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[Fauré] Lower Difficulty! Recommended Piano Pieces by a Master of French Music

Representative, Elysion Philharmonic Orchestrasai-kisaragi
Heisei College of Music, Composition Course. Studied composition and conducting under Keizo Ideta, piano under Chinami Kira, and arts management under Takuma Konishi. With a focus on community and music, I work to revitalize my hometown of Saga Prefecture. While performing as a double bassist with wind ensembles and orchestras across Kyushu, I participated on double bass in the “Orchestra Without Borders” orchestra camp of the professional game and anime music ensemble Eminence Orchestra, held in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture in September 2012. During CAPCOM’s Kyushu Tour in 2016, I not only performed as an orchestra member but also served on the production staff. I currently serve as the managing representative for the game and anime performance groups Elysion Philharmonic Orchestra (Saga Prefecture) and Fukuoka Game Music Wind Orchestra (Fukuoka Prefecture), and handle conducting, arranging, and public relations.
Accompanist / Piano Instructoryuri
Accompanist pianist × piano instructor × web writer. I began piano lessons at age four and, inspired by my piano teacher, decided to pursue music. I went on to specialized music programs in high school and university, where I discovered the appeal of accompanying instrumentalists and singers. Currently, alongside teaching piano, I work mainly in my home region of Aichi as an accompanist for flute, voice, choir, and more. Through lessons, my students often introduce me to trending songs, and my hobby is trying anything on the piano—Japanese and Western pop, commercial jingles, and beyond. Since 2021, I’ve also been active as a web writer, covering music and a variety of other genres.

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!

[Fauré] Easier Pieces! Recommended Piano Works by the French Master of Music (21–30)

Song cycle “Three Songs,” Op. 7: No. 1, After a DreamGabriel Fauré

Gabriel Fauré - “Après un rêve” / Fauré “After a Dream”

Song cycle “Three Songs,” Op. 7: No. 1, After a DreamGabriel Fauré

The first piece of Gabriel Fauré’s song set Trois mélodies, Op.

7—Après un rêve—has been performed on a variety of instruments, including piano, cello, violin, and flute.

It portrays a man who, having spent a dreamlike moment with a beautiful woman, awakens and laments, “Give me back that beautiful woman.” The heartrending melody, as if echoing the man’s lament, pairs exquisitely with the piano’s timbre.

While bringing the melody to the forefront, it’s best not to rely solely on its beauty; the accompaniment should also convey the surges of emotion with clarity.

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Barcarolle No. 6 in E-flat major, Op. 70Gabriel Fauré

Gabriel Fauré – Barcarolle Nº 6 in E flat major, Op.70

Barcarolle No. 6 in E-flat major, Op. 70Gabriel Fauré

For intermediate players, I recommend Gabriel Fauré’s Barcarolle No.

6 in E-flat major, Op.

70.

While it wouldn’t be wrong to call it advanced in terms of difficulty, it’s on the easier side among advanced pieces suitable for intermediate learners to tackle.

Although it uses compound meter, it’s mostly in 6/8, so you likely won’t find the meter particularly challenging.

The rhythms themselves are simple as well, which makes it easier to focus on the harmonies—another reason this piece ranks lower in difficulty.

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In conclusion

From among the beautiful piano works of the French composer Gabriel Fauré—who was both a pianist and an educator—I’ve introduced pieces that are relatively approachable and of lower difficulty.

Even so, Fauré’s piano music tends to be challenging overall in terms of harmony, phrasing, and interpretation, so careful practice is essential to play them well.

Enjoy the delicate expression, like colors slowly blending on a palette, and take your time getting to know your favorite pieces.