, the quietly expressive section gives you chills.
Unfortunately, because the performance is improvised, there’s no sheet music in the video, so you’ll have to transcribe it by ear—but it’s such a compelling duet arrangement that it’s highly recommended.
Aladdin “Friend Like Me”Alan Menken
This piece lets you enjoy a Disney film song as a piano duet.
Incorporating elements of jazz and cabaret, it’s an up-tempo arrangement highlighted by a striking brass section.
Performed powerfully by Koichi Yamadera on the 90-minute special of the TV program Music Station in July 2019, the song beautifully blends a cheerful atmosphere with magical staging.
With its melodic, approachable character, it’s perfect for teacher-and-student or parent-and-child duets.
It has also been staged in the Broadway musical adaptation, earning high acclaim including a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in 2014.
Why not perform this beloved classic—adored across generations—together with someone special?
Danse macabre in G minor, Op. 40Camille Saint-Saëns
Danse macabre, a symphonic poem by the French composer Camille Saint-Saëns, is a work that depicts the uncanny scene of skeletons beginning to dance ominously at the stroke of midnight.
It was initially conceived as a song and later completed as an orchestral piece.
Today, it is performed in various forms, including piano four-hands, two pianos, and violin solo.
Because these versions are arranged from the orchestral score, the four-hands performance is naturally very challenging.
Envision each scene vividly and craft an engaging performance that draws the audience in.