[Fauré] Lower Difficulty! Recommended Piano Pieces by a Master of French Music
Gabriel Fauré, the French composer whose style created original works while upholding classical formal beauty, had a profound influence on 20th-century classical composers.
Fauré’s works—ranging from orchestral and sacred music to pieces noted for their flowing beauty, elegance, delicacy, and warmth—have long been loved by classical music fans.
From Fauré’s wide-ranging output, we have selected some of his most popular piano pieces.
Here we introduce relatively accessible works that you can not only listen to but also enjoy performing to experience Fauré’s world for yourself.
If you are studying piano, please use this as a reference!
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[Fauré] Easier Pieces! Recommended Piano Works by the French Master of Music (21–30)
Three Songs Without Words, Op. 17 No. 3 in A-flat majorGabriel Fauré
Gabriel Fauré’s Three Romances sans paroles, Op.
17, said to have been composed when he was 18, comprises three gentle pieces that, in some way, evoke Felix Mendelssohn’s Songs Without Words, which share the term “Romances sans paroles” in their titles.
The third piece is a fresh and beautiful work in which an elegant melody floats above broken chords.
Aim to sing out the melodic line fully, and perform with care, balancing the dynamic level against the leaping accompaniment.
Eight Pieces, Op. 84 No. 5: ImpromptuGabriel Fauré
For intermediate players who want to perform a piece with a touch of melancholy at a piano recital, I recommend No.
5, Impromptu, from Eight Pieces, Op.
84.
In terms of difficulty, it sits around the middle of the intermediate level.
Although the French composer Gabriel Fauré often employs rather unconventional structures—such as an absence of tempo rubato or an impersonal, mechanical feel—this impromptu is crafted with rich expressiveness.
It’s an impressive work to listen to and not excessively difficult, so I encourage you to take it on as a recital piece.
Impromptu No. 2 in F minor, Op. 31Gabriel Fauré
Gabriel Fauré’s masterpiece, Impromptu No.
2 in F minor, Op.
31.
It’s a piece you fairly often hear at piano recitals.
Its difficulty level is intermediate.
To give a concrete comparison, if you can play Chopin’s Impromptu No.
1, you should basically be able to handle this piece without much trouble.
That said, the tempo marking is very fast and demands quick triplet passages.
For those who struggle with fast playing, it will make excellent practice.
Be sure to check it out.
Nocturne No. 4 in E-flat major, Op. 36Gabriel Fauré
If you like piano pieces that are both weighty and beautiful, I recommend Nocturne No.
4 in E-flat major, Op.
36.
It is one of Fauré’s representative works and was dedicated to Mlle.
Mercy-Argenteau.
The highlight of this piece is undoubtedly the opening: the descending fourth interval is highly memorable and evokes the tolling of bells.
In terms of difficulty, it’s considered intermediate, but it’s on the approachable side of intermediate, suitable even for beginners to tackle.
It’s a piece that develops expressive ability, so beginners are encouraged to give it a try.
Nocturne No. 6 in D-flat major, Op. 63Gabriel Fauré
Gabriel Fauré, a composer who was active in France in Europe over the course of his 79-year life, wrote 13 nocturnes.
Nocturne No.
6 in D-flat major, Op.
63, composed when Fauré was 49, is a highly romantic work in which the character of Romantic music is strongly expressed among the thirteen.
Alongside Barcarolle No.
5 in F-sharp minor, Op.
66, it is considered a masterpiece, and its performance demands both delicacy and dynamism.
While it is relatively accessible among Fauré’s works, it is by no means easy to play.
However, once you can perform it, you will be able to fully savor its beauty.
Clair de Lune, Op. 46-2Gabriel Fauré
Clair de lune, Op.
46 No.
2, a famous mid-period song by Gabriel Fauré, one of France’s foremost composers.
Its key features include an unstable figuration with peculiar rubato and left-hand arpeggios that sometimes omit the downbeat, giving it an unusual structure.
In terms of difficulty, it ranks on the higher end of the intermediate level, and the challenge lies in making this odd construction musically compelling.
That said, the piece does not involve tempo fluctuations, so its difficulty in that regard is relatively low.
Therefore, it’s quite accessible even for those who have just reached the intermediate level.
Be sure to check it out.
Nine Preludes, Op. 103 No. 3Gabriel Fauré
One of the most important collections for understanding Gabriel Fauré’s late period is his Piano Pieces.
Among them, a particularly recommended, less demanding work is No.
3 from the Nine Preludes, Op.
103.
Its overall difficulty is intermediate, and the tempo itself is very slow.
However, there are many wide leaps in the left hand, and every note requires a delicate touch, so memorizing it may suit some players better.
Although the piece is dark and unhurried, it still makes a strong impression, so why not consider using it as a recital piece?